All the V Best Movies Highlighting Black Characters, Right This Way
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Here's the thing: All too often, movies with all-Black casts center on horrific tragedies, from slavery to traumatic hardships, like fighting the racially-biased justice system. Of course, it's not that those stories aren't worthy of being told—but they're certainly not the only Black stories that should be depicted on-screen. In my opinion, the best Black movies are joyful, funny, heartbreaking, thought-provoking...you know, the same as the super popular movies with all-white casts. And while those movies—the white ones—are the majority and the cinematic default, I'm hopeful that won't always be the case.
Who comes to mind when you hear the phrase "leading lady?" What about "movie star?" Black actors and actresses haven't always gotten proper recognition for their work, but that doesn't mean they didn't deserve the red-carpet treatment. Some of the movies on this list are autobiographical dramas, others are romantic comedies. All of them include dynamic, complicated, and—at times—unlikeable Black characters. You might be familiar with a few of these titles, or maybe you've already seen all of them. No matter which camp you fall into, the important thing is to expand your idea of what a "good" movie is.
Ahead, all the best Black movies to add to your queue ASAP.
1. The Best Man (1999)
The maid of honor and best man are supposed to support the lovebirds on the "best day of their lives"—not create any drama, right? Well, in this rom-com, scandal ensues after the best man's debut novel comes out, and his friends quickly realize that it's not-so-loosely based on their lives. If you love this movie (which you will—it was produced by Spike Lee and stars Taye Diggs), make sure to check out the sequel, The Best Man Holiday.
2. Love and Basketball (2000)
Monica and Quincy, childhood friends who both have big dreams of playing professional basketball, make for a perfect match in this ahead-of-its-time feminist movie. As ESPN wrote in an oral history honoring the film's 20th anniversary, "What makes the film so indelible is that it shows a female athlete challenging her partner, her sport, and the status quo without being painted as a shrew, undesirable or any other limiting descriptor."
3. Deliver Us from Eva (2003)
Let's be honest, some of the best movies are modern riffs on classic Shakespeare tales. She's the Man, 10 Things I Hate About You, The Lion King...must I go on? Deliver Us from Eva is no different. Based on "The Taming of the Shrew" (like 10 Things), strategic dudes try to set up a bad-tempered woman (played by the iconic Gabrielle Union) in order to get some alone time with her sisters.
4. Two Can Play That Game (2001)
If you catch your boyfriend cheating, you have two options: Get back at him or get him back. In this rom-com, Shanté (Vivica A. Fox) chooses...both. Anthony Anderson says my favorite line (maybe of all time): "The CIA ain't got sh*t on a woman with a plan."
5. Jumping the Broom (2011)
They say you don't just marry your S.O.—you marry their family too. For Sabrina, this dynamic becomes pretty complicated when her old-money fam meets her fiancé Jason's working class relatives. Opposites don't always attract, apparently.
6. Why Did I Get Married? (2007)
Tyler Perry is at his best in this dramedy about four couples who head to the mountains for what should be a peaceful trip. The problem is that each couple is hiding something and their secrets are exposed in ever more cringeworthy ways. I'll just leave it at this: You'll never look at a wine bottle the same way again.
7. Moonlight (2016)
Remember when this movie won the Oscar for Best Picture in the simultaneously most dramatic and unsatisfying way ever? 'Twas a weird time. But forget all that because Moonlight will absolutely. mesmerize. you. Chronicling through three chapters of Chiron's life as he navigates his sexuality while growing up in the streets of Miami, his journey is one that will stay with you.
8. Malcolm X (1992)
Denzel Washington brings the civil rights activist to life in this Spike Lee-directed biopic based on "The Autobiography of Malcolm X." (Which should be required reading for everyone—regardless of race.) This movie is complicated, just like its subject, and earned Washington an Oscar nom *and* a Golden Globes nom.
9. Waiting to Exhale (1995)
Whitney Houston is remembered for her outstanding voice, but let's not overlook her acting. In Waiting to Exhale, she stars alongside Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon, and Loretta Devine as the group of friends find themselves questioning their relationships and ultimately, themselves.
10. Fences (2016)
Anything that stars Viola Davis is enough to get my bod to the theater. Based on a play of the same name, this movie follows a 1950s father trying to raise his family while also reckoning with his own shortcomings and past failures. Make sure you have a box of tissues handy before you press play on this one—the award-winning drama is an emotional doozy.
11. Dreamgirls (2006)
Beyoncé! Jennifer Hudson! What more do you need to know! Fine, I'll tell you that after the "Dreamettes" are pushed into the spotlight, they learn the ~hard way~ that fame comes with a price.
12. Brown Sugar (2002)
Two friends. One passion. Platonic vibes turn into something more in this romantic comedy that follows one friend, an editor-in-chief of a music magazine, and another who works at a record label. Music brought the two together, but is it enough to seal the deal?
