From Malcolm to Martin, Films and TV Series Inspired by Real Life Events
While Hollywood has dreamed up some of the most interesting and unique stories we’ve ever seen, it’s always been the ones based on true life that captivate us the most. It’s why biopics are such a popular genre. For Black audiences, movies and TV series are often the best way for us to have our history presented to mainstream audiences. These fictionalized versions of true stories often take liberties with certain aspects of the real events, but when done properly they can be a good gateway to historical events. To that end, we’re exploring some of Hollywood’s most interesting Black movies and TV series that were inspired by true stories. — Stephanie Holland
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13 Black Christmas Specials to Stay Home and Watch During the Holidays
Congratulations…you made it to the other side of a maxed-out credit card and a living room full of wrapping paper for yet another year! Now that that’s out the way, you can get down to enjoying the true Christmas pastime: Posting up with your family members to enjoy a few films and movies before everyone has to fight through TSA to make their way home again. — Lawrence Ware
Psychological-Thrillers Featuring ‘White People Problems’ That Make Black People Say, ‘Hell, That Wouldn’t Be Me’
Let’s face it… Black life is often like a psychological thriller. People lie in our faces, team up against us, call us out our names and killing us for no reason. Bad things do happen to us, which is why we get annoyed by all those “Black struggle” films. In reality, we always make it through but do we really have to be reminded of the dark side? Aside from the annoying Black struggle films, being Black in any movie, especially in a thriller is never a good thing and it never shows our super powerful skill to survive: We die first, can’t outrun the slowest zombie and we are rarely the hero. — Alyse Martin
The Worst Black Christmas Movies
As much as we love a comforting, heartwarming holiday story, not all Christmas movies are created equal. From ridiculous tropes, to unimaginative stories, to bad acting, there are several factors that can derail a Christmas movie. It also doesn’t matter how big the budget is, things can still go horribly wrong. To save you time and help you avoid some holiday stinkers, we’ve a roundup of some films that definitely belong on the naughty list. Grab your egg nog and enjoy our list of the worst Christmas movies. — Stephanie Holland
‘Gladiator II,’ ‘Wicked’ and Other Best Black Films of 2024
As 2024 nears its end, we can’t help but look back at some of the best cinematic moments of the year. Whether it was watching legendary actor don a dress, some rings, and “go crazy” or another talented actress defy gravity on the big screen—audiences had more than their share of satisfying films to keep them pushing through month after month. — Shanelle Genai
Year-End Binge: The Best TV Series of 2024
We know you already have “Only Murders in the Building,” “Shōgun,” “The Day of the Jackal” and “The Penguin” on your list of 2024’s best TV series. As great as those shows are, they don’t tell the full story of this year’s best TV. We got spectacular, standout performances from Niecy Nash-Betts in “Grotesquerie,” Lamorne Morris in “Fargo” and Myha’la in “Industry.” There were also plenty of series showcasing Black culture, families and love. As everyone gushes about “Baby Reindeer,” “Slow Horses” and “Ripley,” we want to shout out the best Black series and performances of the year. Grab your beverage of choice and toast the best TV series of 2024. — Stephanie Holland, Shanelle Genai
Black Hollywood’s Best Entertainers of the Year
Beginning with Katt Williams’ explosive “Club Shay Shay” interview, then moving into the lyrically vicious Kendrick Lamar vs Drake feud, then heading to Paris for the Summer Olympics and wrapping up with box office combo of “Gladiator II” and “Wicked,” it was clear that Black culture once again dominated the entertainment world. And we didn’t even mention Beyoncé taking over country music. As we look back on how crazy, unforgettable and weird 2024 was, it’s time to celebrate the Entertainers of the Year. — Stephanie Holland
Black Celebs We Lost in 2024
Black people have had a significant impact on every aspect of life. From entertainment to sports to politics, to business, we’ve made this world a better place. Sadly, 2024 has seen us lose some of these industries’ most important figures. As we continue to make it through the year, join us in honoring the lives and legacy of those we’ve lost in 2024. — Root Staff
From Malcolm to Martin, Films and TV Series Inspired by Real Life Events
