Since its inception in 1915, the purpose of Black History Month has been to chronicle Black people’s path out of enslavement, the continued struggle for equity and civil rights, and to highlight the Black community’s civic and cultural contributions to society. Now each February the biggest streamers - Netflix, Disney+, Max, Prime Video, Peacock, Paramount+, Apple TV+, and Hulu - use the popularized national holiday to showcase the titles in their libraries by Black creatives and featuring Black talent.
February's a great time to expand what you know about Black activists, icons, and trailblazers or add context to (and/or correct) what you may have learned in US history by watching documentaries. Maybe you’re looking to expand your “watched list” by adding content featuring Black creatives in front of or behind the camera. Perhaps you’re just interested in (re)watching some of the movies and shows that shaped the culture then and continue to now.
There are lots of ways to celebrate Black creativity; the easiest is checking out a few movies and shows with Black casts or centering the perspective of Black people. You never know how you’ll connect or relate. So whatever your endgame is this Black History Month, here are some of the best or most popular titles in the streamers’ libraries to help you curate that watchlist.
What to Watch on Apple TV+
Louis Armstrong’s Black and Blues
Louis Armstrong’s Black and Blues delves into the impact of his groundbreaking career, his personal trials as a lightning rod figure, and the lasting impact of his musical legacy and oft-contentious role in the civil rights movement across eras of social and racial tension. Watch it now.
Sidney
Sidney Poitier is an intimate portrait of the iconic actor, activist and enigmatic man. This documentary explores the impact of his barrier-breaking career and honors the legendary talent’s life and legacy. Stream now.
Swagger
This sports drama, loosely based on the life of Kevin Durant, walks a tightrope with its exploration of youth basketball and the pressures of working towards a dream, family expectations and trying to stay grounded. It reimagines the sports drama and offers a captivating look at the complexities of raising young Black children. Watch now.
The Changeling
The Changeling turns a seemingly fairytale romance into a twisted tale about a woman who comes to believe her baby’s been replaced and the death-defying hunt her husband embarks on once she goes missing. Based on Victor LaValle’s novel, this supernatural horror story will redefine how you think about fables and parenthood. Stream here.
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey is a slow-building drama based on Walter Mosley’s novel that unravels the struggles plaguing an aging Black man succumbing to dementia and what he chooses to do before his time runs out. Watch now.
Additional Titles on AppleTV:
- They Call Me Magic
- Swan Song
- The Banker
- Hijack
- Stephen Curry: Underrated
What to Watch on Disney+
Soul of a Nation Presents: Black in Vegas
Black in Vegas takes a walk down memory lane and into the history of Black entertainers in Las Vegas. These frank testimonials, anecdotes and rarely-seen images make for a riveting portrait of the heyday of Black entertainment on the strip and its continued impact on the city. Stream now.
Clotilda: Last American Slave Ship
From National Geographic, Clotilda follows the hunt for the last slave ship to sail to the United States, the archaeologists who study the recovered schooner, and the history of the vessel’s descendants still living in the Alabama community. Stream now.
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur
The animated series, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, centers on a 13-year-old Black girl-genius who inadvertently opens a vortex transporting a Tyrannosaurus rex to New York. The series offers a vibrant adaptation of the comic of the same name that’s full of hijinks, life lessons, and a relatable, close-knit family. See our review of the premiere episode and start streaming now.
Soul of a Nation Presents: Screen Queens Rising
Also from National Geographic, Screen Queens Rising interrogates the barriers Black women face as actors, their historical roots in the industry, and the contemporary ways they are succeeding and redefining the path to stardom (and what success means). Watch now.
The Marvels
The Marvels is a team-up movie that marks the return of Captain Marvel and her long-awaited reunion with Monica Rambeau, plus the introduction of Ms. Marvel into feature films. The latest installment of the MCU, directed by Nia DaCosta, and weaves canon and culture together, building a dynamic connection between these heroes that makes for a full-throttle ride into space and back. Read our review and stream here.
