Sort by Popularity - Most Popular Movies and TV Shows tagged with keyword "black-history"
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1. Hidden Figures (2016)
PG | 127 min | Biography, Drama, History
The story of a team of female African-American mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program.
Director: Theodore Melfi | Stars: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner
Votes: 255,689 | Gross: $169.61M
2. 12 Years a Slave (2013)
R | 134 min | Biography, Drama, History
In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free Black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.
Director: Steve McQueen | Stars: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Kenneth Williams, Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt
Votes: 741,945 | Gross: $56.67M
3. Glory (1989)
R | 122 min | Biography, Drama, History
Robert Gould Shaw leads the U.S. Civil War's first all-black volunteer company, fighting prejudices from both his own Union Army, and the Confederates.
Director: Edward Zwick | Stars: Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, Morgan Freeman
Votes: 144,644 | Gross: $26.83M
4. Malcolm X (1992)
PG-13 | 202 min | Biography, Drama, History
Biographical epic of the controversial and influential Black Nationalist leader, from his early life and career as a small-time gangster, to his ministry as a member of the Nation of Islam and his eventual assassination.
Director: Spike Lee | Stars: Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Delroy Lindo, Spike Lee
Votes: 102,157 | Gross: $48.17M
5. Selma (2014)
PG-13 | 128 min | Biography, Drama, History
A chronicle of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965.
Director: Ava DuVernay | Stars: David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Wilkinson
Votes: 95,543 | Gross: $52.08M
6. The Butler (I) (2013)
PG-13 | 132 min | Biography, Drama
As Cecil Gaines serves eight presidents during his tenure as a butler at the White House, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and other major events affect this man's life, family, and American society.
Director: Lee Daniels | Stars: Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack, Jane Fonda
Votes: 119,794 | Gross: $116.63M
7. Ali (2001)
R | 157 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
A biography of sports legend Muhammad Ali, focusing on his triumphs and controversies between 1964 and 1974.
Director: Michael Mann | Stars: Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Jon Voight, Mario Van Peebles
Votes: 105,625 | Gross: $58.20M
8. Da 5 Bloods (2020)
R | 154 min | Adventure, Drama, War
Four African-American vets battle the forces of man and nature when they return to Vietnam seeking the remains of their fallen squad leader and the gold fortune he helped them hide.
Director: Spike Lee | Stars: Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis
Votes: 55,188
9. Medicine for Melancholy (2008)
Not Rated | 88 min | Drama, Romance
Twenty-four hours in the tentative relationship of two young San Franciscans also dealing with the conundrum of being a minority in a rapidly gentrifying city.
Director: Barry Jenkins | Stars: Wyatt Cenac, Tracey Heggins, John Thurgood, Brent Weinbach
Votes: 2,623 | Gross: $0.11M
10. Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia (2021 TV Movie)
TV-PG | 102 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The story of the New Orleans-born crooner who began singing at an early age and went on to become one of the most revered gospel figures in U.S. history, melding her music with the civil rights movement.
Director: Kenny Leon | Stars: Danielle Brooks, Olivia Washington, Joaquina Kalukango, Jason Dirden
Votes: 696
11. Miss Juneteenth (2020)
Unrated | 99 min | Drama
A former beauty queen and single mom prepares her rebellious teenage daughter for the "Miss Juneteenth" pageant.
Director: Channing Godfrey Peoples | Stars: Nicole Beharie, Liz Mikel, Marcus M. Mauldin, Kendrick Sampson
Votes: 2,168
12. Jazz (2001)
108 min | Documentary, History, Music
A survey of the musical form's history and major talents.
Stars: Keith David, Wynton Marsalis, Gary Giddins, Delroy Lindo
Votes: 2,502
13. What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015)
Not Rated | 101 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
A documentary about the life and legend Nina Simone, an American singer, pianist, and civil rights activist labeled the "High Priestess of Soul."
