Black history movies and TV shows
The list contains the best, new and most relevant black history movies ordered by relevance. The recommendation service has sorted out dramatic, black cinema, inspirational, realistic, thought provoking and intense films and TV shows about / with black history, african american, racism, black, american culture, civil rights, interracial relations, black lives matter, justice and racial discrimination plots mostly in Drama, Biography and History genres shot in USA, China, UK and other countries.
587
TOP 10 movies tagged as black history: Harriet (2019), Malcolm X (1992), The Help (2011), The Rosa Parks Story (2002), 12 Years a Slave (2013), Amistad (1997), Judas and the Black Messiah (2021), One Night in Miami... (2020), Hotel Rwanda (2004), Ali (2001).
Best films
New films
List of black history movies
36K
Genre: Action, Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA, China
Duration: 125 min.
Story:
The story of Harriet Tubman, who helped free hundreds of slaves from the South after escaping from slavery herself in 1849.
Style:
thought provoking, costume drama, tense, historical drama, political ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
slavery, african american, black history, american civil war, underground railroad, female protagonist, female warrior, freedom, plantation, belief in god, black, black woman ...
Time:
19th century, 2010s, year 2019, victorian era, 1860s ...
Place:
southern usa, south carolina, philadelphia, baltimore, pennsylvania ...
Is relevant?
110K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: Japan, USA
Duration: 202 min.
Story:
A tribute to the controversial black activist and leader of the struggle for black liberation. He hit bottom during his imprisonment in the '50s, he became a Black Muslim and then a leader in the Nation of Islam. His assassination in 1965 left ...
Style:
political, factual, inspirational, thought provoking, intense ...
Plot:
civil rights, racism, politics, african american, black history, civil rights movement, assassination, islam, biopic, childhood, black, anti racism ...
Time:
20th century, 90s, 60s, 50s, 1940s ...
Place:
usa, africa, new york, saudi arabia, manhattan new york city ...
Is relevant?
525K
Genre: Drama
Country: USA, India
Duration: 146 min.
Story:
Aibileen Clark is a middle-aged African-American maid who has spent her life raising white children and has recently lost her only son; Minny Jackson is an African-American maid who has often offended her employers despite her family's ...
Style:
touching, inspirational, feel good, thought provoking, uplifting ...
Audience:
chick flick, girls' night, teens, kids, date night ...
Plot:
racism, friendship, civil rights, discrimination, writers, women, master and servant, racial segregation, maid, feminist, racial issues, blacks and whites ...
Time:
60s, year 2011, year 1963, 1900s, 50s ...
Place:
mississippi, usa, america, southern usa, africa
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min.
Story:
The story of the civil rights heroine whose refusal to obey racial bus segregation was just one of her acts in her fight for justice.
Style:
uplifting, thought provoking, realistic, serious, political ...
Plot:
civil rights movement, civil disobedience, african american, civil rights, racial segregation, racism, black history, fighting the system, rebellion, social differences, injustice, legal ...
Time:
year 1955, 50s, 20th century, 1950s
Place:
alabama, america, usa
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 134 min.
Story:
In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty as well as unexpected kindnesses Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In ...
Style:
heartbreaking, harsh, atmospheric, inspirational, motivational ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
slavery, racism, survival, civil rights, african american, black history, torture, slave trade, american history, freedom, racial discrimination, rape ...
Time:
19th century, 1850s, year 2013, victorian era, 2010s ...
Place:
louisiana, new orleans, america, africa, southern usa ...
Is relevant?
87K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 155 min.
Story:
In 1839, the slave ship Amistad set sail from Cuba to America. During the long trip, Cinque leads the slaves in an unprecedented uprising. They are then held prisoner in Connecticut, and their release becomes the subject of heated debate. Freed ...
Style:
emotional, period piece, touching, epic, inspirational ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
slavery, slave trade, rebellion, african american, legal, courtroom, politics, freedom, court, lawyer, president, male nudity ...
Time:
19th century, victorian era, ancient times, 1800s, 1840s ...
Place:
africa, cuba, washington d.c., america, massachusetts ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 126 min.
Story:
Bill O'Neal infiltrates the Black Panthers per FBI Agent Mitchell and J. Edgar Hoover. As Black Panther Chairman Fred Hampton ascends, falling for a fellow revolutionary en route, a battle wages for O’Neal’s soul.
