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Black movies have a special place in our hearts. The compelling storytelling, complex characters, romance like no other, and songs that’ll have you singing along for days. And with the current drought in filmography recently, it’s only right for us to take it back when movies told those hard, yet realistic stories for our entertainment.
1. Boyz n the Hood
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This film was released in 1991 and starred Jon Singleton in South Central Los Angeles. This movie is about friendship and violence in the area, showing how people used to live in those types of bad neighborhoods. Who can forget the movie’s most famous line, “RICKYYY,” after he got shot by a group of thugs.
2. Friday
This hilarious film marked the beginning of the Friday trilogy. Released in 1995 and set in South Central Los Angeles, this movie stars Ice Cube and Chris Tucker as the leads. Alongside the late John Witherspoon and Nia Long. This movie centers around two friends, Craig and Smoker, having a very chaotic Friday. It starts with Craig getting fried on his day off, then rolls over to Smokey owing a drug dealer money, and the neighborhood bully, Deebo, finally getting what he deserved. This film is more than a classic; it holds a powerful lesson: getting fired on your day IS possible, you just have to be very stupid to let that happen.
3. Life
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A 1999 classic starring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence, wrongfully convicted of murder and ended up serving life for it without the conviction being overturned. They became friends in the joint but without having a lot of issues thrown their way. Although it has comedic moments, the movie is seen as sorrowful to many viewers, so have your box of tissues ready before watching. Plus, one of the greatest Maxwell songs came out of this phenomenal film—Fortunate.
4. Candyman
For the ones who enjoy scary movies, the first Candyman is a great one to watch. Tony Todd, Virginia Madsen, and Kasi Lemmons star in this 1992 film. Helen Lyle, a grad student, goes out and researches the urban legend of Candyman, then gets too deep within her research and summons a hook-handed horror many didn’t think was real.
5. The Nutty Professor
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This 1996 remake stars Eddie Murphy, Jada Pinkett Smith, Larry Miller, and Dave Chappelle. Eddie Murphy plays more than one character at once, occasionally switching between brilliant and overweight scientist, Sherman Klump, and a self-assertive, womanizing, thinner alter ego named Buddy. Buddy Love. Murphy also plays the entirety of the Klump family as well—a lot of work.
6. Poetic Justice
A black romance movie that was released in 1993, starring Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur. This movie follows a hairdresser, Justice, who faces an unexpected tragedy and depends heavily on her poetry to cope with the loss. Thanks to her friend, Justice ends up meeting a postal worker named Lucky while on an unplanned road trip. Although their relationship didn’t get off on the best foot, the two grew to lean on each other for emotional support, which eventually turned into something deeper. Kendrick Lamar eventually went on to release a song under the same name in 2012.
7. Bad Boys
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The original Bad Boys movie was released in 1995, but since then, there have been three more movies made. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence take on the role of detectives in Miami, Florida, in this action-comedy. Their mission is to recover $100 million worth of heroin that was stolen from the department, all while protecting a witness to the crime. Placing these two geniuses together was the best decision the director, Michael Bay, made, providing us not only with intense scenes but amusing comedy. We also learn that a fifteen-year-old can look thirty—sorry, Reggie.
8. Jason’s Lyric
Released in 1994, Jason’s Lyric tells the story of a young man by the name of Jason trying to find a way out of his dangerous neighborhood. In the process, he meets a waitress by the name of Lyric, whom he quickly falls for. Unfortunately, Jason’s family history and his longing to protect his violent brother cause issues between the two as they try to build a relationship. Their love and loyalty are deeply tested before they decide whether escaping the past is possible and if a future together is worth the risk.
9. Menace II Society
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Last but not least, we have this 1993 film about a young man, Caine, who is trying to navigate life and the real-world after graduating high school. Growing up in Watts, Calif, Caine has only ever been exposed to poverty, violence, and systemic racism. It’s the only life he’s used to living. Although he was given opportunities to leave this unhealthy environment, Caine was unwilling to put his past life behind him, ultimately leading to an almost inevitable tragedy. This film features legends like Tyrin Turner, Larenz Tate, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Samuel L. Jackson, and many more.
