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The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked 

Ranker Film
Updated March 9, 2020 3.8k votes 610 voters 52.1k views 47 items

This list contains information on the best black kids movies, ranked from best to worst by user votes. The best black kids films come in many forms. Some black family films are about kind princesses while other good black kids movies feature non-stop action. A few of the best black kids films are even documentaries.

What films will you find on this top black kids movies list? The Princess and the Frog has to be in the running. This 2009 Disney film featured an all-star cast including Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Oprah Winfrey, and more. The lead character in the film, Tiana, was introduced as Disney's first-ever African-American princess. The Karate Kid – starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan – is another great inspiring movie for African American children.

Eddie Murphy provided laughs for the whole family as the title character in the 1998 movie, Dr. Dolittle. Other good films featured on this best black family films list include The Wiz, Good Burger, and Remember the Titans.

Which black kids film do you think deserves the top spot on this list? Give the best movies a thumbs up and please add any good family features we may have missed.

Data-driven recommendations based on voting from over 40 million monthly visits to Ranker. Try the free app
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1
Black Panther is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
KwameObiri-Addai added Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o

Released: 2018

Directed by: Ryan Coogler

Black Panther is a 2018 American superhero film, based on the Marvel Comics character, directed by Ryan Coogler. After the events of Captain America: Civil War, King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) ...more

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2
Akeelah and the Bee is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne, Keke Palmer

Released: 2006

Directed by: Doug Atchison

Akeelah and the Bee is a 2006 American drama film written and directed by Doug Atchison. It tells the story of Akeelah Anderson, an 11-year-old girl who participates in the Scripps National ...more

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3
The Lion King is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
Whoopi Goldberg, Jeremy Irons, Matthew Broderick

Released: 1994

Directed by: Rob Minkoff, Roger Allers

The Lion King is a 1994 American animated musical epic film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 32nd animated feature in the Walt Disney ...more

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4
Hidden Figures is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
KwameObiri-Addai added Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe

Released: 2016

Directed by: Theodore Melfi

Hidden Figures is a 2016 American biographical drama film directed by Theodore Melfi, based on the non-fiction book by Margot Lee Shetterly. The story of a team of female African-American ...more

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5
The Princess and the Fro... is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
Oprah Winfrey, John Goodman, Terrence Howard

Released: 2009

Directed by: Ron Clements, John Musker

The Princess and the Frog is a 2009 American animated musical romantic fantasy-comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The 49th film in the ...more

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6
The Karate Kid is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
Jackie Chan, Taraji P. Henson, Jaden Smith

Released: 2010

Directed by: Harald Zwart

The Karate Kid is a 2010 Chinese-American martial arts drama film directed by Harald Zwart. It stars Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith, and it was produced by Jaden's parents Will and Jada. It is a ...more

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7
Dr. Dolittle is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
Eddie Murphy, Ellen DeGeneres, Chris Rock

Released: 1998

Directed by: Betty Thomas

Dr. Dolittle is a 1998 American family comedy film starring Eddie Murphy as a doctor who discovers that he has the ability to talk to animals. The film was inspired by the series of children's ...more

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8
Daddy Day Care is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
Eddie Murphy, Lacey Chabert, Elle Fanning

Released: 2003

Directed by: Steve Carr

Daddy Day Care is a 2003 American comedy film starring Eddie Murphy and co-starring Jeff Garlin, Steve Zahn, Regina King, Anjelica Huston and Lacey Chabert. Written by Geoff Rodkey and directed ...more

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9
Are We There Yet is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
Ice Cube, Nia Long, Tracy Morgan

Released: 2005

Directed by: Brian Levant

Are We There Yet? is a 2005 American/Canadian road family comedy film directed by Brian Levant and starring Ice Cube. It was produced by Revolution Studios and distributed by Columbia Pictures. ...more

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10
The Wiz is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Richard Pryor

Released: 1978

Directed by: Sidney Lumet

The Wiz is a 1978 American musical adventure film produced in collaboration between Motown Productions and Universal Pictures, and released by Universal on October 24, 1978. A reimagining of L. ...more

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11
The Proud Family Movie ... is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
Maria Canals Barrera, Arsenio Hall, Carlos Mencia

Released: 2005

Directed by: Bruce W. Smith

The Proud Family Movie is a Disney Channel Original Movie which premiered on August 19, 2005. The film served as the series finale for the Disney Channel animated series, The Proud Family.

