Black History Month is the perfect time to watch some great movies starring, written by, or directed by Black artists. What follows is a simple list of some of our favourite recent releases. Some of these movies will tug at your heartstrings with their inspirational stories; some will educate and others you can simply enjoy with your entire family.
Remember folks, diversifying our consumption doesn't just broaden our worldview, it also shows Hollywood that we want to see better Black and BIPOC representation onscreen. It's all about aligning media with what the world actually looks like.
With that said, here are some new films you can easily stream from the comfort of you own home. Enjoy!
One Night in Miami (Amazon Prime)
Official plot synopsis: A fictional account of one incredible night where icons Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown gathered discussing their roles in the Civil Rights Movement and cultural upheaval of the 60s.
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Netflix)
Official plot synopsis: During a recording session, tensions rise between Ma Rainey, her ambitious horn player and the white management determined to control the uncontrollable "Mother of the Blues".
Small Axe Anthology Series (Amazon Prime)
Official plot synopsis: Small Axe is based on the real-life experiences of London's West Indian community and is set between 1969 and 1982.
Judas and the Black Messiah (Amazon Prime)
Official plot synopsis: Bill O'Neal infiltrates the Black Panther Party per FBI Agent Mitchell and J. Edgar Hoover. As Party Chairman Fred Hampton ascends, falling for a fellow revolutionary en route, a battle wages for O'Neal's soul.
His House (Netflix)
Official plot synopsis: A refugee couple makes a harrowing escape from war-torn South Sudan, but then they struggle to adjust to their new life in an English town that has an evil lurking beneath the surface.
Time (Amazon Prime)
Official plot synopsis: Fox Rich fights for the release of her husband, Rob, who is serving a 60-year sentence in prison.
Soul (Disney Plus)
Official plot synopsis: After landing the gig of a lifetime, a New York jazz pianist suddenly finds himself trapped in a strange land between Earth and the afterlife.
Antebellum (Amazon Prime)
Official plot synopsis: Successful author Veronica Henley finds herself trapped in a horrifying reality and must uncover the mind-bending mystery before it's too late.
Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)
Official plot synopsis: 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.
The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Official plot synopsis: Follows Holiday during her career as she is targeted by the Federal Department of Narcotics with an undercover sting operation led by black Federal Agent Jimmy Fletcher, with whom she had a tumultuous affair.
