In the cinematic world, several prolific films stand out. They tackle often serious and even taboo themes, which makes them not only noteworthy but often mandatory. One such iconic indie cinema from the early 1990s, Just Another Girl on the I.R.T., became a must-watch for Black teens during that time. The film honestly depicted the life of a high schooler grappling with an unplanned pregnancy and the scramble to hide it. It serves not only as a cautionary tale but also explores the desperation and tough choices that young mothers in inner cities continue to face today.
Such classics leave not only a lasting impression but also gems that stick with viewers for years. Whether based on true stories or crafted in the minds of gifted storytellers, several movies are worth seeing in one’s lifetime. Here are just a few of our favorites that deserve a spot in your next movie night, though be prepared to shed a few tears.
Moonlight (2016)
IMDb: 7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Where to watch: Hulu, Sling TV, The Roku Channel, YouTube TV, Fandango at Home, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV
Moonlight, a Golden Globe-winning cultural phenomenon, is based on Tarell Alvin McCraney’s unpublished semi-autobiographical play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue. It follows the lead character, Chiron, in the three stages of his life, from childhood to a man, with Trevante Rhodes portraying his final form. Chiron struggles to come to terms with his sexuality, which he works to suppress as a Black man from Miami. The film was called one of the best movies of the 21st century by The Hollywood Reporter, as it questions the meaning of masculinity, especially as it pertains to Black men in the South.
12 Years a Slave (2013)
IMDb: 8.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Where to watch: YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Amazon Prime Video
A three-time Academy Award winner, 12 Years a Slave offered a different viewpoint of the evil practices that occurred during slavery in America. The film is based on the 1853 slave memoir 12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup, an African American violinist who was abducted in Washington, D.C., by two white conmen in 1841. Despite being born to a freed father, who was once a slave, and a free African-American mother, Northup was sold into slavery and put to work on plantations in Louisiana. Portrayed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, Northup remained in bondage for 12 years before being released back to his wife and children. AARP named 12 Years a Slave the best film for adults to watch.
Paris Is Buring (1990)
IMDb: 8.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Where to watch: Max, YouTube, Hulu, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Apple TV
Paris Is Burning is considered one of the most powerful documentaries within the LGBTQIA+ community. This documentary forced gay and transgender persons of color from the shadows and into the spotlight, chronicling the once-underground ballroom culture in the mid-to-late 1980s. While the film showcased the glitz and glamour of the balls, it also shared an unfiltered look at its participants, many of which had been shunned by society and their biological families. They found solace in New York City’s ballroom culture and the Houses, comprised of people who not only competed in balls together, but also built community and safe spaces.
The groundbreaking documentary was officially preserved by the United States Film Registry in 2016. Sadly, many of Paris Is Burning’s subjects did not live to see the success of the documentary; many of them succumbed to violence the HIV/AIDS epidemic and violence.
Malcolm X (1992)
IMDb: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
Where to watch: Tubi, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, Fandango at Home
This iconic film follows the titular character Malcolm X throughout his childhood to his criminal career. We see this troubled man transform into one of the biggest civil rights leaders in the country, fighting rigorously for the freedom of the Black and brown community. Denzel Washington delivered one of his most iconic roles, earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. The screenplay, co-written by Spike Lee, was largely based on Alex Haley’s 1965 book The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Haley and X worked together on the memoir before the activist was assassinated on February 21, 1965.
The film gives an unfiltered look at X, his marriage, and his life, educating viewers of all ages on his contributions.
The Color Purple (1985)
IMDb: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 73%
Where to watch: YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Amazon Prime Video
A Steven Spielberg masterpiece, The Color Purple, takes place in the Deep South, documenting the life of Black women from 1909 to 1947. Specifically, viewers are introduced to Celie Harris, portrayed by Whoopi Goldberg. She endures years of incest at the hands of her father, an occurrence that has long been stigmatized in the Black community. The Color Purple pulls the veil on the uncomfortable truth that women of color faced during that time period while living in poverty. This film failed to win a single of the 11 Academy Awards it was nominated for, a move that led to a protest by the NAACP, citing racial bias. Renowned critic Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times at that time awarded the movie four stars, calling it “the year’s best film.”
