Netflix makes it a bit easier to find Black cinema thanks to its Black Stories collection. It’s a loaded category with a plethora of critically acclaimed films. We curate this list every month to help narrow down your choices and keep up with new arrivals.
This November, two new films make the list: a Netflix original based on August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Piano Lesson, and the 2016 BET Award-winning film Free State of Jones. Keep reading for the full list of the best Black movies on Netflix right now.
Recommended Videos
Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new movies to stream this week, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
Recently added to Netflix
-
The Piano Lesson2024 -
Free State of Jones2016
The Piano Lesson (2024)
69%
127m
Genre
Drama
Stars
John David Washington, Danielle Deadwyler, Samuel L. Jackson
Directed by
Malcolm Washington
Watch on Netflix
The second Wilson play to become a Netflix original (after Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom with Black Panther‘s Chadwick Boseman), The Piano Lesson stars Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, and Danielle Deadwyler as members of the Charles family.
A story that explores the tensions between Black wealth and heritage, The Piano Lesson centers on a prized family heirloom that’s tearing two siblings apart. Boy Willie (Washington) wants to sell the piano to start building the family fortune. Berniece (Deadwyler) refuses to let go of the sole vestige of their family’s heritage. In the middle, Uncle Doaker (Jackson) attempts to mediate while failing to keep back the ghosts of the past.
Free State of Jones (2016)
53%
140m
Genre
Action, Drama, History, War
Stars
Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mahershala Ali
Directed by
Gary Ross
Watch on Netflix
Free State of Jones chronicles a genuinely interesting moment in American history. During the Civil War, white Southern farmer Newt Knight served in the Confederate Army as a medic. An abolitionist and pacifist, he deserts the war after the death of his nephew.
Branded an outlaw and chased into the swamps of Mississippi, he finds refuge with a group of runaway slaves. There, he forges an alliance with the slaves and other abolitionist farmers and leads a rebellion to secede from the Confederacy as the Free State of Jones. Mahershala Ali won a BET Award for Best Actor.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)
54%
115m
Genre
Action, Crime, Thriller, Comedy
Stars
Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens
Directed by
Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah
Watch on Netflix
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence have carried the Bad Boys franchise for nearly 30 years. The fourth film, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, was one of the biggest movies of summer 2024 and sees Miami police officers Mike Lowery (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence) going bigger and badder than ever. After their late former captain is framed, the Bad Boys are implicated in a conspiracy, forcing them to go on the run to clear their names and his.
Boyz n the Hood (1991)
76%
112m
Genre
Crime, Drama
Stars
Cuba Gooding Jr., Laurence Fishburne, Ice Cube
Directed by
John Singleton
Watch on Netflix
John Singleton’s classic about growing up in South Central Los Angeles is a cultural touchstone for the Black community. Boyz n the Hood stars Cuba Gooding Jr., a talented teen torn between the guidance of his father, Furious (The Matrix‘s Laurence Fishburne), and the daily pressures and violence of his neighborhood. Singleton earned Oscar nominations for both Best Screenplay and Best Director.
Selma (2014)
79%
127m
Genre
History, Drama
Stars
David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo, Tom Wilkinson
Directed by
Ava DuVernay
Watch on Netflix
Although Selma received a Best Picture nomination and won Best Song at the 87th Academy Awards, the lack of recognition for director Ava DuVernay became one of the building blocks toward 2016’s #OscarsSoWhite movement. It’s no small irony that Selma tells the story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s (David Oyelowo) historic march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965. Despite facing violent opposition, King presses his followers on, ultimately pressuring President Lyndon B. Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) to sign the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the landmark victories for the Civil Rights Movement.
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)
36%
117m
Genre
Drama, Romance, Comedy
Stars
Kimberly Elise, Steve Harris, Tyler Perry
Directed by
Darren Grant
Watch on Netflix
Tyler Perry’s first movie is adapted from his play of the same name and features the first appearance of his now iconic character, Madea. Helen (Kimberly Elise) and Charles (Steve Harris) are rich, happy, and preparing to celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary when Helen comes home one day to find a U-Haul van in the driveway packed with her stuff. Charles is kicking her out and divorcing her, forcing Helen to move in with her grandmother, Madea.