13. Set It Off (1996)
After Frankie (Vivica A. Fox) loses her job and starts working as a janitor with her three BFFs (among them, Jada Pinkett Smith and Queen Latifah, ever heard of them!?), they decide to take their financial sitch into their own hands and do the next logical thing: rob a few banks. The only thing stopping them is a detective intent on cracking the case.
14. Poetic Justice (1993)
Janet Jackson, Regina King, and the late Tupac Shakur brought their star power to this majorly successful romantic drama. (It was the #1 box office film the weekend it opened!) Justice (played by Jackson, a role that earned her an Oscar nom) turns to writing poetry after her boyfriend is murdered. She ends up getting a ride to Oakland and begins to fall for Lucky (Shakur). The only problem is that she might not be over her ex. Complicated, I know.
15. If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
I've watched this movie twice already and each time, it's broken my heart into a million pieces. Just thinking about Tish fighting to save her fiancé Fonny after he's arrested for a crime he didn't commit makes my eyes blurry. This beautiful film tackles racial injustice, family dynamics, and young love in a gorgeously artistic way that'll leave you wrecked, angry, and inspired.
16. Girls Trip (2017)
This hilarious movie has it all: Lifelong friends, crazy nights out in New Orleans, hallucinogenics, and one very dirty scene with a grapefruit. Also, arguably the most important factor: Tiffany freakin' Haddish.
17. This Christmas (2007)
After a family comes together to celebrate the holiday for the first time in a long time, surprises unfold at an alarming rate. One son is being chased, another son is hiding his musical talent, the daughter is busy getting back at her cheating husband, and the third son is hiding a...well. Just watch it.
18. Nappily Ever After (2018)
After being subjected to the racist beauty standards of having "good" (AKA naturally straight) hair for way too many years, Violet (Sanaa Lathan) loses her patience and, in a drunken rage, shaves her head. Nappily Ever After documents the powerful (and often painful) process of embracing your natural hair—and your true self.
19. She's Gotta Have It (1986)
Dating more than one man is a juggling act. Poor Nola can't choose between the rich guy, the stable guy, or the timid guy with a heart of gold. Can't she just have all three? BTW, this was Spike Lee's first feature film and is considered to have launched his career.
20. Think Like a Man (2012)
Act like a lady, but think like a man. That's the key to winning at relationships—at least, according to Steve Harvey. This ensemble cast includes stars like Kevin Hart ("The Happier Divorced Guy"), Gabrielle Union ("The Girl Who Wants the Ring"), and Taraji P. Henson ("The Woman Who Is Her Own Man"), as they try to break out of their stereotypes and find a healthy relationship.
21. Drumline (2002)
Drumline takes you inside the surprisingly high-stakes world of college marching bands, where a talented street drumming recruit from Harlem has to find his way in a Southern university's complex hierarchy. Nick Cannon stars.
22. Our Song (2000)
Nope, this movie has absolutely nothing to do with that Taylor Swift song. Instead, it's about three besties (including a young Kerry Washington!!) coming of age in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. And in the last days of summer, they'll find that their friendship is changed forever.
23. House Party (1990)
Hip-hop duo Kid 'N Play stars in this cult classic as two high schoolers, one of whom is throwing a party while his parents are away, and another who is desperate to attend, even though his father forbids him from going. FYI, the soundtrack is 🔥, unsurprisingly.
24. Tangerine (2015)
On Christmas Eve, trans sex worker Sin-Dee finds out her boyfriend/pimp has been cheating on her, so she and her best friend set out to teach him a lesson. The entire movie was shot on iPhones, which sounds a little strange, but it works, trust.
25. Crooklyn (1994)
Co-written, produced, and directed by Spike Lee, this semi-autobiographical film takes place in the Bedford–Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn during the summer of 1973, revolving around nine-year-old Troy and some v tough lessons that she's forced to learn after returning from a visit to her aunt's home.
26. Black Panther (2018)
Even if you're not into Marvel movies, you've gotta watch this superhero flick, which is set in the fictitious African nation of Wakanda and follows heir to the throne T'Challa (played by the late Chadwick Boseman) as he takes on new duties following his father's death.
27. The Harder They Fall (2021)
With an all-star cast that includes Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, Lakeith Stanfield, Delroy Lindo, and Regina King, this western drama tells the story of Nat Love, an outlaw who discovers that the man who murdered his parents is being released from prison. In order to seek revenge, Nat decides to reunite his old gang to raise some hell.
28. Boyz N the Hood (1991)
Set in South Central Los Angeles, this drama (which has an INCREDIBLY stacked cast) tells the story of Tre, who is sent by his mom to live with his dad in Crenshaw after getting into a fight at school. Though Tre's dad teaches him how to stay out of trouble, his friends don't have the same support at home, and Tre must watch as they're drawn into gang and drug culture.
