Exploration of Identity

Living in a highly White-centric global society, the Black experience is undeniably linked to the exploration of one’s personal identity on an individual level while navigating how to find their place within a highly racialized civilization, especially when being Black isn’t the only way they are marginalized.

Pariah (2011)

One of the few Black lesbian films directed by a Black lesbian, Pariah may come off as another coming-of-age drama that closely follows the queer teen coming out story formula. But the juxtaposition of moody lighting and vibrant color splashes, emotions laid raw by lead actress Adepero Oduye, and Dee Rees’s distinct viewpoint make it such a shame to let this film get lost amongst other queer media.

Hair Love (2019)

A response to the underrepresentation of Black hairs and the stereotype of absent Black fathers, Sony’s Oscar-winning short Hair Love tackles these topics through gorgeous and kitschy animation, a comedic relief pet cat, and an incredible dual perspective storytelling balanced between the titular child Zuri and her father. It needs no dialogue to explore the intersection between Black women’s hair, femininity, and their expression of beauty. The short has spawned a limited series, Young Love (2023).

Tangerine (2015)

Before Anora (2024), director Sean Baker showcased his eye for riveting cinematography and evocative storytelling of marginalized groups through Tangerine. The iPhone 5S devices used to film the movie Unglamorous yet charming, it follows the earnest story of two transgender sex workers—Sin-Dee Rella and Alexandra—on Christmas Eve as they navigate donuts, infidelity, and the intricate social dynamics of sexuality and gender in romance.

Black Resistance

Marginalized communities have never just stood by and let oppression win. Through valiant efforts from abolitionists and Civil Rights pioneers and trailblazers, society inches toward equal rights by law. But it doesn’t stop there, as the Black community keeps the fight alive amidst social injustice.

Do the Right Thing (1989)

From his first feature She’s Gotta Have It to the critically acclaimed Malcolm X (1992) and BlacKkKlansman (2018), any given one of Spike Lee’s films deserves a spot in conversations about Black-centric movies. But the gritty and vibrant backdrop of 90’s Brooklyn, sharp dialogue, and immaculate microcosmic representation of race-driven social dynamics and violence cemented Do the Right Thing as one of his greatest, placing it among seminal classics that film professors include in their Intro to Film Studies curriculums.

Get Out (2017)

Like Spike Lee, it almost doesn’t matter which Jordan Peele film makes it to this list (they even worked together on BlacKkKlansman). His take on horror is straightforward: a commentary on the real-life terrors Black people face on the daily, packaged with dramatic and suspenseful thrillers. His directorial debut Get Out demonstrates this almost flawlessly, brimming with small details that warrants multiple rewatches to witness just how underhanded and overlooked subtle forms of racism can be.

Black Girl (La noire de…) (1966)

Arguably the most visceral cinematic depiction of Black people in this list, Ousmane Sembene’s directorial debut Black Girl is considered among the first work by an African filmmaker to receive international acclaim. Sitting at a crossroads of White colonialism, Black fetishization, and racial class division, it teems with implied and explicit symbolisms of the cyclical oppression that pervades all areas of the lives of African folk, especially women, in a vignette that is as tragic as it is real.

Light-hearted Relationship Stories

While there is no removing identity exploration and resistance from the Black experience, those facets don’t define the people. Laughter, melodrama, romance, heartbreak—those are universal experiences that are also part of Black livelihood.

How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)

Sometimes, Black-centric movies don’t have to deal with heavy subjects. Terry McMillan’s novel-turned-film How Stella Got Her Groove Back is a prime example of this, blending charming humor and melodramatic emotions into a fun and lighthearted romantic romp. The story and character motivations are undeniably still informed by their lived experiences as African-Americans, but while struggles play a significant part in Black people’s lives, so do familial joy and light-hearted, happy-ever-after romances.

One of Them Days (2025)

A newer addition to the library of Black cinema, One of Them Days excels at delivering its premise of a drama-filled, impassioned R-rated buddy comedy centered around female friendships. It never tries biting off more than it can chew trying to prove that it’s bigger than the sum of its parts. Light-hearted, witty, and genuine, it’s a worthy addition to your go-to movie night lineup.