To celebrate Black History Month, we have 10 must-watch movies that highlight Black stories and artists

Written by: Pooja Nayyar – February 7th, 2021 5:14 pm pst

We must amplify the voices of Black talent today, and everyday. Therefore, we have compiled a list of 10 movies you should watch in celebration of #BlackHistoryMonth. 

  • Hidden Figures

The 2016 hit Hidden Figures is set in the 1960s and recounts the untold true-story of 3 African-American women and NASA mathematicians, highlights their integral role during the Space Race, and exposes the gender and racial discrimination they faced on a daily basis.  

The film is available to watch on Disney+ and Hulu. 

  • 42

42 tells the inspirational true story of Jackie Robinson, portrayed by the late Chadwick Boseman, and his journey to becoming the first African-American Major League Baseball player. 

The movie is available to stream on Amazon Prime for a small fee. 

  • 13th 

The powerful film is titled after the 13th amendment that abolished slavery, “except as punishment for a crime.” 13th explores this loophole and highlights its connection to the mass incarceration of African-Americans in the United States.  

You can watch 13th on Netflix. 

  • Cinderella

The 1997 rendition of Cinderella with Brandy and Whitney Houston is finally coming to Disney+ on February 12th! The groundbreaking film is praised by critics for its diverse cast.  

  • Dreamgirls

The 2006 musical drama casts Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, and Anika Noni Rose as the music trio the Dreamettes. Set in the 1960s, Dreamgirls follows the group’s rise to fame and the racial struggles they faced. 

The movie is available to watch on Amazon Prime for a small fee. 

  • Black Panther 

The critically-acclaimed Marvel film tells the story of the new king of Wakanda and Black Panther T’Challa as he protects his people from the powerful enemy Killmonger. The movie features an all-star cast that includes Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, and Lupita Nyong’o.  

The film can be streamed on Disney+ and Hulu. 

  • The Hate U Give

The 2018 drama based on Angie Thomas’s novel The Hate U Give follows Starr Carter, who witnesses the shooting of her best friend by a police officer. The teen struggles to balance her two worlds – her mostly white prep school and her majority black neighborhood. Throughout the film, we watch as Carter finds her voice and fights for what is right, even if that means losing some friends along the way. 

The movie is available to watch on Hulu. 

  • Remember the Titans

The 2000 sports drama takes place in 1971 and recounts the true story of newly appointed African-American coach Herman Boone as he leads the T.C. Williams High School’s first integrated football team. 

The film can be watched on Disney+.

  • Soul 

Soul features Pixar’s first African-American protagonist Joe Gardner, voiced by Jamie Foxx. Gardner is a middle school band teacher who is given the chance to play at the best jazz club in town when he falls down a hole in the sidewalk and ends up in another realm called “The Great Before”. There, he befriends soul 22 and together they find the answers to some of life’s biggest questions. 

You can watch the animated film on Disney+. 

  • Selma

The 2014 historical drama recounts the 1965 marches from Selma, Alabama to the state capital Montogomery. The protest became an important milestone in the civil rights movement as it resulted in the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 

Selma can be watched on Hulu. 

Now more than ever it is important to celebrate African-American creatives, but doing so for just one month is not enough. Let us remember to honor Black voices and stories all year round.

About The Author:

Pooja Nayyar is a student of Political Science at NYU and an Intern at AfterBuzz TV. She is passionate about entertainment news, photography, and all things pop culture.

More News

Badass Disney Princess Moments
Movies to watch over spring break
Megan thee stallion in a new movie - afterbuzztv.com
Coda, Ariana Debose, Denzel Washington - popcorntalknetwork.com
Best on screen couples in rom coms - popcorntalknetwork
actors including peter dinklage and ariana debose who we can't wait see get oscar noms