Additional Titles on Disney+:
- Black Travel Across America
- Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
- Secret Invasion
- Loop
- Kizazi Moto: Generation of Fire
- Us Again
- Cinderella
- Black Is King
- Hidden Figures
- Soul
- Proud Family
- The Princess and the Frog
- Remember the Titans
- Cool Runnings
- Queen of Katwe
- Safety
- Rise
- Sister Act I and II
- That's So Raven
What to Watch on Hulu
Rye Lane
From Searchlight Pictures comes a Black rom-com called Rye Lane, centering on a duo who cross paths just after each experiences a horrible break-up. An awkward meeting in a bathroom turns into a quixotic jaunt across London and what amounts to a hilarious yet revelatory accidental first date. This modern take on dating is a lighthearted look at coupling up, compatibility, and embracing the risks of falling in love. Stream now.
Invisible Beauty
From Magnolia Pictures, Invisible Beauty is the personal narrative of fashion luminary and industry maverick Bethann Hardison as she looks back at her life and journey from barrier-breaking supermodel to revolutionary modeling agent. The documentary follows Hardison as she works on her memoir and navigates her changed role in an ever-evolving fashion industry. Stream now.
Black Cake
This miniseries called Black Cake follows estranged siblings drawn back together in the aftermath of their mother’s death. What they discover sends them on a journey into the past to discover the true origins of their family and their mother’s personal history. Stream now.
Summer of Soul
From Searchlight Pictures and directed by Questlove, Summer of Soul chronicles the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival to celebrate Black history, culture, music, and fashion in New York City. This award-winning documentary, designed to emulate the style of the times, marries a concert attendee experience and the behind-the-scenes moments of what it took to pull this phenomenal musical showcase together. Stream now.
Searching for Soul Food
Celebrity chef Alisa Reynolds travels the world experiencing what soul food looks like in different communities. She explores how food traditions intersect with Black food and her own Southern roots. Stream now.
Additional Titles on Hulu:
- Aftershock
- The 1619 Project
- Grails: When Sneakers Changed the Game
- Oscar Peterson: Black and White
- Toni Morisson: The Pieces I Am
- MLK/FBI
- Dear Mama
- Homeroom
- The Other Black Girl
- The Wonder Years
- Abbott Elementary
- Pose
- Living Single
- 227
- Brian Banks
- Saint Omer
- Bruiser
- Beba
- If Beale Street Could Talk
- Chevalier
What to Watch on Max
Little Richard: I Am Everything
From Magnolia Pictures, Little Richard: I Am Everything details the life of the dynamic queer icon who helped shape rock n’ roll and propel pop culture into a new era of self-expression. See the series' trailer and stream on Max now, (Max plans start at $9.99/month).
Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project
From HBO Documentary Films, Going to Mars navigates the life and legacy of poet and activist Nikki Giovanni through an unconventional lens, framing her life in terms of inspiration, controversy, reconciliation and acceptance. This lyrical biography strives to honor Giovanni’s aesthetic and engage with the complicated life of a living legend. Watch now.
Young Love
Young Love expands creator Matthew Cherry’s award-winning short film “Hair Love” into a 12-episode series centering on a young Black family as they navigate everyday life’s highs and lows. This animated series offers a heartwarming and nuanced depiction of Black life as this tight-knit group strives to make their dreams a reality. Read our review and stream on Max.
Donyale Luna: Supermodel
HBO Documentary Films’ Donyale Luna: Supermodel is an insightful look at the life of the fashion pioneer known as the first Black supermodel. Stream now on Max.
How We Get Free
Also from HBO Documentary Films, this award-winning short film, How We Get Free, chronicles activist Elisabeth Epps’ two-year effort to end cash bail and her run for the Colorado General Assembly as its first ‘abolitionist candidate. Watch now on Max.
