33 Essential Documentaries on Black History
33 titles
- 1
Horse MoneyMovie · 2014 · 104m · DramaAs young leaders spark the revolution in the city, the residents of Fontainhas desperately search for Ventura, who has disappeared in the woods.IMDb 6.9TMDB 7.2 - 2
I Am Not Your NegroMovie · 2017 · 93m · DocumentaryDirector Raoul Peck uses James Baldwin's unfinished final novel as a starting point for a film exploring the experience of being Black in America.IMDb 7.9TMDB 7.7 - 3
I Called Him MorganMovie · 2016 · 91m · Music, Documentary, HistoryKasper Collin's documentary blends jazz history with a true-crime narrative, using extensive archival footage and new interviews to recount the tragic story of trumpeter Lee Morgan and his common-law wife Helen. In 1972, Helen murdered him in a New York bar.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.2 - 4
Hotel MumbaiMovie · 2019 · 123m · Thriller, History, DramaOn November 26, 2008, Mumbai, India is targeted by terrorists. Attacks erupt throughout the city, including a siege of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. Hotel staff and guests fight for survival, making desperate choices to protect themselves and others until rescue arrives.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.5 - 5
Crip Camp: A Disability RevolutionMovie · 2020 · 107m · DocumentaryIn the early 1970s, a summer camp for teenagers with disabilities near Woodstock became a catalyst for change. There, a revolution unfolded, profoundly impacting the lives of the young people and sparking a significant social movement.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.2 - 6
The Shadow of Hate: A History of Intolerance in AmericaMovie · 1995 · 40mThis film chronicles a history of oppression, discrimination, violence, and hate in America. It received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.3 - 7
Dave Chappelle's Block PartyMovie · 2005 · 100mA comedian and actor tells the story of the underground Hip Hop scene. A man from a small town in Ohio relocates to Brooklyn, New York, to organize a unique block party.IMDb 7.2TMDB 6.8 - 8
Scottsboro: An American TragedyMovie · 2000 · 90mIn 1931 Alabama, nine young Black men known as the "Scottsboro Boys" were arrested, tried, and swiftly convicted of raping two white women. Despite substantial evidence suggesting the women had falsely accused the men, and one later admitting no rape took place (revealing both had been with their boyfriends the day before), the conviction became a landmark case. It exposed the South's practice of "legal lynching," where Black people accused of crimes, particularly against white individuals, faced unjust trials and convictions.IMDb 7.5TMDB 8.2 - 9
Devil’s FreedomMovie · 2017 · 74mMexico, 2016. In some of the world's most dangerous cities, life is precarious. By examining the experiences of those caught in violence – both victims and perpetrators – the film explores how fear has become ingrained in society. Through interconnected stories, it reveals the darker aspects of human nature and the delicate line between good and evil.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.3 - 10
Forgotten Four: The Integration of Pro FootballMovie · 2014 · 60mForgotten Four: The Integration of Pro Football is an EPIX documentary about four exceptional African American athletes – Kenny Washington, Woody Strode, Marion Motley, and Bill Willis – who broke the color barrier in professional football in 1946, a year before Jackie Robinson integrated Major League Baseball. The film recounts the challenges and successes of these pioneering players through interviews with their families and researchers who have studied their remarkable story.IMDb 7.9TMDB 6.0 - 11
Uncle TomMovie · 2020 · 106mUncle Tom presents a series of personal conversations with prominent Black conservative voices, offering a fresh perspective on the Black American experience.IMDb 8.2TMDB 7.6 - 12
Rudeboy: The Story of Trojan RecordsMovie · 2018 · 85mThis stylish documentary celebrates the influential British Jamaican record label, offering a broad look at the youth culture it helped shape.IMDb 7.2TMDB 6.7 - 13
The Order of MythsMovie · 2008 · 97mThe 2007 Mardi Gras celebrations in Mobile, Alabama, are vibrant yet fraught with underlying tensions. The film follows a group of people as they navigate parades and festivities, revealing a deeper reality hidden beneath the spectacle. It explores the complexities that persist despite outward appearances of unity.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.0 - 14
Well GroomedMovie · 2019 · 88mThis film follows the quirky and visually captivating world of competitive dog grooming, where talented women transform poodles into elaborate works of art.IMDb 5.8TMDB 5.4 - 15
My Name Is Albert AylerMovie · 2006 · 79mAlbert Ayler, a jazz saxophonist now considered a pivotal figure in the genre's evolution, relentlessly pursued his groundbreaking music, driven by a belief that its true meaning would eventually be understood. In 1962, he recorded his debut album in Sweden. Tragically, he died in the East River in New York City in 1970 at the age of 34. (TCM)IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.3 - 16
A Time for BurningMovie · 1967 · 58mThe film follows the efforts of a Lutheran minister in Omaha, Nebraska, as he tries to convince his white congregation to connect with African American Lutherans living in the city's northern neighborhoods.IMDb 7.6TMDB 5.6 - 17
Booker's Place: A Mississippi StoryMovie · 2012 · 90mIn 1965, while filming a documentary in Mississippi, Frank De Felitta profoundly impacted the life of an African-American waiter and his family. Years later, in 2011, Frank’s son travels to the Delta to explore the lasting consequences of that pivotal meeting.IMDb 7.9TMDB 7.0 - 18
Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack JohnsonMovie · 2004 · 214mThis is the story of Jack Johnson, the first African American to become the world heavyweight boxing champion.IMDb 8.3TMDB 7.1 - 19
Stay Woke: The Black Lives Matter MovementMovie · 2016 · 39mThis documentary examines the Black Lives Matter movement.IMDb 4.0TMDB 6.0 - 20