Style:
political, philosophical, suspenseful, disturbing, social ...
Audience:
date night, adult
Plot:
violence, politics, civil rights, betrayal, prison, murder, black history, racism, black, justice, african american, betrayal by friend ...
Time:
2020s, year 1968, 60s
Place:
chicago, nebraska, columbus ohio, hawaii, new haven connecticut
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 114 min.
Story:
In the aftermath of Cassius Clay's defeat of Sonny Liston in 1964, the boxer meets with Malcolm X, Sam Cooke and Jim Brown to change the course of history in the segregated South.
Style:
thought provoking, uplifting, suspense, political, sad ...
Plot:
plantation, black history, racism, black, african american, fight for justice, inequality, racial injustice, friendship between men, injustice, women, victory ...
Time:
60s, 2020s, year 1963, year 1964, year 1965
Place:
miami, georgia
Is relevant?
390K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: USA, UK, South Africa, Italy
Duration: 121 min.
Story:
Inspired by true events, this film takes place in Rwanda in the 1990s when more than a million Tutsis were killed in a genocide that went mostly unnoticed by the rest of the world. Hotel owner Paul Rusesabagina houses over a thousand refuges in his ...
Style:
emotional, intense, sincere, rough, political ...
Audience:
chick flick
Plot:
genocide, racism, hotel, against humanity, war, violence, politics, cruelty, civil war, war crime, refugee, un ...
Time:
20th century, year 2004, 90s, 2000s
Place:
rwanda, africa, south africa, congo, somalia ...
Is relevant?
110K
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 157 min.
Story:
In 1964, a brash, new pro boxer, fresh from his Olympic gold medal victory, explodes onto the scene: Cassius Clay. Bold and outspoken, he cuts an entirely new image for African Americans in sport with his proud public self-confidence and his ...
Style:
sincere, thought provoking, uplifting, touching, motivational ...
Plot:
boxing, muslim, african american, racism, civil rights, biopic, friendship, black history, roman empire, boxer, politics, islam ...
Time:
70s, year 2001, 60s, year 1964, year 1974 ...
Place:
africa, nigeria, usa, louisville kentucky
Is relevant?
20K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: USA
Duration: 74 min.
TV show
Story:
African teen Kunta Kinte, brought to America to be enslaved, and the generations of his family.
Style:
touching, suspense, historical drama, saga, serious ...
Plot:
slavery, racism, slave trade, family history, civil war, american civil war, sexualized violence, american south, escape attempt, african american, black, justice ...
Time:
18th century, 19th century, 1800s, 20th century, 1860s ...
Place:
africa, usa, america, tennessee, england
Is relevant?
123K
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 132 min.
Story:
A look at the life of Cecil Gaines who served eight presidents as the White House's head butler from 1952 to 1986, and had a unique front-row seat as political and racial history was made.
Style:
touching, inspirational, political, factual, historical drama ...
Audience:
teens, date night
Plot:
racism, president, u.s. president, civil rights, black history, racial discrimination, butler, injustice, african american, politics, civil rights movement, father son relationship ...
Time:
80s, 70s, year 2013, 60s, year 1961 ...
Place:
washington d.c., usa, birmingham alabama, nashville tennessee, america ...
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
29K
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama, History
Country: USA, China, Hong Kong
Duration: 118 min.
Story:
Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, battles through one of his career-defining cases.
Style:
suspense, captivating, tense, period piece, inspirational ...
Plot:
court, racism, lawyer, courtroom, injustice, african american, racial segregation, african american protagonist, racial discrimination, trial, jury, justice ...
Time:
1940s, year 2017, 2010s, year 1954, year 1967
Place:
new york, connecticut, maryland, philadelphia, manhattan new york city ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Action, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 140 min.
Story:
Spurred by a white woman's lie, vigilantes destroy a black Florida town and slay inhabitants in 1923.
Style:
disturbing, period piece, political, social, depressing ...
Plot:
racism, african american, small town, civil rights, black history, black, racial slur, murder, interracial, politics, massacre, racial segregation ...
Time:
1920s, 20th century, year 1997
Place:
florida, america, usa, africa, california ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, History, War
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min.
