Best Black Movies Ever (30-21)

This list is a celebration of storytelling, talent, and cultural impact. These 100 films represent the richness and range of the Black cinematic experience—from timeless classics to modern masterpieces. Whether groundbreaking, genre-defining, or deeply personal, each film has helped shape the legacy of Black cinema.

Explore the stories that have moved us, challenged us, and changed the landscape of film forever.

30. City of God

2002; Directed by Fernando Meirelles and Katia Lund; Alexandre Rodrigues

29. Watermelon Man

1970; Directed by Melvin Van Peebles; Godfrey Cambridge

28. I Am Not Your Negro

2016; Directed by Raul Peck; James Baldwin

27. The Five Heartbeats

1991; Directed by Robert Townsend; Robert Townsend, Michael Wright, Leon

26. A Raisin In The Son

1961; Directed by Daniel Petrie; Sidney Poitier, Claudia McNeil, Ruby Dee

25. Dreamgirls

2006; Directed by Bill Condon; Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Hudson

24. Friday

1995; Directed by F. Gary Gray; Ice Cube, Chris Tucker

23. Hidden Figures

2016; Directed by Theodore Melfi; Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Jenelle Monae

22. Shaft

1971; Directed by Gordon Parks; Richard Roundtree, Moses Gunn

21. Richard Pryor Live in Concert

1979; Directed by Jeff Margolis