Director: Liz Garbus | Stars: Nina Simone, Lisa Simone Kelly, Roger Nupie, Al Schackman
Votes: 14,839
14. Montford: The Chickasaw Rancher (2021)
TV-14 | 96 min | Biography, Drama, History
A remarkable story inspired by the life of renowned Chickasaw cattleman Montford T. Johnson, a man who overcame great hardships to establish a ranching empire along the famous cattle highway of the American West, the Chisolm Trail.
Director: Nathan Frankowski | Stars: Martin Sensmeier, Dermot Mulroney, Tommy Flanagan, James Landry Hébert
Votes: 1,003
15. Eyes on the Prize (1987–1990)
TV-PG | 360 min | Documentary, History
A documentary about the American Civil Rights Movement from 1952 to 1965.
Stars: Julian Bond, Coretta Scott King, John Lewis, Andrew Young
Votes: 737
16. Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali (2021)
PG-13 | 95 min | Documentary, Biography, History
From a chance meeting to a tragic fallout, Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali's extraordinary bond cracks under the weight of distrust and shifting ideals.
Director: Marcus A. Clarke | Stars: Ilyasah Shabazz, Rahman Ali, Cornel West, Todd Boyd
Votes: 1,210
17. Freedom Road (1979 TV Movie)
186 min | Drama
A former slave Gideon Jackson, after fighting in the civil war returns home as a free man and becomes a U.S. senator. Will he ever achieve real equality with his former white master?
Director: Ján Kadár | Stars: Muhammad Ali, Kris Kristofferson, Ron O'Neal, Edward Herrmann
Votes: 207
18. Looking for Langston (1989)
R | 45 min | Biography, Drama
A black and white, fantasy-like recreation of high-society gay men during the Harlem Renaissance, with archival footage and photographs intercut with a story. A wake is going on, with ... See full summary »
Director: Isaac Julien | Stars: Ben Ellison, Matthew Baidoo, Akim Mogaji, John Wilson
Votes: 613
19. Brother Future (1991 TV Movie)
TV-PG | 103 min | Drama, History, Sci-Fi
A young street rapper is transported back in time to the pre-Civil War South, where he finds himself in the middle of a slave revolt.
Director: Roy Campanella II | Stars: Phill Lewis, Carl Lumbly, Michael Burgess, Akosua Busia
Votes: 228
20. Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson (2004)
TV-PG | 214 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport
The story of Jack Johnson, the first African-American Heavyweight boxing champion.
Director: Ken Burns | Stars: Jack Johnson, Keith David, Samuel L. Jackson, Adam Arkin
Votes: 1,692
21. The Murder of Fred Hampton (1971)
Not Rated | 88 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
A chronicle of Fred Hampton's revolutionary leadership of the Illinois Black Panther Party, followed by an investigation into his assassination at the hands of the Chicago Police Department.
Director: Howard Alk | Stars: Skip Andrew, Edward Carmody, James Davis, Rennie Davis
Votes: 555
22. Fly
Action, Drama, Romance | Announced
In 2009 Atlanta, four young African American women, a Latina executive and a Caucasian heiress work for an airline at the world's busiest airport while confronting personal and professional challenges.
Stars: Bruce Boxleitner, Tatyana Ali, Glynn Turman, Dan Lauria
23. Kevin Hart's Guide to Black History (2019 TV Movie)
TV-PG | 62 min | Comedy
Kevin Hart highlights the fascinating contributions of black history's unsung heroes in this entertaining and educational comedy special.
Director: Tom Stern | Stars: Steve Agee, Derek Basco, Brad Berryhill, Kirk Bovill
Votes: 1,469
24. A Huey P. Newton Story (2001 TV Movie)
TV-14 | 86 min | Documentary, Biography, Drama
The story of how the radical Huey P. Newton developed the Black Panther Party based on his 10-point program for social reform.
Director: Spike Lee | Stars: Roger Guenveur Smith, Rahum Brown, Brenda Lee, Georgina Ransley
Votes: 853
25. Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom (2022)
75 min | Documentary
A Black American is troubled by the legacy of American slavery and the misuse of Christianity to justify it. He travels throughout Texas discovering how the Juneteenth reveals faith and a fight for freedom in an unjust society.