The Legends of New Orleans : The music of Fats DominoMovie · 2003 · 52mThis 2001 recording captures Antoine "Fats" Domino delivering a set of his classic hits at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. While his performance wasn't frantic, Domino, in his seventies, performs favorites like "I'm Walkin'," "Blueberry Hill," and "Walking to New Orleans" with his band, featuring a full horn section. Their blend of R&B, rock & roll, and country music maintains its signature New Orleans energy. The DVD includes the 60-minute concert, along with interviews featuring Fats Domino, Allen Toussaint, and music journalist Mikal Gilmore, plus a short piano jam session between Domino and Toussaint.TMDB 9.0 - 21
Satan & AdamMovie · 2018 · 78mSATAN & ADAM is a documentary that follows the decades-long friendship between a seasoned blues guitarist with a fiery reputation and a talented young harmonica player. The film celebrates their bond and the music they create, captured through footage filmed over twenty years.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.3 - 22
The Girls in the BandMovie · 2011 · 81mTHE GIRLS IN THE BAND reveals the moving, little-known histories of women who played jazz and big band instruments, charting their remarkable and pioneering careers from the late 1930s to today.IMDb 7.8TMDB 6.2 - 23
4 Little GirlsMovie · 1997 · 102m · Documentary, TV MovieSpike Lee's film examines the 1963 bombing of a black church in Birmingham, Alabama, during Sunday school, which killed four young girls. Using detailed research and recreations, Lee reveals the complex political tensions, hateful actions, and societal inequalities that led to this tragedy. The film includes an interview with former Alabama Governor George Wallace, who reflects on his involvement during that difficult time and the larger story of civil rights in America. This compelling film tells the painful story of a devastating act of violence and reminds us of the continuing fight for equality and justice in American history.IMDb 7.8TMDB 7.2 - 24
What Happened, Miss Simone?Movie · 2015 · 101m · Music, DocumentaryThis film follows Nina Simone's life, from her early talent as a child pianist to becoming a celebrated musician and a powerful voice for social change. It's presented through her own recollections.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.4 - 25
Censored VoicesMovie · 2015 · 84mFollowing Israel's swift victory in the 1967 Six-Day War – which resulted in the capture of Jerusalem, Gaza, Sinai, and the West Bank – a conflict often viewed as a triumph of Jewish pride, a group of young kibbutzniks, led by author Amos Oz, recorded candid conversations with soldiers upon their return. These recordings offered an unvarnished perspective on Israel's shift in power. The Israeli army subsequently censored the material, permitting only excerpts to be published. "Censored Voices" presents the complete, original recordings for the first time.IMDb 7.3TMDB 5.9 - 26
Listen to Me MarlonMovie · 2015 · 103m · DocumentaryThis documentary offers an unprecedented look into Marlon Brando's life and career. Using exclusive access to his personal archive – including hundreds of hours of audio recordings – the film charts his remarkable journey as an actor and explores his life outside of the spotlight. Brando himself guides the audience through his story, sharing his perspective directly in his own voice. The film features no interviews or commentary; it's solely Brando speaking about himself and his experiences.IMDb 8.1TMDB 7.5 - 27
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the RevolutionMovie · 2015 · 113m · DocumentaryThe film explores the Black Panther movement, providing an intimate view of its beginnings and influence on America. It avoids typical stories of tragedy and violence, instead offering a realistic portrayal of the people who created this revolutionary culture during a pivotal time. Through personal stories, we see how the movement changed lives and reshaped society by challenging inequality. The film highlights the strength of working together and reminds us of the continuing fight for civil rights and social justice today.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.0 - 28
BanishedMovie · 2007 · 84mThis film examines three American cities that were central to the forced displacement of Black families following Reconstruction. It explores the history of communities that used violence to compel African Americans to leave their homes.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.5 - 29
The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975Movie · 2011 · 100m · Documentary, HistoryThis film explores the development of the Black Power Movement in America between 1967 and 1975. Using footage captured by Swedish journalists, it documents the movement's key figures: Angela Davis, Bobby Seale, Huey P. Newton, Eldridge Cleaver, and other prominent activists, artists, and leaders.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.6 - 30
Glen Campbell: I'll Be MeMovie · 2014 · 116m · Documentary, MusicThis documentary follows Glen Campbell during his farewell tour as he battles Alzheimer's disease.IMDb 7.9TMDB 7.6 - 31
Thunder SoulMovie · 2010 · 83mJamie Foxx presents the inspiring true story of Conrad O. Johnson, a high school band leader who turned his struggling jazz band into a nationally renowned funk sensation.IMDb 7.6TMDB 6.8 - 32
The Black List: Volume OneMovie · 2008 · 87mWith a new era starting in the nation, THE BLACK LIST presents a fresh and unique look at the experiences of successful people of color. This series offers insightful and thought-provoking perspectives on African-American life in the 21st century, featuring interviews with prominent politicians, writers, thinkers, and performers who have significantly impacted their fields. These interview-portraits provide a clearer understanding of the country's past and future.IMDb 7.4TMDB 6.5 - 33
ZionMovie · 2018 · 10m · DocumentaryThis is the story of Zion Clark, a young man who became a wrestler. Zion was born without legs and spent his childhood in foster care.IMDb 7.1TMDB 6.6