29. Pariah (2011)
In this hiiighly-underrated indie flick, a Black teenager living in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood struggles to embrace her identity as a lesbian...and also tries to decide whether she can confide in her family about who she really is.
30. Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
In this biographical drama, Daniel Kaluuya (who won an Oscar for his performance jsyk), plays Fred Hampton, who was chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party in the late 1960s and who found himself betrayed by an FBI informant working undercover (Lakeith Stanfield).
31. Boomerang (1992)
In this classic rom-com, a chauvinistic, womanizing ad exec (Eddie Murphy) finally meets his match when he gets a new boss, and she happens to be what is essentially the female version of himself.
32. Ride Along (2014)
Love a good buddy cop movie? Then you'll love Ride Along, which follows a security guard (Kevin Hart) as he attempts to prove to his girlfriend's police officer brother (Ice Cube) that he's worthy of marrying her. Oh, and he also gets involved in the brother's hunt for a dangerous arms dealer in the process.
33. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
Based on the play of the same name by August Wilson and produced by Denzel Washington, this film revolves around the drama that arises between "Mother of the Blues" Ma Rainey, her white manager, and her band during a tension-filled recording session in 1927 Chicago. Viola Davis stars as the titular Ma Rainey alongside Chadwick Boseman, who plays ambitious trumpeter Levee in his final film appearance.
34. Eve's Bayou (1997)
Jurnee Smollett stars in this drama as the titular Eve, a girl growing up in 1960s Louisiana whose life changes forever after she accidentally catches her dad cheating with another woman. Over the course of a summer, her dad's serial infidelity comes to light, and Eve realizes that her seemingly perfect family isn't what it seems to be.
35. Dope (2015)
This coming-of-age dramedy revolves around high school senior Malcolm, a geek obsessed with '90s hip-hop culture with dreams of attending Harvard...that is, until a chance encounter with a drug dealer in a nightclub lands Malcolm in a world of trouble.
36. Love Jones (1997)
When an aspiring poet and a talented photographer cross paths at a Chicago nightclub, it's love at first sight—but things get a lil complicated when Nina decides to move to New York to repair her relationship with her ex-fiancé, leaving Darius totally heartbroken. Will they eventually end up back together? You'll have to watch for yourself to find out.
37. The Wood (1999)
Before The Hangover, there was The Wood, which tells the story of two lifelong best friends (Omar Epps and Richard T. Jones) who reminisce and swap stories while trying to hunt down their third bestie (Taye Diggs) when he goes missing right before his wedding day.
38. One Night in Miami... (2020)
Directed by Regina King and based on Kemp Powers' play of the same name, this flick is based on a real-life meeting that occurred at Miami's Hampton House Hotel in February 1964 between four legends—Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke—following Ali's surprise title win over Sonny Liston.
39. Menace II Society (1993)
In this drama, an 18-year-old who grew up in the projects in LA desperately searches for a way out of the gang he's fallen in with and a fresh start. Though a caring teacher and his supportive girlfriend try to offer him help, Caine soon discovers that leaving his past life behind won't be as easy as he hoped.
40. Da 5 Bloods (2020)
Directed by Spike Lee, this war drama revolves around four Black Vietnam vets (played by Delroy Lindo, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis, and Isiah Whitlock, Jr.) who return to Vietnam in search of their former squad leader's remains...as well as some rumored buried treasure.
41. How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
Based on Terry McMillan's best-selling novel of the same name, this fun rom-com stars Angela Bassett as the titular Stella, a successful single parent and stockbroker who decides to jet off to Jamaica with her bestie for a getaway—and unexpectedly falls for a (much younger) man.
42. Coming to America (1988)
An oldie but a goodie, Eddie Murphy stars in this one as Prince Akeem Joffer from the fictitious African nation of Zamunda who—after being presented with an arranged bride-to-be on his 21st birthday—decides to travel to America in order to find himself real love.
43. Soul Food (1997)
This feel-good flick is all about family, tradition, and food, following two sisters who struggle to keep the family (and their long-standing Sunday night dinner tradition) together after the family matriarch, "Big Mama," slips unexpectedly into a coma.
44. The Woman King (2022)
Set in the 1820s and based on a true story, Viola Davis stars in this as a general who tasks with training the Agojie, an all-female warrior unit that protected the West African nation of Dahomey from the 17th through the 19th century.
45. Friday (1995)
The first in a trilogy, this classic buddy stoner comedy (which stars Ice Cube and Chris Tucker, among many other familiar faces) follows two besties who find themselves in hot water after becoming indebted to a local drug dealer.
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