The best Black movies are favorites that explore African American culture and themes. This list is ranked by film fans, many of whom grew up waiting for and watching good, realistic representations of what life was like for Black people in America. The top African American movies often dominate the box office when released, and this is a list of the best Black films. What are the best Black people movies of all time? Some of these films appear on other lists that you may find interesting, such as: best comedies of all time, best drama movies, and best actions movies on Netflix. You can sort by actor and director, or press "rerank" below to make your own list of the greatest African American-themed movies.
This list of top popular Black films features classic African American comedies like Friday and Coming to America, sports films like Love & Basketball, and biographical movies about Black celebrities and leaders, from Ray and Ali to Malcolm X. This list also includes great movies about slavery (both Roots and Django Unchained, for example) and films about Black life in the American South throughout history, from Glory and A Time to Kill to The Help. These and other highly acclaimed Black movies in cinema focus on African Americans, and most have surpassed the test of time among Black audiences.
This includes everything to watch from '90s Black comedy movies - comedies with a mostly Black cast and perspective - to Black crime movies, famous gang films, and action flicks. For other interesting movie lists check out Ranker's lists of well-made movies about slavery and films about racism. Also check out these lists of the best Black sitcoms, the best Black love movies, and the best cities for African Americans.
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13,4341,614Friday
Ice Cube, Meagan GoodReleased: 1995
Directed by: F. Gary Gray
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6,767917Menace II Society
Samuel L. Jackson, Jada Pinkett SmithReleased: 1993
Directed by: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes
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6,630887Poetic Justice
Janet Jackson, Keanu ReevesReleased: 1993
Directed by: John Singleton
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5,110784Soul Food
Vivica A. Fox, Nia LongReleased: 1997
Directed by: George Tillman, Jr.
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10,4191,335Love & Basketball
Tyra Banks, Gabrielle UnionReleased: 2000
Directed by: Gina Prince-Bythewood
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8,7101,408Set It Off
Queen Latifah, Dr. DreReleased: 1996
Directed by: F. Gary Gray
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8,5621,491The Color Purple
Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi GoldbergReleased: 1985
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
See The Best The Color Purple Movie Quotes8
12,8782,476Boyz n the Hood
Ice Cube, Angela BassettReleased: 1991
Directed by: John Singleton
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6,373912Lean on Me
Morgan Freeman, Tony ToddReleased: 1989
Directed by: John G. Avildsen
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5,354823New Jack City
Chris Rock, Ice-TReleased: 1991
Directed by: Mario Van Peebles
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4,867581What's Love Got to Do with It
Angela Bassett, Laurence FishburneReleased: 1993
Directed by: Brian Gibson
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6,126772Juice
Tupac Shakur, Samuel L. JacksonReleased: 1992
Directed by: Ernest R. Dickerson
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5,734906The Best Man
Nia Long, Terrence HowardReleased: 1999
Directed by: Malcolm D. Lee
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6,6431,147Bad Boys
Will Smith, Téa LeoniReleased: 1995
Directed by: Michael Bay
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4,798793House Party
Martin Lawrence, George ClintonReleased: 1990
Directed by: Reginald Hudlin
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4,871702Life
Eddie Murphy, Poppy MontgomeryReleased: 1999
Directed by: Ted Demme
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5,194687The Wood
Christina Milian, Sanaa LathanReleased: 1999
Directed by: Rick Famuyiwa
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7,6831,630Malcolm X
Denzel Washington, Al SharptonReleased: 1992
Directed by: Spike Lee
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3,484548Coach Carter
Samuel L. Jackson, Channing TatumReleased: 2005
Directed by: Thomas Carter
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11,4422,572Coming to America
Eddie Murphy, Samuel L. JacksonReleased: 1988
Directed by: John Landis
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4,426699Waiting to Exhale
Whitney Houston, Angela BassettReleased: 1995
Directed by: Forest Whitaker
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6,1961,291Ray
Kerry Washington, Jamie FoxxReleased: 2004
Directed by: Taylor Hackford
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5,6481,264Remember the Titans
Hayden Panettiere, Ryan GoslingReleased: 2000
Directed by: Boaz Yakin
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4,322690Baby Boy
Snoop Dogg, Taraji P. HensonReleased: 2001
Directed by: John Singleton
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3,665662A Thin Line Between Love and Hate
Martin Lawrence, Tracy MorganReleased: 1996
Directed by: Martin Lawrence
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