We love watching movies as a family. We try to take a day out of the week and have a family movie night. It’s a great way for the entire family to rest, relax, and decompress.
With Black History Month in full effect right now I know you are seeing your fair share of Black content being promoted. But we are black year-round over here. So I’m going to share some of what I consider the best Black family movies. A few months ago we all watched as Sheryl Lee Ralph won an Academy Award for her role in Abbott Elementary (of course this is one of our favorites!) And it made me smile because I remember watching her when I was a child in a film with Denzel Washington named The Mighty Quinn. I felt she deserved an award for that role alone, a role she played in 1989.
It’s a movie my sister and I remember vividly. Complete with an all-star, (mostly) Black cast. And a soundtrack we can still sing to this day. It’s also one we know we can watch with our families even now. however, thinking back there are so many movies we used to watch that we probably shouldn’t have been. It sent me on a nostalgic journey. Maybe you all recognize some of these.
The best Black family movies in no particular order:
Crooklyn (available to watch on Prime video)
One of my favorite Spike Lee joints. Crooklyn is a coming-of-age story set in 1970’s New York City. It follows a young Troy Carmichael and her siblings growing up in their Bed-Stuy neighborhood. Throughout the film, Troy learns life lessons through her rowdy brothers, her loving but strict mother, her naive, struggling father, and various friends and family members. This film made my sister and I want to go out and get “beads, braids, and things.” It was like watching one of our friends tell us what she did over the summer break. It focuses on loss, family, nostalgia, memory, youth, and of course the black experience. Besides the Black culture, the best part of the movie was the soundtrack, composed entirely of music from the 1960s and 70s.
Meteor Man
The Meteor Man was our first Black superhero! It was Written, directed, co-produced, and starred Robert Townsend. This film featured a star cast including Another Bad Creation as The Golden Lords. Townsend stars as a mild-mannered schoolteacher turned vigilante/superhero who is struck by a glowing green meteor and transformed into a superhero. He uses his powers to rid his neighborhood in Washington, D.C. of a street gang named the Golden Lords. This movie is campy but in a way that only Black people could appreciate it.
Like Mike
Stars rapper Bow Wow or “Lil Bow Wow” as he was once called in his first film. An orphan who gets basketball talents after finding an old pair of sneakers that once belonged to Michael Jordan (or at least that’s what they want us to believe.) This movie was a gem for us when we were younger because it starred one of our favorite music stars.
The Wiz
Most people know exactly what this is. It’s the Black Wizard of Oz. When this movie came out it was considered a box office flop. Receiving an average score of 40% on the rotten tomatoes site. However, this movie was not only musically engaging but it was visually stunning (no wonder it received four Oscar nominations at the 51st Academy Awards.) It’s a story of African American life in urban America. The lead character is played by the amazing Diana Ross, as Dorothy. In this reimagination, she’s a shy, twenty-four-year-old Harlem schoolteacher who is magically transported to the urban fantasy Land of Oz, which resembles a dream version of New York City.
The Great Debaters
Another amazing Denzel Washington film (based on a true story) that we don’t talk enough about. Washington stars as a debate coach at a historically Black college in this movie. It gives us a glimpse of the racial prejudice these young people (and many others) faced during the civil rights movement. Washington counsels the Wiley College all-Black debate team on their journey to victory over an all-white ivy league school. This is most definitely (or should be) on everyone’s list of Black history movies.
Roll Bounce
One thing about us, we are going to watch anything with African Americans skating. LOL. This coming-of-age movie, set in the summer of the ’70s, effortlessly combines ’70s nostalgia, social and family drama, and roller skating. It tells the story of Xavier “X” Smith and his friends, who are passionate roller skaters in Chicago. After their local roller rink closes down X and his friends must compete in a competition at a rival rink in order to keep their skating dreams alive. Along the way X deals with the recent loss of his mother and the strained relationship with his father. The film features, impressive rollerskating sequences and the soundtrack definitely slaps!