Director: Ya'Ke Smith | Stars: Rasool Berry, Lecrae, Opal Lee
Votes: 17
26. One Man and His Shoes (2020)
Not Rated | 83 min | Documentary, Biography, History
'One Man and His Shoes' tells the story of the phenomenon of Air Jordan sneakers showing their social, cultural and racial significance and how ground-breaking marketing strategies created a multi-billion-dollar business.
Director: Yemi Bamiro | Stars: David Falk, Jemele Hill, Scoop Jackson, DJ Clark Kent
Votes: 427
27. Allensworth (2022)
65 min | Documentary
It centers on Allensworth, the first self-administered African-American municipality in California, showcasing the buildings of the now-abandoned town and looking for the traces of a Black cultural history.
Director: James Benning
Votes: 42
28. Emicida: AmarElo - It's All for Yesterday (2020)
TV-MA | 89 min | Documentary, Music
Between scenes from his concert in São Paulo's Theatro Municipal, rapper and activist Emicida celebrates the rich legacy of Black Brazilian culture.
Director: Fred Ouro Preto | Stars: Emicida, Zeca Pagodinho, Pabllo Vittar
Votes: 1,667
29. Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans (2008)
Not Rated | 68 min | Documentary
Faubourg Treme documents the enduring legacy of one of the United States' oldest African American communities, an area just outside the French Quarter of New Orleans.
Director: Dawn Logsdon | Stars: Glen David Andrews, Harold Evans, Eric Foner, John Hope Franklin
Votes: 90
30. South (1999)
71 min | Documentary
A documentary examining the effect of a man dragged to death on the residents in Jasper, Texas.
Director: Chantal Akerman
Votes: 397
31. We Have Just Begun (I) (2023)
Documentary
In 1919, black workers' decades-long efforts to challenge exploitation in the Arkansas Delta culminated in the nation's deadliest racial massacre and labor battle. It's legacy is deep, despite being hidden for over 100 years.
Director: Michael Warren Wilson
32. Iraniyan (1999)
163 min | Action, Drama
A home-coming military man becomes rebel after seeing caste discrimination and brutal killings by a landlord over lower caste people.
Director: Vincent Selva | Stars: Meena, Raghuvaran, Ranjith, Murali Siddalingaiah
Votes: 26
33. Malcolm (2019)
15 min | Short
Director: William Catlett | Stars: Todd Anthony, Jay D. Henderson, Mark Krenik, Demarius Mack
Votes: 11
34. August 28th (2016)
22 min | Documentary, Short
Documentary film on events that happened on August 28th in African-American history.
Director: Ava DuVernay | Stars: Don Cheadle, Regina King, Angela Bassett, Gugu Mbatha-Raw
Votes: 102
35. 1000 Years a Slave (2021)
45 min | Documentary, History
An exploration of how slavery has underpinned world history.
Stars: Karen Bryson, David Harewood, Mary Elliott, Patrick Robinson
Votes: 24
36. Assata aka Joanne Chesimard (2008)
93 min | Drama
Assata Shakur, the firebrand revolutionary Black Panther, was convicted and sentenced to life in a widely publicized case involving a 1973 shootout on the NJ Turnpike, which resulted in the... See full summary »
Director: Fred Baker | Stars: Will Blagrove, Rick Borgia, J.D. Brown, Kathleen Cleaver
37. Public Enemy: Fight the Power (1989 Music Video)
TV-MA | 7 min | Music
Public Enemy performs in the music video "Fight the Power" from the album "Fear of a Black Planet" recorded for Def Jam Records. The music video opens with a demonstration on the street. ... See full summary »
Director: Spike Lee | Stars: Public Enemy, Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Professor Griff
Votes: 165
38. American Revolution 2 (1969)
86 min | Documentary
A gritty but essential documentary charting social turbulence in late 1960's Chicago. American Revolution 2 includes footage of the 1968 Democratic Convention protest and riot, a critique ... See full summary »
Directors: Howard Alk, Mike Gray | Stars: Richard J. Daley, Charles Geary, Dick Gregory, Bobby Lee
Votes: 134
39. The Sacrifice (I) (2024)
Short, History
Abraham is tested by YAHUAH to not only kill his firstborn son, Issac, but Abraham must also burn his body in a burnt offering. There is only one problem, the whole world can't be blessed by Issac's descendants if he's dead.
