Now that it’s officially the holiday season and most folks’ brains are wired to focus on pies and good times, there’s no better time to kick back and get in a good binge session with some top tier movies.
Suggested Reading
If you’re anything like us and lean more towards comfort classic biopics, then you’re in luck. We’ve got the perfect list of the best Black biopics to tickle your fancy during the festive times.
Whether you’re in the mood for something music-centric like “The Temptations” or something inspirational like “King Richard”—we’ve got something for every mood. So sit back, relax, and get ready for some good recommendations.
“What’s Love Got to Do With It?”
Who: Tina Turner
Stars: Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne, Jenifer Lewis, Vanessa Bell Calloway
Released: 1993
“The Temptations”
Who: The Temptations (Otis Williams, Melvin “Blue” Franklin, Eddie “Cornbread” Kendricks, Paul Williams and David Ruffin)
Stars: Charles Malik Whitfield, Leon, D.B. Woodside, Christian Payton, Jenifer Lewis, Terron Brooks
Released: 1998
“The Jacksons: An American Dream”
Who: The Jacksons (Michael, Jermaine, Jackie, Marlon, and Randy)
Stars: Angela Bassett, Lawrence Hilton, Jason Weaver, Holly Robinson Peete, Vanessa Williams, Billy Dee Williams, Margaret Avery
Released: 1993
“The New Edition Story”
Who: New Edition (Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant, Michael Bivins, Ricky Bell, Ronny Devoe, Johnny Gill)
Stars: Algee Smith, Woody McClain, Bryshere Gray, Elijah Kelley, Keith Powers, Luke Jams, Wood Harris
Released: 2017
(OK, so technically this is a biopic mini-series but we’d be dumb not to include it.)
“One Night in Miami”
Who: Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Malcolm X and Sam Cooke the night of the Ali-Liston fight in 1964
Stars: Leslie Odom Jr., Kingsley Ben-Adir, Aldis Hodge, Eli Goree, Lance Reddick
Released: 2020
“Get On Up”
Who: James Brown
Stars: Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis, Craig Robinson, Octavia Spencer, Tika Sumpter
Released: 2014
“Hidden Figures”
Who: Katherine Jackson, Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, the three Black mathematicians who worked at NASA during the Space Race
Stars: Taraji P. Henson, Mahershala Ali, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Aldis Hodge
Released: 2016
“The United States vs. Billie Holiday”
Who: Billie Holiday
Stars: Andra Day, Trevante Rhodes, Tyler James Williams, Da’Vine Joy Randolph
Released: 2021
“Cadillac Records”
Who: Leonard Chess, Chess Records
Stars: Jeffrey Wright, Beyonce, Cedric the Entertainer, Gabrielle Union, Columbus Short, Yasiin Bey
Released: 2008
“Respect”
Who: Aretha Franklin
Stars: Jennifer Hudson, Forrest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald
Released: 2021
“Ali”
Who: Muhammad Ali
Stars: Will Smith, Mario Van Peebles, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Mykelti Williamson
Released: 2001
“Malcolm X”
Who: Malcolm X
Stars: Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Delroy Lindo, Spike Lee
Released: 1992
“Ray”
Who: Ray Charles
Stars: Jamie Foxx, Regina King, Kerry Washington, Larenz Tate
Released: 2004
“King Richard”
Who: Richard Williams, father to Venus and Serena Williams
Stars: Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton, Tony Goldwyn
Released: 2021
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