32 Movies About Black History That Should Be On Your Must-Watch List
These films will teach you something the history books don’t.
Black History Month is more than tradition—it's a celebration. It's when Americans proudly honor the contributions and legacies of Black leaders, thinkers, and trailblazers who paved the way for future generations. And while much of what we reflect on this month evokes stories of the pain Black Americans have endured throughout this country's past and present, we also honor Black people's joy, their talents, their beauty, their innovations, and their culture—as we should every single day of the year.
One of the many areas that reflects the richness of Black culture is film. In documentaries, biopics, and fictional stories made for Black people about Black people, Black narratives of all kinds are front and center. They, of course, entertain—undoubtedly a critical component of cinema—but these projects also enlighten viewers by shedding light on stories that have been buried, the subject matter spilling over into dinnertime conversations and your group chats. And an incredible number of these movies also teach, whether it’s by spotlighting Black creativity and resilience or by informing unfamiliar viewers about the Black experience.
This February, consider making time for every one of these 43 must-watch films. From Ava Duvernay’s 13th, which breaks down the racist and systemic loopholes in place to keep Black Americans imprisoned and disenfranchised, to George Tillman Jr.’s The Hate U Give, to Beyoncé's Coachella performance in Homecoming—the range of Black stories and of the Black talent telling them is endless.
Rustin (2023)
Produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company Higher Ground, this film tells the story of Bayard Rustin, a gay civil rights activist who served as an advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and helped organize the March on Washington in 1963. Colman Domingo plays the title role alongside Aml Ameen, Chris Rock, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Audra McDonald.
Bessie (2015)
Known as the “Empress of the Blues,” Bessie Smith was a widely acclaimed blues singer who gained popularity during the 1920s and ’30s. Queen Latifah brings the renowned songstress’s voice and story to life in this Emmy Award-winning HBO TV film.
Stamped From The Beginning (2023)
Stamped from the Beginning opens with the question: “What is wrong with Black people?” It’s an uncomfortable question to hear and sit with, but as the documentary shows, it’s one of many assertions that has been made throughout history and is deeply embedded in American society.
Based on Ibram X. Kendi’s best-selling book of the same name, this film looks at how anti-Black racist ideas were created and spread, and unpacks several myths that insist Black people are inferior—such as the myth of the Black criminal and the myth of Black hypersexuality.
Hidden Figures (2016)
Hidden Figures shares the incredible true story of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson—three Black women at NASA whose mathematical calculations played an instrumental role in the Space Race and the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit on the Friendship 7 mission. The movie won a Screen Actors Guild Award and was chosen by the National Board of Review as one of the top ten films of 2016.
Black Art: In the Absence of Light (2021)
This documentary examines Black art across two centuries and highlights the work of multiple Black American visual artists, including Faith Ringgold, Betye Saar, Kara Walker, Carrie Mae Weems, and Kehinde Wiley. The film is inspired by “Two Centuries of Black American Art,” the first major exhibition to recognize the work of Black artists whose contributions to American art had been overlooked throughout history.
Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019)
Based on the nonfiction book Horror Noire: Blacks in American Horror Films from the 1890s to Present by Dr. Robin R. Means Coleman, this documentary examines the evolution of horror, the history of Black Americans in horror films, and the ways in which Black people have helped develop and shape the genre. The film features interviews with various individuals who have experience working in horror, including Jordan Peele, Rachel True, and Loretta Devine.
The Banker (2019)
The Banker follows Bernard Garrett and Joe Morris, two Black businessmen who build a real estate empire with the help of Matt Steiner, a white man who poses as the face of the company. After successfully desegregating a number of Los Angeles neighborhoods by selling homes to Black families, the three men set out to purchase a local bank in Texas. Starring Anthony Mackie, Samuel L. Jackson, and Nia Long, this film is inspired by true events that took place in the 1950s and ’60s.
4 Little Girls (1997)
On September 15, 1963, four members of the Ku Klux Klan bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, killing four Black girls—Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley—between the ages of 11 and 14.
Directed by Spike Lee, this 1997 documentary tells the story of the four girls while using archival footage, home movies, and interviews with government officials and civil rights activists to weave in important historical context.
Straight Outta Compton (2015)
From 1987 to 1991, N.W.A took the world by storm and left an indelible mark on hip-hop music and culture. Straight Outta Compton depicts the rise and fall of the influential gangsta rap group, with many of its members, including Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, taking part in the film’s production.