The Deliverance (2024)
39%
112m
Genre
Horror, Thriller
Stars
Andra Day, Glenn Close, Anthony B. Jenkins
Directed by
Lee Daniels
Watch on Netflix
Lee Daniels wrote and directed The Deliverance, a Netflix original about a single mother struggling to keep her family together. Ebony Jackson (Andra Day) is doing her best to keep a lid on her personal demons, believing that moving her kids into a new home will help them all get a fresh start. But when strange occurrences in the house draw the attention of Child Protective Services, Ebony finds herself in a battle between the state and the evil within her home, vying for her children’s souls.
White Chicks (2004)
41%
109m
Genre
Comedy, Crime
Stars
Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Frankie Faison
Directed by
Keenen Ivory Wayans
Watch on Netflix
There was a time in the early 2000s when studios just couldn’t say no to the Wayans Brothers. How fortunate for us because it brought absolutely ridiculous concepts like White Chicks to life.
Shawn and Marlon Wayans star as Marcus and Kevin Copeland, a couple of underachieving FBI agents who, as penance for accidentally foiling a drug bust, must escort socialites Tiffany and Brittany Wilson to the Hamptons. But when the girls are disfigured in a car accident, rather than lose the gig, the Copeland brothers enlist the help of a makeup wizard to turn them into a couple of white women. Now, they just have to pretend to be Brittany and Tiffany long enough to avoid being fired.
Tangerine (2015)
86%
87m
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, Karren Karagulian
Directed by
Sean Baker
Watch on Netflix
In her debut role, Kitana Kiki Rodriguez stars as Sin-Dee, a sex worker who returns to Los Angeles after 28 days in lockup. Discovering that her pimp boyfriend (James Ransone) hasn’t been faithful in that time, Sin-Dee and her best friend Alexandra (Mya Taylor) set out to get to the bottom of the rumor. Tangerine is a funny, dark odyssey into the many subcultures and experiences of life in Los Angeles.
Shirley (2024)
57%
117m
Genre
History, Drama
Stars
Regina King, Lance Reddick, Terrence Howard
Directed by
John Ridley
Watch on Netflix
Regina King stars in this biopic about Shirley Chisholm, America’s first Black congresswoman and the first Black woman to run for president. After a trailblazing run to Congress, Chisholm wasted hardly any time, gearing up for the 1972 Democratic presidential nomination. Although Chisholm didn’t win, she mounted a competitive bid, tearing down many doubts and barriers in Washington for those who followed in her footsteps.
Rustin (2023)
68%
108m
Genre
Drama, History
Stars
Colman Domingo, Aml Ameen, Glynn Turman
Directed by
George C. Wolfe
Watch on Netflix
Colman Domingo was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of gay civil rights leader Bayard Rustin in this Netflix original. The architect of 1963’s March on Washington, Rustin was one of the world’s greatest activists and organizers, and yet has become largely lost to history. This biopic seeks to rectify that, examining the unapologetic man who never apologized for who he was or what he believed in.
They Cloned Tyrone (2023)
122m
Genre
Science Fiction, Comedy, Mystery
Stars
John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, Jamie Foxx
Directed by
Juel Taylor
Watch on Netflix
A modern nod to Black exploitation movies, They Cloned Tyrone centers around a nefarious government conspiracy unfolding beneath a Black neighborhood. As strange events begin to occur in town, Fontaine (John Boyega), Yo-Yo (WandaVision‘s Teyonah Parris), and Slick Charles (Jamie Foxx) form an unlikely trio to investigate.
Chris Rock: Selective Outrage (2023)
Chris Rock’s first standup special since “The Slap” might not technically qualify as a movie, but we’re including it here because it made history as Netflix’s first global live-streaming event.