Akeelah and the Bee
The inspiring story of a young girl named Akeela Anderson played by a young Keke Palmer. It’s one of the best family movies because it tells the story of a young Black girl on her journey to being a spelling bee champion with the support of her entire community. Akeelah learns important life lessons of perseverance, friendship, and self-belief. The film explores issues of poverty, race, and education in America. It also highlights the importance of literacy and academic achievement. She had us all wanting to enter a spelling bee competition.
Nutty Professor
Starring Eddie Murphy, this film is a remake of the 1963 Jerry Lewis comedy of the same name. It tells the story of Sherman Klump, a professor at a fictional university who is overweight and lacks confidence. Using a secret formula Sherman transforms himself into a thin and charismatic man. But he soon discovers the negative consequences of his actions. Eddie Murphy plays multiple characters, including Sherman Klump, Buddy Love, and several members of Sherman’s family.
Blankman
Blankman is a superhero, comedy film, starring Damon Wayans. The film tells the story of Darrell Walker, a nerdy and socially awkward man, who becomes a costumed superhero after his grandmother is killed by a gangster. Darrell and his brother use their knowledge of science and engineering, to create a variety of gadgets and weapons to fight crime in their city. Blankman is a parody of superhero movies and features a mix of slapstick humor and social commentary.
Beat Street
This film tells the story of a group of young people living in the south Bronx in the early 1980s. They use hip-hop, music, and dance as a way to express themselves and escape the hardships of their daily lives. Along the way, they encounter challenges, such as poverty, gang violence, and discrimination, but also find inspiration in the power of music and art. Beat Street is considered one of the classic films for featuring notable performances by some of hip hop’s most influential figures.
Are there any black Disney movies?
Now you know I had to take the time to highlight the Black Disney movies we love.
Black Panther (1 & 2)
Unless you’ve been living under a rock then you already know what this movie starring the late Chadwick Boseman means to the culture. It transcends the superhero genre and really shows us what Black excellence is. We all counted down the days as a whole family to witness one of the most culturally significant black stories told. We all mourned and cried for our king T’Challa together.
Rodger & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Available on Disney Plus)
This was one of the first times we saw ourselves portrayed as a Disney princess. Yes, our girl Brandy did her thing alongside the late Whitney Houston. It was the first time Black actors played either of those roles onscreen. It’s a modern retelling of the classic Disney movie featuring diverse casting and updated music and choreography.
Soul
Joe Gardner is a middle-aged music teacher, who dreams of becoming a successful jazz musician. When he finally gets his big break he falls into a manhole and has a near-death experience that takes him to the “great before“ a place where souls are given personalities before they are sent to earth. Soul takes you on a journey exploring themes of purpose identity, and the importance of living in the moment.
Princess and the frog
The Princess and the frog tells the story of Tiana, a hard-working and ambitious young woman living in New Orleans in the 1920s. Tiana dreams of owning her own restaurant and works tirelessly to save up the money she needs to achieve her goal. This Disney film is the first animated film to feature an African-American princess. We loved it because of its emphasis on New Orleans culture and music, including jazz and blues.
Hidden Figures
Hidden Figures tell the true story of three brilliant African-American women who made significant contributions to NASA’s space program during the 1960s. During a time when segregation and racism were still prevalent in America. Despite facing discrimination and barriers to race and gender, these three Black women persisted and excelled in their work. They ultimately made crucial contributions to the success of the first American manned, spaceflight. The film also highlights the struggles and challenges, faced by African-Americans during the civil rights movement, as well as the bravery and determination of the individuals who fought for change.
My list of Black family movies spans decades!
There are some movies that might be better suited for older kids. However, I hope this list has sparked something in you or taken you down memory lane. Whenever I am remembering movies with my husband we always remember the classics like New Jack City, Boomerang, and Boyz In the Hood, but those titles most definitely belong on another list.
These films are just a few examples of the best Black family movies that celebrate Black culture, and the importance of family and community. While you’re here don’t forget to check out my post on the Black Children’s Shows You Can Watch With Your Kids!
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