Primarily released in the last decade, these biopics, documentaries and feature films are inspirational and aspirational, encompassing everything from Black icons (like Aretha Franklin and ToniMorrison) to some good, old-fashioned underdog stories (like the Sundance Film Festival hit The Last Black Man in San Francisco). We’ve also included a few out-of-the-box choices that will educate, surprise and delight you. Taken together, this roundup of Black history movies offers an often informational and universally entertaining glimpse into the past, present and future. Don’t let February pass you by without giving some of these great movies a look!
Movies to stream on Hulu for Black History Month
You Laugh But It’s True (2011)
If you have ever been curious about Daily Show host Trevor Noah’s origin story, this documentary is a must-watch. A satisfying blend of humor and thoughtful reflection, the doc details how Noah, born to a black mother and white father, was “born a crime” under Apartheid in South Africa. The film also details how Noah broke into comedy and built an international following before trying his luck in America.
The Gospel According to André(2017)
Director Kate Novak’s inside look at the life and career of fashion icon André Leon Talley is joyful from the start. This is a must-watch for fashionistas of all kinds, as Talley’s longtime work as editor-at-large for Vogue Magazine has had a legendary influence on the fashion world for the past 40 years. Just seeing his collection of designer capes, his signature frock, is worth the price of admission.
Brian Banks (2018)
Director Tom Shadyac’s movie about a young black football star is based on a heartbreaking story. With an offer to play for USC in hand, Banks’ life is derailed when he is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit. With a solid ensemble cast including Aldis Hodge and Greg Kinnear, it’s a heart-wrenching look at the need for criminal justice in America.
If Beale Street Could Talk(2018)
Academy Award-winning writer-director Barry Jenkins’ follow up to 2016’s Best Picture winner Moonlight is a classic love story meets crime drama. It won Regina King her first Oscar as best supporting actress, and for good reason. It is a gorgeous and moving film that is based upon a novel of the same name by the great James Baldwin.
Amazing Grace (2018)
This soul-stirring concert doc follows Franklin as she records her best-selling gospel album of the same name in front of a Los Angeles church congregation in 1972. It’s thrilling to watch this master vocalist at the height of her powers. And there is even a moment where Mick Jagger shows up. This flick will leave you refreshed and in awe, and probably a bit sad that we’ve lost such a world-class entertainer, and above all else remind you of the transformative power of music.
Fast Color (2018)
With a knockout cast lead by Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Fast Color is a sci-fi superhero story about a young black girl who grows up and has to reckon with her special powers. The film is written and directed by Julia Hart, a mom who is an outspoken voice in Hollywood for women directors and for more parent/child-friendly working conditions in the movie biz.
This One’s For the Ladies (2018)
This documentary is a cheery sex-positive romp into the world of African American exotic dancers that will steam up any chilly night. With stage names like Poundcake and Sweet Tea, director Gene Graham takes us inside the personal lives and showmanship of a group of mostly male dancers who love to entertain almost as much as the women who flock to their shows love to shower them with dollar bills. The film won a jury-prize after its premiere at the South By Southwest Film Festival.
Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am(2019)
This doc from Timothy Greenfield-Sanders will not only educate you about the impact Nobel Peace Prize for Literature winner Morrison had on the world, it will also introduce you to the funny, lively and truth-telling woman behind all the prestige. And it may just help you finally make sense of those novels you read in high school. The timing couldn’t have been more fitting as Morrison passed away while the film was in theaters last summer.
Movies to stream on Netflix for Black History Month
Ali (2001)
Actor Will Smith takes on the role of “The Greatest” Muhammad Ali in this powerful biopic about his epic life as a boxer, conscientious war objector and American icon. Michael Mann directs with a cast that includes Jamie Foxx, Jon Voight and Jeffrey Wright.
What Happened, Miss Simone?(2015)
Legendary jazz musician and vocalist Nina Simone had a storied career and a troubled personal life. The film, made by noted documentarian Liz Garbus and with the consent of Simone’s daughter, attempts to make sense of Simone’s battles with domestic abuse by her husband, the unraveling of her mental health as she grew older and her rise in the international jazz world.