Chris Rock’s second special for Netflix features a pre-show hosted by Ronny Chieng and an after-show hosted by SNL contemporaries Dana Carvey and David Spade. It’s a raw and funny comedy special that highlights Rock’s gift as a stand-up comedian and expert storyteller.
Is That Black Enough for You?!? (2022)
88%
135m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Margaret Avery, Harry Belafonte, Charles Burnett
Directed by
Elvis Mitchell
Watch on Netflix
Film critic Elvis Mitchell directs and stars in this Netflix Original documentary about the history of Black cinema. Focusing primarily on a Black revolution in ’70s cinema, Mitchell uses archival footage and new interviews with key players from the area to analyze and celebrate the diversification, politicization, and star-making turns of the era. New interviews with luminaries like Harry Belafonte, Samuel L. Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg, Margaret Avery, Laurence Fishburne, and Charles Burnett make this doc a must-see for cinema lovers.
Concrete Cowboy (2020)
67%
6.3/10
111m
Genre
Drama, Western
Stars
Idris Elba, Caleb McLaughlin, Jharrel Jerome
Directed by
Ricky Staub
Watch on Netflix
This modern Western centers on a North Philadelphia block where people live a little more simply. When 15-year-old Cole (Caleb McLaughlin) can’t stop getting in trouble at school, his mother drives him from Detroit to spend the summer in Philadelphia with his estranged father, Harp (Luther: The Fallen Sun‘s Idris Elba). Cole is shocked to find that despite the urban environment, Harp is a bonafide cowboy. Frustrated by his father’s strict rules and confused by the urban-cowboy lifestyle, Cole initially tries to find somewhere else to stay for the summer, only to find himself slowly being drawn into the rustic allure of Harp’s life.
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
87%
7.0/10
94m
Genre
Drama, Music
Stars
Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman
Directed by
George C. Wolfe
Watch on Netflix
Adapted from August Wilson’s classic Century Cycle play, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom takes place in a 1920s Chicago recording session. As musicians await the legendary “Mother of the Blues,” Ma Rainey (The Suicide Squad‘s Viola Davis), tempers begin to flare when Ma finally arrives. Ma enters into a battle of wills with her white manager and producer over control of her music while cornet player Levee (Chadwick Boseman) stokes the fires and prods his fellow musicians into stories and truths that will change their lives.
Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
76%
7.3/10
118m
Genre
Drama, Comedy, History
Stars
Eddie Murphy, Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Epps
Directed by
Craig Brewer
Watch on Netflix
Eddie Murphy returned from a lengthy acting hiatus to star as Rudy Ray Moore in this Oscar-nominated biopic of the comedian who created the character Dolemite. Dolemite is a pimp, comedian, and nightclub owner who became an iconic character in blaxploitation films. In Dolemite Is My Name, Moore grapples with the character and the success that comes with being an underground sensation.
Passing (2021)
85%
6.7/10
98m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, André Holland
Directed by
Rebecca Hall
Watch on Netflix
Based on the 1929 novel of the same name, Passing stars Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga as Irene and Clare. Old friends that reconnect after a chance meeting at a hotel, Irene is Black and is married to a Black physician. Clare, also Black, is able to “pass” as white because of her lighter skin color. As the two women grow closer, their personal lives, insecurities, and secrets start unraveling and weaving together. The directorial debut of actress Rebecca Hall, Passing is an emotionally close-knit chamber drama with mesmerizing and intricately-layered performances from both Thompson and Negga.
High Flying Bird (2019)
78%
6.2/10
90m
Genre
Drama
Stars
André Holland, Zazie Beetz, Melvin Gregg
Directed by
Steven Soderbergh
Watch on Netflix
In the wake of an NBA lockout, sports agent Ray Burke (Andrè Holland) is at risk of losing his entire career. Hoping to turn things around, the agent has less than 72 hours to pitch a controversial business plan to one of his rookie players, a business venture that will have major ripple effects across the entire NBA hierarchy of power. From director Steven Soderbergh, High Flying Bird combines the ingenuity of richly scripted sports dramas like Moneyball and infuses the narrative with energies that only a Soderbergh film can deliver. This is also Soderbergh’s second film to be entirely shot on an iPhone (Unsane being the first).
