Classic African American Films

CLASSIC AFRICAN AMERICAN THEME FILMS

Over the weekend someone asked me, what were some of my favorite African American themed films?

I had to pause for a moment to reflect upon the question, largely because my cinematic film interest, taste and preference has always been predicated on seeking out quality films with only the more pedestrian considerations in mind such as overall plot interest, film reviews, success and track record of the director, actors involved and so on.

Still I could not separate myself from my friend’s question mostly because I believe the American film industry has done a lot (some bad and some good) in shaping how people, cultures, groups and organizations view each other through the prism of movies to wide audiences.

So, with that in mind I took the time to list those films that I have personally watched over the many years that I believe are top quality films which reflect uniquely on the African American experience. These stories are told through the typical formats of fiction and truth, historical, comedy, documentaries and drama, but ultimately in the end it is a list that I believe is a compilation of genuinely quality films that should then and now have broad appeal to all audiences.

Now I am certain I will leave off some films of the more popular and recent variety so I apologize in advance for their omission. However what I tried to do here is list those films that reflect on the broadest of human themes without any regard to it being 100% exclusive to ethnicity and or the directors and actors involved. At the same time I did try to list those films where the African American experience is still ever present in the film’s plot whether it was a glaringly obvious or far more subtle to the viewer.

Make sense?

So here they are and in no particular order of my preference: 

1. A Patch of Blue – 1965
2. A Raising in The Sun  - 1961
3. A Soldier’s Story – 1984
4. Ali – 2001
5. Amistad – 1997
6. Antwone Fisher - 2002
7. Barbershop - 2002
8. Blazing Saddles - 1974
9. Boomerang – 1992
10. Boyz N the Hood – 1991
11. Buck and the Preacher - 1972
12. Car Wash – 1976
13. Carmen Jones - 1954
14. City of God – (Mix of Brazilian - African Culture) - 2002
15. Claudine – 1974
16. Coming to America - 1988
17. Cooley High - 2004
18. Cry Freedom – 1987
19. Django Unchained – 2012
20. Do the Right Thing -1989
21. Dream Girls – 2006
22. Eve’s Bayou – 1997
23. Friday - 1995
24. Get on the Bus – 1996
25. Glory - 1989
26. Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner - 1967
27. Hollywood Shuffle – 1987
28. Hoop Dreams – (Documentary) – 1994
29. Hotel Rwanda - 2004
30. Hustle and  Flow - 2005
31. I’m Gonna Get You Sucka - 1988
32. Imitations of Life -1959
33. In the Heat of the Night - 1967
34. Lady Sings The Blues - 1972
35. Lean on Me – 1989
36. Lilies of The Field – 1963
37. Lincoln – 2012
38. Malcolm X – 1992
39. Menace II Society – 1993
40. Mo Better Blues – 1990
41. One False Move – 1992
42. Precious - 2009
43. Purple Rain – 1984
44. Ragtime – 1981
45. Ray – 2004
46. Round Midnight – 1986
47. Shaft – 1971
48. She’s Gotta Have It – 1986
49. Soul Food - 1997
50. Sounder - 1972
51. Superfly - 1972
52. The Bingo Long Traveling All Stars and Motor Kings - 1976
53. The Brother From Another Planet – 1984
54. The Color of Purple - 1985
55. The Defiant Ones – 1958
56. The Great White Hope – 1970
57. The Help – 2011
58. The Hurricane - 1999
59. The Learning Tree – 1969
60. The Nutty Professor – 1996
61. The Preacher’s Wife – 1996
62. To Kill a Mockingbird – 1962
63. To Sir With Love – 1967
64. Trading Places – 1983
65. Training Day – 2001
66. Uptown Saturday Night – 1974
67. Watermelon Man – 1970
68. What’s Love Got To Do With It – 1993
69. When We Were Kings – Documentary - 1996
70. Zulu – 1964
71. Tropic Thunder - 2008
72. White Men Can't Jump - 1992
73. Men of Honor - 2000
74. A Soldier's Story - 1984
75. Stormy Weather -1943
76. The Cotton Club - 1984
77. The Last King of Scotland - 2006