28 Black Movies on Netflix That You'll Want to Watch on Repeat
28 Black Movies on Netflix That You'll Want to Watch on Repeat
To the internet's utter delight, Netflix recently announced that for the rest of the year, the streaming service will rotate iconic Black films each month—meaning you'll have tons more great content, but only 30 days to watch each. The latest? The Beyoncé-led Carmen: A Hip-Hopera.
But don't worry too much. If you're really looking to flex your binge-watching muscle, Netflix is already home to tons of great Black cinema. Take thrilling documentaries like The Two Killings of Sam Cooke, Oprah's A Wrinkle In Time,or the Oscar-winning superhero flick, Black Panther. And there are even more to choose from, so don't sleep on the rest of these great Black movies you can add now to your Netflix queue.
1Moonlight
DAVID BORNFRIEND
In this Oscar-nominated, incredibly emotional drama you see a young boy named Chiron grow up in a crime ridden Miami neighborhood, grappling with the troubles around him as he comes to terms with his own sexuality.
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2Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
SONY PICTURES ANIMATION
In this critically acclaimed, Oscar-nominated animated film, a Brooklyn teen named Miles is bitten by a radioactive spider, in-turn meeting his five counterparts from alternate dimensions.
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3The Black Godfather
NETFLIX
In this eye-opening documentary, you're let into the untold story of Clarence Avant, known as "The Black Godfather" amongst Hollywood's elite, in the music industry, andpolitics. You soon learn that his mentorship and connection is so powerful, he's influenced the likes of Bill Withers, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Jim Brown, and P. Diddy. (And that's just brushing the surface).
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4Carmen: A Hip Hopera
NEW LINE CINEMA
Based on Bizet's classic opera, this modern spin takes a hip-hop approach, following an aspiring actress who is admired by everyone in town. But she only has eyes for the engaged Sergeant Derrick Hill. (And yes, that's Beyoncé).
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5Beats
ELIZABETH MORRIS
A struggling music producer and a teenage musical prodigy (who's also ridden with anxiety) find each other, hoping to break into the Chicago music scene.
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6See You Yesterday
NETFLIX
Two teen geniuses invent time travel-enabling backpacks. But when one of their brother's killed in a police shooting, they attempt to use their new device to save him.
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7Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé
COURTESY OF PARKWOOD ENTERTAINMENT
As the one and only Queen Bey could do, the songstress announced her groundbreaking documentary just days before it was set to stream on Netflix. Dubbed "Beychella," the film chronicled Beyoncé's celebrated 2018 Coachella performance, not only showing the entire concert, but going behind the scenes to reveal the hours of rehearsals, HBCU influences, and its importance for Black culture.
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8Obsessed
IMDB
We have yet another Beyoncé film—with the added bonus of Idris Elba—with this thriller. It follows idyllic couple Derek and Sharon, but their perfect life is jeopardized when temp-worker at Derek's job develops an unhealthy obsession.
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9Are We There Yet?
REVOLUTION STUDIOS
Starring Ice Cube and Nia Long, Are We There Yet? is a feel-good family comedy about a man who sets out to impress his new girlfriend by taking her kids on a road trip. The catch? He hates kids—and they're not crazy about him either.
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10Juanita
NETFLIX
In this Netflix original drama, Alfre Woodard plays a woman who uproots her life to take a trip to Montana, leaving her three grown children behind in order to better herself. And fun fact: Woodard's husband, Roderick Spencer, wrote the film just for her at her personal request.
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11High Flying Bird
PHOTO BY PETER ANDREWS
Shot completely on an iPhone, this Steven Soderbergh drama follows a sports agent who concocts a risky plan in order to end an NBA lockout.
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12The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
ILZE KITSHOFF / NETFLIX
The directorial debut of actor Chiwetel Ejiofor—who also stars in the film—follows a 13-year-old Malawian boy who teaches himself to build a windmill in order to save his village from starvation.
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13ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke
NETFLIX
This documentary delves into the events surrounding the mysterious murder of Sam Cooke, the musician and activist who died in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement in 1964.
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14Seven Pounds
NETFLIX
In this 2008 drama, Will Smith portrays Ben Thomas, an IRS agent who embarks on a mysterious mission to donate seven of his organs to strangers in need. But the seemingly random acts of kindness have darker motivations.