Deidra & Laney Rob a Train (2017)
65%
6/10
92m
Genre
Drama, Comedy, Crime
Stars
Ashleigh Murray, Rachel Crow, Tim Blake Nelson
Directed by
Sydney Freeland
Watch on Netflix
When their mother gets thrown in jail, teen sisters Deidra (Ashleigh Murray) and Leina (Rachel Crow) are at risk of being thrown into foster care. To avoid such a fate, Deidra hatches a plan to begin robbing trains to build up enough of a nest egg to bail their mother out of jail, while providing enough funds for the siblings to survive. A lively blend of comedy and drama, Deidra & Laney Rob a Train finds its heart and soul in the upbeat performances of both Murray and Crow — a dazzling dynamic that propels this social hybrid out of the run-of-the-mill Netflix dramedy vault.
Giving Voice (2020)
6.8/10
90m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Stephen McKinley Henderson
Directed by
Fernando Villena, James D. Stern
Watch on Netflix
The August Wilson Monologue Competition is an annual theater competition and much-lauded opportunity for aspiring high school artisans. With thousands of submissions every year, the crowned winner will be able to perform on Broadway. James D. Stern and Fernando Villena’s amazing documentary follows six students on their journey through the audition process, culminating in an edge-of-your-seat final round between the youths. Featuring appearances from Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, and other noteworthy talking heads, Giving Voice is an inspiring showcase of up-and-coming talents and a reminder that the arts are always here for us to lean on.
Sleight (2016)
62%
5.9/10
89m
Genre
Drama, Thriller, Action, Science Fiction
Stars
Jacob Latimore, Seychelle Gabriel, Storm Reid
Directed by
J.D. Dillard
Watch on Netflix
A street magician named Bo (Jacob Latimore) is the sole source of income for him and his kid sister, Tina (Storm Reid). By day, he performs magic tricks for spectacle and a dollar here or there from passersby. By night, Bo takes to the streets to sell drugs. What seems to be working quickly falls apart when a rival drug kingpin infringes on Bo’s dealer’s turf, sparking a war that Bo finds himself at the center of. Combining elements of serious drama with bits of magic realism and coming-of-age notes, Sleight brings its story home in more ways than one.
The Forty-Year-Old Version (2020)
80%
7.2/10
123m
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Radha Blank, Peter Y. Kim, Oswin Benjamin
Directed by
Radha Blank
Watch on Netflix
In writer-director Radha Blank’s feature film debut, the auteur plays a version of herself. A down-on-her-luck New York playwright who can’t gain enough traction because her most recent play doesn’t emphasize “Black suffering” enough, Radha unearths a new artistic path after hearing rap music outside her apartment walls. Putting her playwright aspirations on the back burner, albeit only for the time being, Radha teams with a music producer and DJ named D (Oswin Benjamin) to record her first series of rap songs — tunes with a metaphoric focus on Radha’s hardships as a Black artist. An authentic and moving portrayal of life as a starving artist, The Forty-Year-Old Version seems to allude to a forthcoming prolific career from its writer-director-actor. We can only wait and see what Radha’s filmic future may bring.
Two Distant Strangers (2021)
6.9/10
32m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Joey Bada$$, Andrew Howard, Zaria Simone
Directed by
Martin Desmond Roe, Travon Free
Watch on Netflix
Carter James (Joey Bada$$) is a New York cartoonist who needs to get home to his hungry dog after a date night out. On his return home, the artist is confronted by a police officer named Merk (Andrew Howard). Upon questioning Carter, the altercation between cop and cartoonist quickly escalates to Carter being shot dead, only to reawaken in his date’s bed. Stuck in a time loop, Carter must relive his tragic end again and again. An Oscar-winning short film, Two Distant Strangers shares a narrative time-loop structure with many other films but builds upon the formula with a meaningful message about systemic racism.