Mudbound (2017)
Singer and actress Mary J. Blige flexes her Academy Award-nominated dramatic acting chops as wife and mother Florence Jackson in this World War II era epic written and directed by Dee Rees. This period piece set in the Jim Crow south has an uncanny relevance today, not to mention a stellar cast that includes Carey Mulligan, Garrett Hedlund and Rob Morgan.
Strong Island(2017)
Director Yance Ford delivers a personal look at how the murder of his brother, an unarmed young black man on Long Island, upends his family. Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary, the film is a difficult and gorgeously composed watch.
Quincy (2018)
Accomplished music producer Quincy Jones gets the biopic treatment in this Netflix original documentary directed by Alan Hicks and his daughter Rashida Jones. A joyride through his long and successful career, the movie is a glossy look at a bygone era for blacks in the music industry.
The Two Killings of Sam Cooke (2019)
A true-crime-esque look at the life, career and murder of renowned soul singer Sam Cooke, who wrote and performed the classic tune “A Change is Gonna Come”. A Netflix original documentary, the film brings to light little known information about the mysterious circumstances surrounding Cooke’s 1964 shooting and death in Los Angeles at the tragically young age of 33.
The Black Godfather(2019)
Clarence Avant is a dealmaker, mentor and successful Hollywood businessman who until director Reginald Hudlin’s Netflix original documentary gladly operated behind the scenes. With interviews and a boatload of remarkable anecdotes from Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, baseball Hall-of-Famer Hank Aaron and Snoop Dog, to name a few, the movie is an intriguing window into the mind of a man who has made a successful career of bringing people together.
13th (2016)
Just how important and necessary is Ava DuVernay’s feature-length documentary on the incarceration and criminalization of Black Americans? Important enough that Netflix lets anyone stream it in its entirety for free on YouTube (see link above). Using archival footage, as well as interviews with Black thinkers, academics and activists, DuVernay examines just one aspect of racial inequality in the U.S. with an unflinching gaze that not only informs, but also enrages.
The Watermelon Woman (1997)
A groundbreaking film in independent queer cinema, this comedy from filmmaker Cheryl Dunye tells the story of a black lesbian woman looking for love and fodder for her next film. It’s a creative, funny, and historically informed flick made on a shoestring that still holds up 25 years after its release and paved the way for greater black LGBTQ visibility in cinema.
August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand (2015)
The PBS film from director Samuel D. Pollard chronicles the life and legacy of extraordinary American playwright August Wilson. Wilson wrote a series of 10 now-classic plays about the black experience in America, one for each decade from 1900 to 2000. The doc makes for a fascinating look at one of the country’s most influential writers for the stage.
An American Girl Story: Melody 1963 Love Has to Win(2016)
Director Tina Mabry’s American Girl two-part series stars Marsai Martin (Black-ish) as a young girl named Melody who is forced to reckon with the events of the Civil Rights movement in her day-to-day life. It’s an inspiring, well-made and kid-friendly watch for the whole family!
I Am Not Your Negro(2016)
In this stunningly beautiful documentary from Raoul Peck, we are invited to ponder the relevance and significance of acclaimed black writer James Baldwin. It’s also an intro into American film history as Peck weaves together a number of montages of classic American films to call attention to Baldwin’s genius.
Crown Heights(2017)
This 1980-set crime drama details an 18-year-old’s wrongful conviction (and eventual exoneration) for a murder he didn’t commit. Written and directed by Matt Ruskin, the film stars Lakeith Stanfield and Kerry Washington’s adorable real-life hubby, Nnamdi Asomugha.
Basquiat: Rags to Riches (2018)
This installment of the PBS series American Masters tells the story of famed New York City street artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose paintings now appear in museum collections all around the world. David Shulman directs and produces this documentary look at the short yet influential life of an American visual artist.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco(2019)
The Sundance jury award-winning first feature from director Joe Talbot is a moving look at how gentrification affects a city, a neighborhood and best friends Jimmie and Mont. Ultimately, it’s a celebration of San Francisco and black male friendship.
Night Comes On (2018)
Co-written by a former foster care kid, this film from director Jordana Spiro follows an older sister as she tries to get her younger sister out of a sketchy group home. It’s a coming-of-age tale that’s quiet and daring with a strong performance from newcomer and star Dominique Fishback. Ready for some movie trivia? These questions will stump all your film fanatic friends!