Additional Titles on Max:
- Dreamland: The Burning of Black Wall Street
- The Beauty of Blackness
- John Lewis: Good Trouble
- The Gospel According to Andre
- Tina
- Black Art: In the Absence of Light
- Eyes on the Prize: Hallowed Ground (series and film)
- South to Black Power
- Equal
- I Am Not Your Negro
- Paris Is Burning
- I May Destroy You
- A Black Lady Sketch Show
- Watchmen
- South Side
- Living Single
- Family Matters
- Legendary
- Craig of the Creek
- The Boondocks
- The Jamie Foxx Show
- Insecure
- Judas and the Black Messiah
- Man on Fire
- The Five Heartbeats
What to Watch on Netflix
Stamped From the Beginning
Stamped From the Beginning turns Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's book into an easy to process yet significant look at anti-Black racist ideology bound to the history of the nation and the power these ideas wield throughout history and into the present day. Stream now.
Rustin
Rustin introduces the revolutionary activist responsible for the successful 1963 March on Washington and interweaves his personal trials and struggle for respect as an openly gay man within the civil rights movement itself. Stream now.
Is That Black Enough for You?!?
Is That Black Enough for You?!?, from film critic and historian Elvis Mitchell, is a celebratory examination of the evolution, lasting impact and dynamism of Black cinema in the 1970s. Stream now.
Descendant
Descendant unravels the little-known history of Africatown, Alabama, the home of the descendants of the survivors from the Clotilda, the last ship carrying enslaved Africans to the United States. The documentary follows the townspeople as they celebrate their heritage and efforts to gain control over their legacy when the wreckage of the Clotilda is discovered. Stream now.
Civil: Ben Crump
Civil: Ben Crump chronicles the life and career of civil rights attorney Ben Crump and his mission to go all-in in order to challenge the criminal justice system in pursuit of justice. Stream now.
Additional Titles on Netflix:
- High on the Hog: How African-American Cuisine Transformed America
- American Symphony
- Amend: The Fight for America
- A Love Song or Latasha
- In Our Mother’s Gardens
- The Black Godfather
- Becoming
- 13th
- The Kitchen
- Brothers
- They Cloned Tyrone
- Survival of the Thickest
- Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse
- Entergalatic
- Canvas
- Yasuke
- Passing
- Monster
- Really Love (leaving 2/24)
- The Perfect Find
What to Watch on Peacock
The Rebellious Life of Rosa Parks
The Rebellious Life of Rosa Parks pulls back the veil, taking a deep dive into this courageous Black woman that goes much further than her part in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. This documentary frames Park’s life in terms of her radical politics, unsung contributions to the civil rights movement and personal sacrifices through intimate interviews, archival footage and her own words. Stream now.
The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts The Tonight Show
The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts The Tonight Show turns back the clock to the landmark week Belafonte acted as guest host of The Tonight Show. Through rediscovered archive footage of the show, the Peabody award-winning documentary offers a rarely-seen glimpse of Belafonte’s personal life and sheds new light on his unwavering commitment to using his platform to advocate for civil rights and building community. Stream now.
Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power
Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power shares the tale of how young Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) organizers rallied the community to fight for voting rights and enfranchise the Black community in 1960 Lowndes County, Alabama. This engaging account about the fight for enfranchisement comes together through harrowing personal accounts and archive footage, painting a captivating look at the fight for self-determination. Stream now.
Use of Force: The Policing of Black America
Use of Force takes an in-depth look into police encounters and the Black community. This documentary provides a grounding in the past as it chronicles present-day, high-profile fatal police encounters and contemplates viable solutions to the deadly and demoralizing problem. Stream here.
The Night James Brown Saved Boston
The Night James Brown Saved Boston highlights the pivotal part James Brown’s 1968 concert played in keeping simmering outrage and grief from pouring out into the streets of Boston two days after the assassination of civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. Stream here.