Atlantics (2019)
85%
6.7/10
106m
Genre
Drama, Romance, Fantasy, Mystery
Stars
Mame Bineta Sane, Ibrahima Traore, Amadou Mbow
Directed by
Mati Diop
Watch on Netflix
Ada (Mama Sane) awaits the date of her arranged marriage to Omar (Babacar Sylla), but her heart truly lies with Souleiman (Traore), a Senegal refugee in search of a better life for him and his lover. When the bodies of Souleiman’s companions wash up on the shore, Ada assumes her soul mate has perished — but through nothing short of a miracle, the lovers are reunited in the most unexpected of ways. The feature debut of writer-director Mati Diop, Atlantics has the profound designation of being the first film to play the Cannes Film Festival that was directed by a Black woman.
Monster (2018)
56%
6.5/10
98m
Genre
Crime, Drama
Stars
Kelvin Harrison Jr., Jeffrey Wright, Jennifer Hudson
Directed by
Anthony Mandler
Watch on Netflix
Based on the Walter Dean Mayers novel of the same name, Monster stars Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Steve Harmon, a 17-year-old charged with murder. Shining a light on the teen’s journey from a bright and promising future through a bevy of legal proceedings and the possibility of jail time, the Harlem youth must rise against the odds to clear his name. With a commanding lead performance from indie stalwart Harrison, Jr., Monster follows a traditional dramatic formula, delivering rich results.
Beasts of No Nation (2015)
79%
7.7/10
137m
Genre
Drama, War
Stars
Abraham Attah, Idris Elba, Emmanuel Nii Adom Quaye
Directed by
Cary Joji Fukunaga
Watch on Netflix
Adapted from the 2005 novel of the same name, Beasts of No Nation stars Idris Elba as Commandment, a towering West African guerilla warfare leader. As civil war breaks out, a young boy named Agu is recruited by Commandment to join his battalion after attacks on the boy’s settlement are initiated by rebel forces. Leaving his family behind, Agu begins an immense coming-of-age journey through his militaristic training. Securing several awards and nominations when first released, Beasts of No Nation is a tremendous piece of cinema with bold visuals, deep performances, and an impressive narrative.
Uncorked (2020)
62%
6.4/10
104m
Genre
Drama, Comedy
Stars
Mamoudou Athie, Courtney B. Vance, Niecy Nash
Directed by
Prentice Penny
Watch on Netflix
In writer-director Prentice Penny’s Uncorked, Mamoudou Athie stars as Elijah, an aspiring sommelier with dreams of leaving the family barbecue business behind in pursuit of his wine connoisseur dreams. When a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presents itself, the young man must choose between a life of tradition and family ties or a new world filled with major personal opportunities. An energetic Black comedy-drama with familiar but elevated family undertones, Uncorked looks and feels like a number of other films in the “stay-or-go” subgenre, but its performances and relatable narrative push it above the rest of its counterparts.
Beats (2019)
6.4/10
109m
Genre
Drama, Music
Stars
Anthony Anderson, Khalil Everage, Uzo Aduba
Directed by
Christian Robinson
Watch on Netflix
Eighteen months after a devastating tragedy, Chicago youth August (Khalil Everage), afflicted by PTSD, struggles to find a meaningful life outside of his bedroom. When school principal Vanessa runs up against personnel cuts if her school’s attendance doesn’t improve, she hires her soon-to-be-ex, Romelo (Anthony Anderson), as a security guard. Tasked with encouraging August to return to school, Romelo discovers that the teenager is a talented musician. As a friendship begins forming between the two, Romelo and August discover that their fraternal bond is the meaningful relationship that both men have been searching for their entire lives. With a fairly by-the-book narrative, Beats truly shines through the onscreen chemistry between Anthony Anderson and Khalil Everage.