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12
Johnson Family Vacation ... is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
Johnson Family Vacation Shannon Elizabeth, Kat Graham, Vanessa L. Williams

Released: 2004

Directed by: Christopher Erskin

Johnson Family Vacation is a 2004 American comedy film directed by Christopher Erskin. It stars Cedric the Entertainer, Vanessa Williams, Bow Wow, Gabby Soleil, Shannon Elizabeth, Solange ...more
13
Drumline is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
Zoe Saldana, Nick Cannon, Orlando Jones

Released: 2002

Directed by: Charles Stone III

Drumline is a 2002 American drama film directed by Charles Stone III. The screenplay, a fictional story about a historically black college and university marching band, was written by Tina ...more

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14
The Great Debaters is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Jurnee Smollett

Released: 2007

Directed by: Denzel Washington

The Great Debaters is a 2007 American biopic period drama film directed by and starring Denzel Washington and produced by Oprah Winfrey and her production company, Harpo Productions. It is based ...more

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15
The Nutty Professor is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
Eddie Murphy, Jada Pinkett Smith, Dave Chappelle

Released: 1996

Directed by: Tom Shadyac

The Nutty Professor is a 1996 American slapstick science-fiction comedy film directed by Tom Shadyac, and a remake of the 1963 film, which starred Jerry Lewis. Grossly overweight yet ...more

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16
Cool Runnings is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
John Candy, Malik Yoba, Jay Brazeau

Released: 1993

Directed by: Jon Turteltaub

Cool Runnings is a 1993 American sports film directed by Jon Turteltaub, and starring Leon, Doug E. Doug, Rawle D. Lewis, Malik Yoba and John Candy. The film was released in the United States on ...more

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17
Coach Carter is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
Samuel L. Jackson, Channing Tatum, Ashanti

Released: 2005

Directed by: Thomas Carter

Coach Carter is a 2005 American biographical teen sports drama film directed by Thomas Carter, based on the true story of the Richmond High School basketball coach Ken Carter. Controversy ...more

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18
Are We Done Yet? is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
Magic Johnson, Ice Cube, Nia Long

Released: 2007

Directed by: Steve Carr

Are We Done Yet? is a follow-up to Revolution Studios’ hilarious 2005 family comedy Are We There Yet? and picks up where the last story left off. Now married to Suzanne (Nia Long), Nick Persons ...more

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19
Fat Albert is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
Bill Cosby, Raven-Symoné, Dania Ramirez

Released: 2004

Directed by: Joel Zwick

Fat Albert is a 2004 live-action/animated comedy film based on the Filmation animated series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids. The film was produced by Davis Entertainment for 20th Century Fox, and ...more

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20
Good Burger is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
Shaquille O'Neal, Carmen Electra, Linda Cardellini

Released: 1997

Directed by: Brian Robbins

Good Burger is a 1997 American comedy film directed by Brian Robbins and starring Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell. The film evolved from the comedy sketch "Good Burger" featured on the ...more

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21
Like Mike is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
Brenda Song, Jimmy Kimmel, Jonathan Lipnicki

Released: 2002

Directed by: John Schultz

Like Mike is a 2002 film directed by John Schultz and starring Lil' Bow Wow. The film was produced by NBA Productions and features many cameo appearances by NBA stars.
22
Roll Bounce is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
Meagan Good, Nick Cannon, Paul Wesley

Released: 2005

Directed by: Malcolm D. Lee

Roll Bounce is a 2005 American comedy-drama film written by Norman Vance Jr. and directed by Malcolm D. Lee. The film stars hip hop artist Bow Wow as the leader of a roller skating crew in 1970s ...more

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23
Cinderella is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
Cinderella Whitney Houston, Whoopi Goldberg, Bernadette Peters

Released: 1997

Directed by: Robert Iscove

Cinderella is a 1997 American romantic musical fantasy telefilm produced by Walt Disney Television. The film stars Brandy, Whitney Houston, Paolo Montalban, Bernadette Peters, Whoopi Goldberg, ...more
24
The Secret Life of Bees ... is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
Alicia Keys, Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah

Released: 2008

Directed by: Gina Prince-Bythewood

The Secret Life of Bees is a 2008 American drama film, adapted from the novel of the same name by Sue Monk Kidd. The film was directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and produced by Will Smith, with ...more

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25
The Boy Who Harnessed th... is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Best Movies for Black Children, Ranked
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Chiwetel Ejiofor, Noma Dumezweni, Joseph Marcell

Released: 2019

Directed by: Chiwetel Ejiofor

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is a 2019 British drama film directed by and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor. A boy in Malawi helps his village by building a wind turbine after reading about them in a ...more