Whether they are fictional or based on real people, some of the most engaging film characters are strong Black women. The top movies for Black women feature stories about love, careers, and survival. This is a list of black women movies featuring everything from Waiting to Exhale to Beasts of the Southern Wild to What's Love Got to Do with It.
What movies will you find on this list of the best Black woman films? Literature fans might vote The Color Purple to the top. Based on Alice Walker's book of the same name, this Steven Spielberg film tells the tale of Celie Harris and the horrifying oppression Black women faced in the early 20th century. The movie was nominated for an incredible 10 Academy Awards. Beloved is another great movie for Black women. How Stella Got Her Groove Back is a great movie about female empowerment and embracing life. Other good films featured on this Black woman movies list include The Wiz, Coming to America, and Lady Sings the Blues.
Which of these movies for Black women is the best of the best? Give your favorites a thumbs up and get in on the conversation in the comments section.
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16819Hidden Figures
Taraji P. Henson, Octavia SpencerReleased: 2016
Directed by: Theodore Melfi
Hidden Figures is a 2016 American biographical drama film directed by Theodore Melfi, based on... more
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12720Waiting to Exhale
Whitney Houston, Angela BassettReleased: 1995
Directed by: Forest Whitaker
Waiting to Exhale is a 1995 American romantic drama film directed by Forest Whitaker, based on... more3
14028The Color Purple
Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi GoldbergReleased: 1985
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
The Color Purple is a 1985 American period drama film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on... more4
11413What's Love Got to Do with It
Angela Bassett, Laurence FishburneReleased: 1993
Directed by: Brian Gibson
What's Love Got to Do with It is a 1993 American biographical film directed by Brian Gibson,... more5
12222Love & Basketball
Tyra Banks, Gabrielle UnionReleased: 2000
Directed by: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Love & Basketball is a 2000 American romantic drama film starring Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan.... more6
13531The Help
Emma Stone, Jessica ChastainReleased: 2011
Directed by: Tate Taylor
The Help is a 2011 American period drama film directed and written by Tate Taylor, and adapted... more7
11721Set It Off
Queen Latifah, Dr. DreReleased: 1996
Directed by: F. Gary Gray
Set It Off is a 1996 American action film directed by F. Gary Gray, and written by Kate Lanier... more8
8913Poetic Justice
Janet Jackson, Keanu ReevesReleased: 1993
Directed by: John Singleton
Poetic Justice is a 1993 drama/romance film starring Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur with... more9
9721Dreamgirls
Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie MurphyReleased: 2006
Directed by: Bill Condon
Dreamgirls is a 2006 American musical drama film, directed by Bill Condon and jointly produced... more10
9017Coming to America
Eddie Murphy, Samuel L. JacksonReleased: 1988
Directed by: John Landis
Coming to America is a 1988 American comedy film directed by John Landis, and based on a story... more11
8417Sister Act
Whoopi Goldberg, Maggie SmithReleased: 1992
Directed by: Emile Ardolino
Sister Act is a 1992 American musical comedy film directed by Emile Ardolino and written by... more12
8517The Secret Life of Bees
Alicia Keys, Dakota FanningReleased: 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... more13
8216How Stella Got Her Groove Back
Whoopi Goldberg, Angela BassettReleased: 1998
Directed by: Kevin Rodney Sullivan
How Stella Got Her Groove Back is a 1998 romantic comedy film directed by Kevin Rodney... more14
7114Crooklyn
RuPaul, Spike LeeReleased: 1994
Directed by: Spike Lee
Crooklyn is a 1994 semi-autobiographical film co-written and directed by Spike Lee. The film... more15
7420Brown Sugar
Queen Latifah, Mos DefReleased: 2002
Directed by: Rick Famuyiwa
Brown Sugar is a 2002 American romantic comedy film written by Michael Elliott and Rick... more16
6518The Wiz
Michael Jackson, Diana RossReleased: 1978
Directed by: Sidney Lumet
The Wiz is a 1978 American musical adventure film produced in collaboration between Motown... more17
5715Love Jones
Nia Long, Isaiah WashingtonReleased: 1997
Directed by: Theodore Witcher
Love Jones is a 1997 American romantic drama film written and directed by Theodore Witcher, in... more18
5111Boomerang
Halle Berry, Eddie MurphyReleased: 1992
Directed by: Reginald Hudlin
Boomerang is a 1992 American romantic comedy film directed by Reginald Hudlin. The film stars... more19
4913Their Eyes Were Watching God
Halle Berry, Terrence HowardReleased: 2005
Directed by: Darnell Martin
Their Eyes Were Watching God is an American Broadcasting Company television movie aired on... more20
5923The Preacher's Wife
Whitney Houston, Denzel WashingtonReleased: 1996
Directed by: Penny Marshall
The Preacher's Wife is a 1996 Christmas romantic comedy-drama family film directed by Penny... more21
4014Jackie Brown
Robert De Niro, Samuel L. JacksonReleased: 1997
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Jackie Brown is a 1997 drama film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. It is an... more22
3613Mahogany
Diana Ross, Anthony PerkinsReleased: 1975
Directed by: Berry Gordy
Mahogany is a 1975 American romantic drama film directed by Berry Gordy and produced by Motown... more23
3613Do the Right Thing
Samuel L. Jackson, Martin LawrenceReleased: 1989
Directed by: Spike Lee
Do the Right Thing is a 1989 American comedy-drama hood film produced, written, and directed... more24
4220Beloved
Oprah Winfrey, Thandie NewtonReleased: 1998
Directed by: Jonathan Demme
Beloved is a 1998 American horror-drama film based on Toni Morrison's 1987 novel of the same... more25
4228Lady Sings the Blues
Diana Ross, Richard PryorReleased: 1972
Directed by: Sidney J. Furie
Lady Sings the Blues is a 1972 American biographical drama film directed by Sidney J. Furie... more
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