The Black Godfather (2019)
69%
7.5/10
118m
Genre
Documentary, Music
Stars
Clarence Avant, Quincy Jones, Barack Obama
Directed by
Reginald Hudlin
Watch on Netflix
The Black Godfather is a riveting documentary about Black music legend Clarence Avant. A record label founder, concert curator, political activist, and a cherished mentor to several other executives that were inspired by his quiet but esteemed reign over the arts, Clarence truly did it all. Buckle up for this profanity-laced tell-all: It’s a raw and honest portrait of an essential entertainment figurehead. Don’t let the F-bomb drops deter you though — this is a top-notch documentary with an ensemble of noteworthy talking heads and a mighty arcing narrative to seal the deal.
Quincy (2018)
60%
7.6/10
124m
Genre
Documentary, Music
Stars
Quincy Jones, Rashida Jones, Tom Hanks
Directed by
Rashida Jones, Alan Hicks
Watch on Netflix
It’s hard to encapsulate the life of a legend, especially one as prolific and regarded as musician extraordinaire, Quincy Jones. But co-directors Rashida Jones (Quincy’s daughter) and Alan Hicks do a remarkable job of wrangling the life of the icon. Chronicling Quincy’s early life and eventual rise to stardom in both the professional film and music communities he would come to dominate, Quincy paints an immense portrait of the artist, activist, husband, and father, featuring interviews and recollections from those closest to him. An immersive and incredibly human film, Quincy went on to win a Grammy for Best Music Film at the 2019 Grammy Awards.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
68%
7.6/10
113m
Genre
Drama, History, Family
Stars
Maxwell Simba, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Aïssa Maïga
Directed by
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Watch on Netflix
William Kamkwamba (Maxwell Simba) is a young boy with humongous dreams and an incredible knack for electrical engineering. When his parents can’t keep up with his school’s tuition, the wunderkind blackmails his science teacher into letting William continue his studies. As famine sets into his village, tearing families apart, William devises a genius plan to construct a windmill to power an electric water pump. The odds against him and lacking resources, William builds his machine without ever looking back. As director Chiwetel Ejiofor’s powerful feature debut, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is a beautifully constructed film about the struggles of humanity and what we do to overcome hardship even under the most hopeless of conditions.
ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke (2019)
7.2/10
74m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Sam Cooke, Jim Brown, Quincy Jones
Directed by
Kelly Duane de la Vega
Watch on Netflix
Influential soul singer, entrepreneur, and activist Sam Cooke gave a lot to the world. In this emotionally-stirring Netflix doc, we revisit the legacy and impact of the artist by way of those he loved most and that loved him in return. Featuring a talking-head ensemble of family, friends, journalists, academics, and other cultural movers and shakers, director Kelly Duane’s provocative film shines new light on Sam’s murder by way of Bertha Franklin in 1964, exploring the crime from multiple vantages. A chronicling of a profound artist and the mark he left on Black culture, this is one you don’t want to miss.
See You Yesterday (2019)
74%
5.2/10
86m
Genre
Science Fiction, Drama, Adventure, Crime, Action
Stars
Eden Duncan-Smith, Dante Crichlow, Astro
Directed by
Stefon Bristol
Watch on Netflix
Based on writer-director Stefon Bristol’s 2017 short film of the same name, See You Yesterday stars Eden Duncan-Smith and Dante Crichlow as CJ and Sebastian, two science nerds who spend their time inventing — specifically, time machine backpacks that will blast the youths across the space-time continuum. When a tragedy befalls CJ, she and Sebastian will do whatever it takes to turn back time to save someone they love (and have lost). Seamlessly blending science fiction and social drama, See You Yesterday is led by powerful and endearing performances from its leads while never straying from its racial undertones.