Daughters of the Dust (1991)
Julie Dash’s 1991 independent film follows three generations of Gullah women who live on an island off the coast of South Carolina. The community, which consists of formerly enslaved West African people who adopted their ancestors’ practices, is preparing to travel off the island toward the North. With incredible visuals and storytelling, Daughters of the Dust is the first feature film directed by a Black American woman to receive a theatrical release in the United States.
Black Wall Street Burning (2020)
The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 is considered one of the most atrocious acts of white supremacist terrorism and anti-Black racism in U.S. history, yet many people still don’t know about it. This film is a true-to-life retelling of this horrific incident, in which a mob of white residents destroyed an affluent Black community and murdered hundreds of Black people.
Marshall (2017)
Chadwick Boseman stars as a young Thurgood Marshall in this 2017 biopic about the first Black Supreme Court Justice. The film focuses on the start of his career; as an NAACP lawyer, Marshall is assigned one of his first legal cases, the State of Connecticut v. Joseph Spell, in which he must defend a Black man accused of rape by his white employer.
My Name Is Pauli Murray (2021)
Pauli Murray was a queer gender-nonconforming author, scholar, Episcopal priest, labor organizer, and attorney whose groundbreaking feminist legal arguments and interpretations of the U.S. Constitution helped shape landmark litigation around gender and racial equity. Overlooked by history, this film by the directors of RBG gives Murray’s story the overdue attention, recognition, and admiration it deserves.
Who We Are: A Chronicle Of Racism In America (2021)
In 2011, criminal defense attorney Jeffrey Robinson dove deep into researching the nation’s history to teach his then 13-year-old son about racism in the United States. Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America explores the country’s deep-seated legacy of white supremacy and systemic anti-Black racism as Robinson shares what he has learned in a thought-provoking presentation.
Interested in learning more? The Who We Are Project, the nonprofit organization that stemmed from Robinson’s presentation, aims to reckon with the true history of the United States, and examines our collective responsibility to address racial inequity.
IS THAT BLACK ENOUGH FOR YOU?!? (2022)
Directed and narrated by film historian Elvis Mitchell, IS THAT BLACK ENOUGH FOR YOU?!? is an in-depth history lesson on the origins and evolution of Black American cinema. Featuring film excerpts and commentary from the likes of Zendaya, Whoopi Goldberg, and Samuel L. Jackson, the documentary examines the legacy and cultural impact of Black movies that were released during the 1970s.
Ailey (2021)
You can’t learn about the history of modern dance without knowing about Alvin Ailey and his influential dance company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Through taped performances, memories from his friends and peers, and his own words, viewers are given a poignant look at the legendary choreographer and dancer, whose art was an intimate reflection of his personal experiences and of Black life in 20th century America.
Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story (2022)
Known as the “Queen of Gospel,” Mahalia Jackson is revered as one of the greatest singers of all time. This musical biopic shows her rise to international stardom, the challenges and triumphs she faced in the music industry, her close friendship with Dr. King, and her influential role in the Civil Rights Movement.
Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
Starring LaKeith Stanfield and Daniel Kaluuya (who won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for his performance), this historical biopic is a powerful retelling of the 1960s Black Power Movement and the FBI-led assassination of Fred Hampton, a prominent civil rights activist and chairman of the Black Panther Party’s Illinois chapter.
In Our Mothers' Gardens (2021)
Inspired by Alice Walker’s In Search Of Our Mothers’ Gardens, this film brings together a diverse group of Black women—including cultural critic Dr. Brittney Cooper and #MeToo founder Tarana Burke—as they candidly share personal stories of their mothers and matrilineal history. In Our Mothers’ Gardens celebrates the complex relationship between mothers and daughters, and pays homage to the resilience, strength, and love of Black mothers and maternal ancestors.
John Lewis: Good Trouble (2020)
Throughout his 60-plus years of activism, John Lewis fought for justice and equality. From his role as a key leader on the frontlines of the Civil Rights Movement to his legislative work as an elected member of Congress, he was inspired by Rosa Parks’ non-violence philosophy and the belief of getting into “good trouble” as a necessary means for change. In this film, director Dawn Porter chronicles the incredible life and legacy of the late historical figure.
Alexis Jones is an assistant editor at Women's Health where she writes across several verticals on WomensHealthmag.com, including life, health, sex and love, relationships and fitness, while also contributing to the print magazine. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Syracuse University, lives in Brooklyn, and proudly detests avocados.
Safire R. Sostre (she/they) is a writer based in New York City. Their work has been published in Essence, BUST, and Womanly Magazine. When she is not writing, she enjoys crocheting, watching anime and romantic dramas, and daydreaming.
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