Story:
During the Second World War, a special project is begun by the US Army Air Corps to integrate African American pilots into the Fighter Pilot Program. Known as the "Tuskegee Airman" for the name of the airbase at which they were trained, ...
Style:
inspirational, emotional, factual, tense, serious ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
world war two, racism, fighter pilot, military, african american, aerial combat, black history, racial discrimination, courage, racial prejudice, racial segregation, training ...
Time:
1940s, 20th century, 1930s
Place:
africa, alabama, cuba, usa, morocco ...
Is relevant?
153K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: USA
Duration: 122 min.
Story:
Robert Gould Shaw leads the US Civil War's first all-black volunteer company, fighting prejudices of both his own Union army and the Confederates.
Style:
epic, inspirational, period piece, suspense, emotional ...
Plot:
american civil war, battles, civil war, military, slavery, prejudice, racism, war, black history, u.s. civil war, human spirit, african american ...
Time:
19th century, year 1989, 1800s, 1860s, 20th century ...
Place:
massachusetts, america, south carolina, georgia, africa ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 154 min.
Story:
An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie, an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. After Celie's abusive father marries her off to the equally debasing "Mister" Albert ...
Style:
sentimental, inspirational, touching, sincere, emotional ...
Audience:
chick flick, girls' night
Plot:
african american, sexual abuse, incest, lgbtq, domestic violence, life is a bitch, rape, racial discrimination, feminism, incest rape, wife abuse, abusive relationship ...
Time:
edwardian era, 20th century, 1930s, year 1985, 1920s ...
Place:
africa, southern usa, usa, tennessee, georgia
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 127 min.
Story:
The untold story of Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson – brilliant African-American women working at NASA and serving as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history – the launch of astronaut John Glenn into ...
Style:
inspirational, exciting, touching, feel good, historical drama ...
Audience:
girls' night, family friendly, date night, chick flick, kids ...
Plot:
racism, mathematics, nasa, space program, stereotypes, african american, prejudice, sexism, genius, scientist, strong female character, racial segregation ...
Time:
60s, year 1961, 20th century, year 2016, 2010s ...
Place:
indiana, persia, usa, virginia, langley virginia
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min.
Story:
On the hottest day of the year on a street in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, everyone's hate and bigotry smolders and builds until it explodes into violence.
Style:
hood, independent film, controversial, sexy, realistic ...
Audience:
teens, adult
Plot:
heat wave, racism, pizzeria, culture clash, hip hop, police brutality, pizza, african american, ghetto, boycott, black history, prejudice ...
Time:
20th century, year 1989, 80s
Place:
new york, usa, brooklyn new york city, africa, new york state
Is relevant?
108K
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 128 min.
Story:
The powerful story of Jackie Robinson, the legendary baseball player who broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier when he joined the roster of the Brooklyn Dodgers. The film follows the innovative Dodgers’ general manager Branch Rickey, the ...
Style:
sentimental, period piece, touching, factual, intense ...
Audience:
family outing, kids
Plot:
racism, baseball, athlete and trainer, african american, rise to the top, racial segregation, civil rights, athlete's life, against the odds, biopic, black history, justice ...
Time:
1940s, year 1946, 2010s, year 2013, 20th century ...
Place:
africa, new york, usa, pasadena california, empire state building manhattan new york city ...
Is relevant?
164K
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 152 min.
Story:
Born on a sharecropping plantation in Northern Florida, Ray Charles went blind at seven. Inspired by a fiercely independent mom who insisted he make his own way, He found his calling and his gift behind a piano keyboard. Touring across the Southern ...
Style:
touching, sincere, emotional, inspirational, dramatic ...
Audience:
date night
Plot:
jazz, addiction, musician, musician's life, music, african american, blindness, biopic, blind character, heroin, blind boy, disability ...
Time:
year 2004, 20th century, 1930s, 50s, 2000s ...
Place:
georgia, new york, california, indianapolis indiana, usa ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Western
Country: USA
Duration: 165 min.
Story:
With the help of a German bounty hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner.
Style:
talky, suspense, captivating, brutal, bloody ...
Audience:
boys' night, adult
Plot:
racism, slavery, revenge, old west, bounty hunter, violent, vengeance, african american, dark humor, gunfight, racial violence, violence ...