Becoming (2020)
66%
6.8/10
89m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, Phoebe Robinson
Directed by
Nadia Hallgren
Watch on Netflix
If you find that you’re missing the grace, compassion, and normalcy of the Obama administration, Becoming is a refreshing watch. A companion to Michelle Obama’s autobiography, Becoming sheds light on her journey to become America’s first African American First Lady. While it’s not quite as personal as some might like, Becoming is nonetheless an endearing, often provocative discussion of race, hope, and connecting with those of different backgrounds and beliefs. It’s a keen reminder that leaders can inspire by positive example.
13th (2016)
83%
8.2/10
100m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Jelani Cobb, Angela Davis, Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Directed by
Ava DuVernay
Watch on Netflix
“If you’re in the prison business, you don’t want reform. You may say you do. But you don’t.” Ava DuVernay’s eye-opening, at times harrowing, 13th is a pivotal documentary that explores the centuries-old criminalization of disenfranchised African American communities, but by way of tracing the steps of American racism to its very roots. Over the course of the film, DuVernay and many activists, lawmakers, and academics unfold decade after decade of politically motivated legislation, and the lobbyists often behind these laws, that have led not only to the privatization of the American prison system but also to the staggeringly disproportionate incarceration of millions of African American men and women. The film can be difficult to watch, but DuVernay’s grim realizations are made to be blatant. What is also apparent is that there is still hope for fundamental change, a message echoed by the film’s ensemble of progressively minded confiders, figures both left- and right-leaning.
All Day and a Night (2020)
60%
5.9/10
121m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Ashton Sanders, Jeffrey Wright, Isaiah John
Directed by
Joe Robert Cole
Watch on Netflix
In All Day and a Night, Ashton Sanders plays Jahkor Lincoln, a once-aspiring rapper serving a life sentence for murder. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn of Lincoln’s troubled upbringing. An adolescence riddled with abuse and dire straits leads to petty crime, which evolves into something far more sinister when Lincoln begins offering his services to a gangster named Big Stunna. As present-day Jahkor looks back on his dark past from behind bars, an old accomplice is admitted to the same prison. This time around, though, the man is a foe, not a friend. Praised for its performances and meditative qualities, All Day and a Night is indeed a richly-textured drama. Ashton Sanders is particularly impressive as Jahkor.
American Son (2019)
34%
5.8/10
90m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Kerry Washington, Steven Pasquale, Jeremy Jordan
Directed by
Kenny Leon
Watch on Netflix
Kerry Washington is electric in Kenny Leon’s racially charged drama about a mother, father, and the police officers that serve as the gatekeepers to their son’s safety (or lack thereof). The film is minimalist in terms of set pieces, but the true gravitas of this 90-minute, escalating panic is in the claustrophobia of the police station, a bunker clinging to its segregated past by way of demarcated water fountains and a quiet regional disparity covered with a law book and a grin. The true joy of the film is in watching Washington claw her way through the narrative, channeling a polarity of emotions that are all backed by the all-too-relatable fear of a mother worried because her child didn’t come home. Sparse editing and an emotional score are the backbones of these three acts, each of which plays out like a theater piece, sans intermission.
Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé (2019)
93%
7.5/10
137m
Genre
Documentary, Music
Stars
Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Kelly Rowland
Directed by
Beyoncé, Ed Burke
Watch on Netflix
A concert film for a new generation, HOMECOMING won a Grammy for Best Musical Film. Beyoncé has become something of a musical film savant, with Lemonade, Black Is King, and HOMECOMING all earning rave reviews. It’s HOMECOMING, however, that stands uniquely as a concert film. The film takes an in-depth look at Beyoncé’s 2018 Coachella performance, revealing the incredible creative depth and cultural significance of the show.