Director: Dennis Delemar | Star: Dennis Delemar
40. Bookmarks (2020)
TV-G | Short, Family
Prominent Black celebrities and artists read children's books from Black authors that highlight the Black experience. Conversations center around themes of identity, respect, justice, and action.
Stars: Marley Dias, Common, Tiffany Haddish, Lupita Nyong'o
Votes: 272
41. Cracker Crazy: Invisible Histories of the Sunshine State (2007)
93 min | Documentary, History, War
Renegade filmmaker Georg Koszulinski takes on Florida's history from a decidedly different point of view. Blending archival and original footage, he brings to life a cast of historical ... See full summary »
Director: Georg Koszulinski | Stars: Scott Camil, Renee Cranford, Georg Koszulinski, Shamrock McShane
Votes: 54
42. The Making of a Judge (2010 TV Movie)
49 min | Documentary
The story of The Honourable Justice George E. Carter as told by his daughter Linda V. Carter. Ms. Carter narrates and moderates conversations with her father and his peers as they talk of ... See full summary »
Director: Linda V. Carter | Stars: Doris Brooks, Evan Carter, George E. Carter, Maryce Carter
43. The First Rainbow Coalition (2019)
56 min | Documentary
Chicago 1969: Activists from the Black Panthers, Young Lords, and Young Patriots united African Americans, Latinos, and poor whites to confront police brutality and unfair housing practices... See full summary »
Director: Ray Santisteban | Stars: Billy Che Brooks, Kathleen Cleaver, Fred Hampton, Ericka Huggins
Votes: 57
44. Walls That Bleed
109 min | Documentary, Biography, History | Post-production
Corrupt Politics is the origin of a Revolution! This documentary tells the story of the 1969 Dudley-A&T Uprising. This event will go down as the most successful student-lead revolt in the history of the United States.
Director: Michael Williams
45. Crown (I) (2023)
48 min | Documentary
This relevant and timely documentary explores the lived experiences of prominent local Black women in Tulsa pertaining to racism and discrimination in the workplace and school. It is also a... See full summary »
Director: Tamecca S. Rogers | Stars: Dawn Carter, Lakisha Cyrus, Toya Forbes, France Gammage
46. Hate Crimes in the Heartland (2015)
Not Rated | 60 min | Documentary, Crime, History
"Hate Crimes in the Heartland," a feature documentary explores the 250,000 hate crimes committed in America each year through the powerful stories of two crimes committed in Tulsa, Oklahoma... See full summary »
Director: Rachel Lyon | Stars: Dewey Bartlett, Warren G. Blakney Sr., Clark Brewster, David Hall
Votes: 70
47. A True Menstrual Show (2020)
Short, Drama
Director: Joshua Daniel | Stars: Tyrone Barnes, Jesse Beamon, Joshua Daniel, Ekeme Ekanem
48. Black Life: Untold Stories (I) (2023– )
Documentary, History
Interviews to narrate the long history of anti-black racism in Canada, including police brutality and the rise of hip-hop music.
Stars: Brian Obonna, Wes Williams, Jully Black, Michie Mee
Votes: 22
49. 1968 (IV) (2018)
7 min | Short, Drama, History
1968 is about a black radical fighting for racial equality while a white idealist struggles to help, during one of the most politically unstable years in recent history.
Director: Aaron Rota | Stars: Warren Belle, Dan Krantz, Richard D. Leko, Daniel Krmpotic
Votes: 20
50. A Distant Shore: African Americans of D-Day (2007 TV Movie)
Documentary, History, War
The role of African American soldiers during the World War II Allied invasion of Normandy.
Star: Josh Harraway
Votes: 24