As we celebrate Black History Month, many of us have turned to film for unheard stories, inspiration, and solid entertainment. While everyone’s taste in film is different, this list covers everything from superhero movies to horror to ensure your film selection is on point!
Hidden Figures
Based on the very real, very remarkable story of Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae), Hidden Figures is about the role three African-American mathematicians played in launching astronaut John Glenn into space.
The efforts of these women in bringing about such a historic event went underappreciated until Hidden Figures. If you’re looking for an opportunity to learn something new and enjoy every minute of it, this film is the perfect feel-good choice.
Where to watch: Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video (click here)
LA92
This documentary follows decades of police brutality leading up to what many felt was the final straw: the Rodney King verdict in 1992. Four LAPD officers were acquitted despite video evidence of King’s beating.
The verdict struck a chord. The resulting protests, violence, and looting that swept L.A. in the following days show the anger and despair of a community subjected to centuries of injustice. It’s dark, it’s emotional, and it’s one of those films that everyone should see once.
Where to watch: Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video (click here)
Black Panther
The release of Black Panther is a milestone in the Marvel universe and beyond. The blockbuster superhero film featured a black lead and a powerhouse ensemble, not to mention jaw-dropping cinematography.
Even if you’re not much for superhero films, this historic stand-alone is worth watching for one of the kindest and most noteworthy actors of this generation, the late Chadwick Boseman. While it may sound a little ridiculous to call a Marvel film “groundbreaking,” there isn’t a better way to describe the long-overdue release of Black Panther.
Where to watch: Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video (click here)
Just Mercy
Just Mercy is a legal drama (based on a true story) that hinges on a historic problem within the United States justice system: the wrongful conviction of black men.
Michael B. Jordan plays Harvard grad and lawyer Bryan Stevenson as he defends wrongfully convicted clients in the state of Alabama. The film is powerful and important in opening up a much larger conversation about the American prison system.
Where to watch: Hulu, HBO Max, Prime Video (click here)
Get Out
If you’re a horror fan and you haven’t seen Get Out, what are you doing? An instant hit, Get Out is Jordan Peele’s directorial debut—an elegant mix of the best elements of horror with biting social commentary. The film is wildly entertaining and broke real ground in the realm of black horror. It’s no wonder it’s one of the highest-rated films out there.
Where to watch: Hulu, Prime Video (click here)
Black History Month is about so much more than cinema, but these groundbreaking films are a great place to start. As we tackle the last cold weeks of winter, snuggle up to these amazing films with even more amazing (often true) stories.