Barry (2016)
72%
5.9/10
104m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Devon Terrell, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ashley Judd
Directed by
Vikram Gandhi
Watch on Netflix
You might think Barack Obama is still too recently out of office to have his own biopic, but the circumstances surrounding the nation’s first Black president’s rise to power are worthy of this 2016 film. The story follows a young Barack Obama as he arrives in New York City in the fall of 1981 for his junior year at Columbia University. Echoing many of the themes expressed in his autobiography, Dreams of My Father, Obama struggles to stay connected to his mother and his estranged father and build new connections with his classmates. Simultaneously, he battles an identity crisis and becomes critical of the injustices he sees in his day-to-day life, ultimately motivating him toward a career in organizing and, eventually, politics.
Da 5 Bloods (2020)
82%
6.5/10
156m
Genre
War, Drama
Stars
Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters
Directed by
Spike Lee
Watch on Netflix
Spike Lee’s first movie under his new Netflix deal is a modern masterpiece. Simultaneously about the stasis of the movement for Black justice and the enduring villainy of the Vietnam War, Da 5 Bloods bounces between eras to illuminate how little has changed in 40 years. The film follows four Black vets as they return to Vietnam seeking the remains of their fallen squad leader and a buried treasure they vowed to one day return for. What they discover is their own “Heart of Darkness” as they battle the forces of man and nature, confronting the lasting legacy of the war and its impact on Vietnam and one another.
Mudbound (2017)
85%
7.4/10
135m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Carey Mulligan, Jason Clarke, Jason Mitchell
Directed by
Dee Rees
Watch on Netflix
The expertly lensed Mudbound — written and directed by Dee Rees and photographed by Rachel Morrison — explores the personal, economic, and racial tensions of two rural families living by way of the land in World War II-era Mississippi. A respective son from each family goes off to war. These are Jamie McAllan (Garrett Hedlund) and Ronsel Jackson (Jason Mitchell), two boys who leave a world of racism and other struggles behind. The battle ends. They return home, Jamie with newfound trauma, and Ronsel to a country that looks down at him for the color of his skin, regardless of his valor. What’s to truly savor in Rees’ masterful period drama is Morrison’s language of framing. Rees and Morrison were after a kind of camera work that reflected the feeling of the American Dream, and so we get beauty in shades. But under the flora is loud and vibrant cinematography that enhances our connection with both families, one white and one black. Mudbound is illuminating in more ways than one, an epic racial drama led by a master class of actors that all own their roles.
Strong Island (2017)
86%
6.4/10
107m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Yance Ford, Harvey Walker, Kevin Myers
Directed by
Yance Ford
Watch on Netflix
Director Yance Ford’s investigation into the 1992 murder of her brother, 24-year-old William Ford Jr., is an examination of judicial prejudice like no other, and an incredible film experiment. Courageously, Ford toes the line between essay film, personal memoir, and true crime exposé, seamlessly blending each type of documentary form in an effort to best capture her 22-year story of pain and loss. Ford spends time with the friends, family, and willing judicial entities that were involved in her brother’s life and in the courtroom for his killer’s trial, 19-year-old Mark P. Reilly. These many emotional recollections weave a rich tapestry of William Ford Jr.’s life, ambitions, fears, and frustrations. Underneath the records, talking heads, and scrapbook photos is a story about a family that lost their son, and his little sister’s lifelong quest for familial and personal closure.
What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015)
75%
7.6/10
101m
Genre
Music, Documentary
Stars
Nina Simone, Lisa Simone, Dick Gregory
Directed by
Liz Garbus
Watch on Netflix
What Happened, Miss Simone? explores the life of prolific singer-songwriter and pianist, Nina Simone, through recollections composed of archived interviews, photographs, commentaries, musical performances, and journal entries. Plagued by racism from an early age, Simone’s rise to stardom served as a platform for the activism that would define much of her career. Liz Garbus’ film is an introspective journey into the always-racing mind of an artistic genius, and a black woman who desperately wanted black voices to be heard and understood the world over. Conversations with friends, family, and those that worked with Simone professionally round out the documentary, each contributor adding a new layer of Nina, a complicated but enduring individual with a calling that never ceased, and a talent like no other.
