You gave a fake “YASSS” when your girl said “All my LIFE I’ve had to fight” huh? Overreacted when your bae said “You ain’t got to lie, Craig” ‘cuz your name’s not Craig? Yeaaaaah, you are likely one left-handed high-five and misused colloquialism away from getting your Black Card snatched.
I want to see my people thrive, so the list below has been compiled (you’re welcome). Consider it your #hoodcertified study guide (updated 12/2024).
Now for the disclaimers, ‘cuz I know y’all:
- No, all the Spike Lee movies didn’t make the list. I meeeeeean there wouldn’t have been room for much else if I had. #HadToGiveSomebodyElseATurn
- The criteria for this list is based on the film being culture-influencing a/k/a movies most likely to be quoted IRL a/k/a movies most likely to be referenced at a BBQ/Repast/Spades game; not “film with a black actor in it” — for clarity.
- This is NOT a “Greatest AA Films of All Time” list based on moving storylines, cinematography, score, and casting. You saw Soul Plane…yes, it is on the list…so are some Tyler Perry movies. Don’t play, you know why. Soooo, debate your mama on merit, breh.
- Inevitably, there will be a films you thought should have been left off and others added on. I’m no Black Jesus, so there may be an err. Just put it in the comments fam.
In no particular order:
- Black Panther (update: 1 AND 2 #WakandaForever)
- The Color Purple
- Malcolm X
- New Jack City
- Friday
- The Five Heartbeats
- Boyz n the Hood
- Coming to America
- Do the Right Thing
- What’s Love Got to Do With It
- Lean On Me
- Baby Boy
- Sparkle (original)
- Boomerang
- Tales from the Hood
- The Wiz
- Roots
- Madeas Family Reunion
- Soul Plane
- Menace II Society
- Belly
- Life
- The Mack
- Colors
- Deep Cover
- Soul Food
- Higher Learning
- Love & Basketball
- Dreamgirls
- Juice
- Set it Off
- Dead Presidents
- Hustle & Flow
- The Best Man (bonus points for The Best Man Holiday)
- Bad Boys I & II & III & 4Life (I didn’t want to split the line)
- Poetic Justice
- Brown Sugar
- Stomp the Yard
- Drumline
- How To Be A Player
- Beauty Shop
- Love Jones
- Above the Rim
- Eve’s Bayou
- Blue Hill Avenue
- Why Did I Get Married?
- Barbershop
- Lottery Ticket
- Crooklyn
- Inkwell
- School Daze
- ATL
- Get Rich or Die Tryin’
- Training Day
- Get Out
- The Help
- He Got Game
- Lady Sings the Blues
- The Butler
- Jungle Fever
- Straight Outta Compton
- Django Unchained
- Antwone Fisher
- Harlem Nights
- Ray
- The Princess and the Frog
- Girls Trip
- The Pursuit of Happyness
- Purple Rain
- American Gangster
- Ali
- The Players Club
- Waiting to Exhale
- Just Wright
- Sugarhill
- Selma
- Paid in Full
- House Party
- The Wood
- Major Payne
- Two Can Play That Game
- The Preacher’s Wife
- Akeelah and the Bee
- Think Like a Man
- The Great Debaters
- Jason’s Lyric
- How High
- Moonlight
- Superfly (original)
- Superfly (remake)
- In Too Deep
- The Brothers
- New Jersey Drive
- The Nutty Professor
- Shaft (original)
- Shaft (remake)
- Cooley High
- Women of Brewster Place
- The Original Kings of Comedy
- Diary of a Mad Black Woman
Consider yourself blessed with this offering. It’s enough to keep you from losing your membership in 2018 2024.