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15Black Panther
NETFLIX
Marvel Studios struck gold when it produced its first film with a nearly all-Black cast. Black Panther scored over $1 billion at the global box office and inspired moviegoers to attend screenings in dashikis. Its powerhouse cast includes Danai Gurira, Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o and Angela Basset—just to name a few.
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16Roxanne Roxanne
NETFLIX
A 2017 Sundance Film Festival favorite, Roxanne, Roxanne is a biopic that tells the story of Queens-born emcee Roxanne Shanté, who rose to fame at the age of 14 following the release of her 1984 single "Roxanne's Revenge." While she's considered one of hip-hop's first female rappers, the film depicts her struggle to succeed in the male-dominated music industry of the 1980s.
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17Quincy
NETFLIX
Finally, a long-overdue documentary aboutQuincy Jones, the music legend who produced hits like Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and "Billie Jean," plus the soundtrack to the 1977 TV mini-series Roots. Quincy follows the life of a great who counted celebrities like Marlon Brando, Ray Charles, and Frank Sinatra as friends. His daughter, Rashida Jones, co-directed the film.
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18A Wrinkle In Time
NETFLIX
Oprah appears alongside Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling in this Disney production based on the '60s sci-fi novel of the same name. Director Ava DuVernay became the first Black female to earn more than $100 million domestically after its release.
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19Zion
NETFLIX
This Netflix original chronicles the life of Zion Clark, a young wrestler from Ohio with caudal regression syndrome, a condition that left him without legs. Though this documentary short is only 11 minutes long, Clark's inspiring story is worth every second of your time.
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20Nappily Ever After
NETFLIX
Remember when Sanaa Lathan shocked us all and shaved her head? This movie is the reason why. Based on the novel of the same name by Trisha R. Thomas, the film follows the story of a woman who has it all (the perfect house, boyfriend, and job) but decides to cut her hair off after her life begins to crumble. Her drastic move ultimately leads to a "Live Your Best Life" moment that Oprah would be proud of.
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21First Match
NETFLIX
First Match is about a teenage girl who grows up in Brooklyn's Brownsville foster care system. She joins a boys' wrestling team in an effort to get the attention of her father, an ex-prisoner who was a star wrestler at her age.
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22Beasts of No Nation
NETFLIX
This 2015 war drama earned Idris Elba a SAG award for his portrayal of a vicious West African warlord who takes a young boy under his wing, recruiting him into an army of child soldiers.
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23She's Gotta Have It
NETFLIX
A rom-com from 1986, She's Gotta Have It is referred to as the first "Spike Lee joint," launching the iconic director's decades-spanning career. The filmfollows the love life of leading lady Lola Darling as she shamelessly juggles three men from the comfort of her sacred "loving bed." In 2017, Lee premiered a Netflix remake, which was met with mixed reviews.
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2413th
NETFLIX
Ava DuVernay holds nothing back in this eye-opening documentary about institutionalized racism in the United States, which focuses on the disproportionate placement of African Americans in prison. Along with a slew of activists and scholars, featured contributors include Van Jones, Cory Booker, and Angela Davis.
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25Burning Sands
NETFLIX
Directed by Gerard McMurray, a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Burning Sandstakes a controversial look at the intense hazing practices of Black Greek organizations. After the 2011 hazing death of Florida A&M's Robert Champion, McMurray made the drama to serve as a call for pledging process reform.
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26Paris Is Burning
NETFLIX
In all of its bedazzled, heart-pumping glory, Paris Is Burning is a documentary that showcases the drag ball culture of 1980s New York City. The film follows the city’s most celebrated queens as they vogue their way through competition in the midst of the AIDS epidemic. Now, people of color in the LGBTQ community often reference leading ladies like the late Pepper LaBeija.
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27Been So Long
NETFLIX
In Netflix's first movie musical, Bubblegum's Michaela Coel stars opposite leading man Arinzé Kene as a single mom who falls in love with a man who is newly released from prison. The pair sings their way through energetic and soulful melodies as they make their way across North London.
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28The Holiday Calendar
NETFLIX
Kat Graham plays a struggling photographer who doesn't have the best luck—until she acquires an old advent calendar that can predict the future. Just in time for the holidays, she also finds a cute love interest played by Star's Quincy Brown.