One of the easiest ways to educate ourselves and combat racial stereotypes is by witnessing stories told by their subjects. Hollywood does not make this easy. A 2021 report revealed that Black talent is underrepresented across the industry, particularly off-screen. The report states, “less than 6 percent of the writers, directors, and producers of US-produced films are Black. In some genres (the superhero genre, for example), representation is even lower.” Clearly, there’s a long way to go in achieving racial equality behind the camera. For the time being, however, one way for us as audiences to aid this cause is to watch and support films helmed by Black directors.
From rom-coms to horror to political drama, older classics to new favorites, here are 10 films by Black directors to watch this Black History Month:
- Blackkklansman (dir. Spike Lee)
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With a screenplay by Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, KU’s very own Kevin Wilmott and Spike Lee based on real life events chronicled in the 2014 memoir Black Klansman by Ron Stallworth, BlacKkKlansman is an explosive and captivating comedy crime film. The film earned Lee his first Academy Award nomination for Best Director and won the award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Spike Lee’s other work includes Do the Right Thing and Da 5 Bloods.
- selah and the spades (dir. tayarisha poe)
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Poe’s feature film directorial debut is a coming-of-age drama inspired by the feeling of “unlimited potential and freedom” from when she was a teenager. She stated, “What started me writing that story was just this desire to see somebody who looked like me and felt like me, but who got to live a life however they wanted, no matter the consequences and they just kept doing that.” Selah and the Spades is now available to stream on Amazon Prime.
Tayarisha Poe’s other work includes the short film Honey and Trombones.
- judas and the black messiah (dir. shaka king)
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This biographical crime drama tells the story of Fred Hampton, a prominent member of Black Panther Party, and William O’Neal, an FBI informant. The film was a critical success, earning a Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards as well as acting nominations for Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield, who played Hampton and O’Neal respectively.
Shaka King’s other work includes Newlyweeds and the short films LaZercism.
- get out (dir. jordan peele)
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Written and directed by Jordan Peele in his directorial debut, Get Out is a horror/thriller masterpiece with overt themes about race and class. The film follows Chris Washington, a young black man who uncovers shocking secrets when he visits the family of his white girlfriend, Rose Armitage. It was a massive commercial and critical success, earning multiple Academy Award nominations.
Jordan Peele’s other work includes Us and the upcoming sci-fi film Nope.
- girls trip (dir. malcolm d. lee)
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This comedy boasts a star-studded cast, positive critical reviews and multiple NAACP Image Award nominations. It follows a group of four friends who go to New Orleans to attend the Essence Music Festival in order to reconnect after a long time. As a film that celebrates friendships between Black women, Girls Trip is a perfect fit for both Galentine’s Day and Black History Month.
Malcolm D. Lee’s other work includes Night School and Barbershop: The Next Cut.
- queen and slim (dir. melina matsoukas)
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A romance and a crime drama, Queen and Slim is Matsoukas’s feature film debut. With themes of race, police brutality and the cycle of violence, the film is heavy but profound, and Matsoukas’s directing makes it visually beautiful. It centers on a young Black couple who go on the run after killing a police officer in self-defense during a traffic stop. The film received multiple NAACP Image Awards nominations and a BET Award nomination.
Melina Matsoukas’s other work consists of music videos, including Formation by Beyoncé and We Found Love by Rihanna & Calvin Harris
- homecoming (dir. beyoncé)
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Beyoncé is not the First Lady of Music for no reason. Her headlining performance at Coachella made the world stop and reinforced her position as music royalty. Homecoming documents the journey of putting together the performance, offering behind the scenes looks at rehearsals and meetings, as well as celebrates the HBCU culture that Beyoncé based the performance on. It won Best Music Film at the Grammys and was one of Netflix’s most popular documentaries. It is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys live music.
Beyoncé ‘s other work (outside of her impeccable discography) includes Black is King.
- candyman (dir. Nia dacosta)
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This supernatural horror/thriller film is a direct sequel to the 1992 film of the same name. It was a commercial and critical success, marking DaCosta as the first Black female filmmaker to have a movie debut in the No. 1 slot. In regard to the film she stated, “the film is about community and stories — how they shape each other, how they shape us. It’s about the collective experience of trauma and joy, suffering and triumph, and the stories we tell around it.”
DaCosta’s other work includes Little Woods and the upcoming The Marvels.
- selma (dir. ava duvernay)
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This historical drama about the civil rights movement, particularly the 1965 Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights Marches. The film candidly humanizes the leaders of the movement, providing a thought-provoking and visceral look into the historical moment it documents. Selma was a critical success, with DuVernay’s direction receiving particular praise. The film earned a nomination for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, making DuVernay the first black female director to have her film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Ava DuVernay’s other work includes the documentary 13th and the TV series When They See Us.
- black panther (dir. ryan coogler)
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This list wouldn’t be complete without a nod to the gargantuan force in today’s film industry that is superhero films. Set in the fictional African country of Wakanda and centered around its king T’Challa, Black Panther was a trailblazer and instant box office hit. It also got much critical acclaim and made history for being the first superhero movie nominated at the Oscars for Best Picture.
Ryan Coogler’s other work includes Fruitvale Station and Creed.
Films by and about the Black community offer a way to witness and enjoy the span of Black experiences. From love to friendship to injustice and pain, Black lives contain multitudes. This Black History Month, may we make a collective effort to celebrate and honor their stories.