Additional Titles on Peacock:
- Found
- Bel-Air
- The Irrational
- Killing It
- Nope
- The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman
- The Hurricane
- Do the Right Thing
- The Best Man: The Final Chapters
- The Amber Ruffin Show
What to Watch on Paramount+
Bree Wayy: Promise, Witness, Remembrance
Award-winning documentarian Dawn Porter follows how art and protest come together in the wake of the killing of Breonna Taylor in Bree Wayy: Promise, Witness, Remembrance. You can try Paramount Plus for free to stream this documentary and the other Paramount+ top picks below.
Legend of Leadbelly
Legend of Leadbelly traces the legend’s rough path up from rural upbringing to becoming a musical innovator whose legacy on multiple genres can still be felt today.
Lawmen: Bass Reeves
This revisionist Western, Lawmen: Bass Reeves was inspired by the real-life first Black deputy U.S. Marshall brings the untold story of Bass Reeves to life.
The Inspection
From A24 comes the wrenching story of a young Black gay man who enlists in the military in the hopes of finding his way. Drawn from the real-life experience of director Elegance Bratton, The Inspection explores rejection, prejudice, hope and the struggle to find acceptance. See the trailer.
Lynching Postcards: ‘Token of a Great Day’
Lynching Postcards: ‘Token of a Great Day’ is an incisive and sobering interrogation of lynchings as social events and the tokens created to commemorate this horrific period.
Additional Titles on Paramount+:
- America’s Hidden Stories: The Black Wild West
- Angola Do You Hear Us: Voices from a Plantation Prison
- Loudmouth
- The Loyola Project
- As We Speak: Rap Music on Trial (premiering 2/27/2024)
- The Equalizer
- Being Mary Jane
- Sister Sister
- Moesha
- Black Wings
- Wu Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men
- Fences
- Selma
- Devotion
- Dream Girls
- Harlem Nights
- Beverly Hills Cop I, II, and III
- Last Holiday
- Mr. Malcolm’s List
- Love and Basketball
What to Watch on Prime Video
Silver Dollar Road
Silver Dollar Road draws a direct line from the height of the civil rights era to present-day fights for legal protection as it follows the Reels family’s fight to reclaim valuable ancestral land sold off to a developer by a distant relative using a legal loophole. Watch the trailer and stream now.
My Name Is Pauli Murray
My Name Is Pauli Murray puts little-known lawyer, teacher, cleric, poet and activist Pauli Murray centerstage with a rigorous examination of their life and legacy. This non-binary Black trailblazer had a far-reaching impact on both racial and gender social justice movements. This documentary, built on archive footage, memoir notes and interviews, brilliantly makes the case for why they should be a household name. Stream here.
The One and Only Dick Gregory
From Showtime, The One and Only Dick Gregory honors and examines the towering figure of Dick Gregory, the comedian, activist and social agitator, and his resonating impact on generations of stand-up comedy and social justice activists alike. Stream now.
A League of Their Own
A League of Their Own centers on the WWII All-American professional women's baseball league players. Inspired by true events, this adaptation also centers queer and Black stories as the series reimagines the teams by going in-deth with the players’ stories. See our review and stream here.
The Underground Railroad
Director Barry Jenkins adapts Colson Whitehead's novel The Underground Railroad into a limited series that conceptualizes the underground railroad as a literal railroad. The story follows an enslaved woman named Cora’s escape from a Georgia plantation as she boards the rails to escape just narrowly ahead of the slave hunter committed to thwarting her bid for freedom. Stream here (and watch any of these Prime picks with a free 30-day trial).
Additional Titles on Prime Video:
- Chisholm '72: Unbought & Unbossed
- Black History, Black Freedom, and Black Love
- Subnormal
- TILL
- A Thousand and One
- Emergency
- The Blackening
- I’m a Virgo
- Harlem
- Riches
- One Night in Miami
- Small Axe
- The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel
- Us
- Redefined: J. R. Smith
- Reggie
- Candyman
- The Wiz
- Time
- Sylvie’s Love
Ro is a freelance film and television critic who’s definitely going to suggest you read Fonda Lee’s Green Bone Saga because she needs that television adaptation. You can always find her talking about anime, villain agendas, invasive species, costume dramas, or with her nose in a book.