Time:
19th century, year 2012, 2010s, 1850s
Place:
usa, texas, tennessee, america, austin texas ...
Is relevant?
901K
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 134 min.
Story:
King T'Challa returns home from America to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country's new leader. However, T'Challa soon finds that he is challenged for the throne by factions within ...
Style:
futuristic, suspense, stylized, saga, action adventure ...
Audience:
teens, family outing, kids, chick flick, girls' night ...
Plot:
superhero, martial arts, black hero, strong female character, loss of father, black superhero, warrior, good versus evil, female spy, chase, new world order, tragic villain ...
Time:
2010s, future, 90s, 20th century, year 1992 ...
Place:
africa, indiana, south africa, london, oakland california ...
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min.
Story:
The true story of Oscar, a 22-year-old Bay Area resident, who crosses paths with friends, enemies, family, and strangers on the last day of 2008.
Style:
hood, independent film, thought provoking, sad, sincere ...
Audience:
preschool
Plot:
racism, african american, police brutality, black, marijuana, murder, black history, prison visit, introspection, black lives matter, civil rights, character study ...
Time:
year 2013, 2000s, year 2008, year 2009, 2010s ...
Place:
california, new york, usa, oakland california, san francisco ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 129 min.
Story:
Scout Finch, 6, and her older brother Jem live in sleepy Maycomb, Alabama, spending much of their time with their friend Dill and spying on their reclusive and mysterious neighbor, Boo Radley. When Atticus, their widowed father and a respected ...
Style:
touching, thought provoking, gothic, compassionate, sentimental ...
Audience:
family outing, manly, chick flick, teen drama
Plot:
lawyer, courtroom, courtroom drama, trial, racism, small town, legal, single father, coming of age, rape, justice, childhood ...
Time:
1930s, year 1932, 20th century, year 1962
Place:
alabama, usa, southern usa, america, africa ...
Is relevant?
38K
Genre: Action, Drama, History, War
Country: USA
Duration: 125 min.
Story:
The story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American pilots to fly in a combat squadron during World War II.
Style:
epic, serious, suspenseful, exciting, realistic ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
world war two, fighter pilot, aerial combats, airplane, interracial relations, war, military, military life, discrimination, black history, propaganda, african american ...
Time:
20th century, 1940s, year 2012, year 1944, year 1942
Place:
europe, cuba, italy, pentagon, seattle ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 94 min.
Story:
The true story about Robert Peary's forgotten African American employee Mathew Henson who proved crucial in their race to North Pole.
Style:
historical drama, period piece
Plot:
arctic, black history, expedition, exploration, winter, racial discrimination, friendship, teamwork, survival, heroism, resilience, race ...
Time:
19th century, 1900s, 20th century
Place:
america
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min.
Story:
Boyz n the Hood is the popular and successful film and social criticism from John Singleton about the conditions in South Central Los Angeles where teenagers are involved in gun fights and drug dealing on a daily basis.
Style:
cult classic, brutal, independent film, suspenseful, rough ...
Audience:
teens, teen drama
Plot:
hip hop, gang, ghetto, african american, poverty, coming of age, urban ghetto life, street gang, juvenile delinquency, rapper, gangster, teenager ...
Time:
90s, 20th century, 80s, year 1991, year 1984
Place:
los angeles, south central los angeles, california, america, usa ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: Nigeria
Duration: 151 min.
Story:
A bright student in Nigeria takes on the academic establishment when she reports a popular professor who tried to rape her. Based on real events.
Style:
realistic, educational, psychological, captivating, thrilling ...
Plot:
female protagonist, black history, child abuse, university, sexual harassment, campus, attempted rape, teacher, rape, social problems, problem, sexual assault ...
Place:
nigeria
Is relevant?
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 161 min.
Story:
The sequel to Black Panther (2018).
Style:
futuristic, captivating, tear jerker, anime, absurd ...
Audience:
family friendly, chick flick
Plot:
superhero, heroes, human nature, fight scenes, danger, technology, beautiful scenery, fight, african american, african, death of king, death of brother ...
Time:
16th century, 2020s, future, 21st century
Place:
africa, atlantic ocean, virginia, boston, indiana ...
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