While Hollywood has dreamed up some of the most interesting and unique stories we’ve ever seen, it’s always been the ones based on true life that captivate us the most. It’s why biopics are such a popular genre. For Black audiences, movies and TV series are often the best way for us to have our history presented to mainstream audiences. These fictionalized versions of true stories often take liberties with certain aspects of the real events, but when done properly they can be a good gateway to historical events. To that end, we’re exploring some of Hollywood’s most interesting Black movies and TV series that were inspired by true stories. — Stephanie Holland
Hidden Gems: The Best Black Movies, TV Series on Disney+
With a little extra time off and more guests in your home, you may be looking for fresh entertainment to enjoy. Obviously, there’s no shortage of streaming services to choose from, but navigating overstuffed home pages can be overwhelming. Endlessly scrolling through movies and TV series is headache inducing. To save you from some of that stress, our hidden gems highlight movies and TV shows you may have missed. Disney+ is a particularly interesting platform because it offers access to animated classics, the “Star Wars” universe, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, fascinating National Geographic documentaries and even ESPN sports programming. There’s literally something for everyone. To that end, we’re helping you plan your next great binge with the hidden gems of Disney+. — Stephanie Holland
Hidden Gems: The Best Black Movies, TV Series on Max
You finally have a little extra time on your hands and you want to watch something new. But the choices on the home screen of your favorite streaming service are overwhelming. We’ve got an easy fix to save you from that endless scrolling headache. Our hidden gems let you know which series and movie you need to check out. If superheroes, offbeat comedies and captivating mysteries are your jam, bookmark our hidden gems of Max. — Stephanie Holland
Here’s The 2024 Black Holiday Movie Preview
As Mariah Carey says, “It’s Time!” That means we’re ready to start planning Thanksgiving menus and putting up holiday decorations. For some fans this also means they can get deep into their holiday movie bag, as that’s all that airs on TV this time of year. From OWN, to Netflix, to Lifetime, to BET+, Black movies can be found nearly every weekend leading up to Dec. 25. Fan favorites like Jasmine Guy; Tia Mowry Tamera Mowry-Housley; Jackée Harry; BeBe Winans; and China Anne McClain star in this season’s movies. As you prepare your busy holiday schedule, bookmark this page and check out our 2024 Black holiday movie preview. — Stephanie Holland
Can You Believe These Classic Black Movies Are Turning 20 This Year?
The early 2000s were an interesting time in the movie business, particularly for Black films. We got the usual action blockbusters, big franchises and family fun animation, but there were also a lot of adult comedies and memorable breakout roles. Some of these projects were considered instant classics, while others took some time to find an audience. — Stephanie Holland
March 2024 film preview: Blockbuster sequels come roaring back to theaters
Summer movie season comes earlier every year, and 2024 is no exception. After surviving the harsh winter with nothing to warm us but a Madame Web and a Mean Girls musical, the ides of March bring a diverse batch of movies back to the cinema. Dune: Part Two, Kung Fu Panda 4, and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire are but a few of the sequel offerings from major studios, while a healthy crop of comedies, horror films, and thrillers round out a busy month. — Matt Schimkowitz
‘Freaknik,’ ‘Shirley,’ ‘Magical Negroes,’ and More of the Most Anticipated Black Movies of 2024
Now that awards season is over, we can truly get invested in the 2024 movie calendar. From surprise sequels, to highly-anticipated musicals, to new superhero team ups, to powerful biopics, there’s something everyone can get excited about this year. Get your calendar app open, bookmark this page and check out our 2024 movie preview. — Stephanie Holland
Stop Comparing ‘American Fiction,’ to ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’ Because They’re Black Films
“The American Society of Magical Negroes” doesn’t have its theatrical wide release until March 22, but it’s already causing controversy with audiences. The trailer was met with extremely negative reactions from Black Twitter. Based on the teaser, some users thought the movie wasn’t clever enough with the subject matter. As it went through its promotional tour at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, the project was compared to critically acclaimed awards contender “American Fiction.” — Stephanie Holland
Black Hollywood Celebrates the End of SAG-AFTRA’s 118-Day Strike
That sound you heard at 12:01 a.m. was the entire entertainment industry breathing a huge sigh of relief as the SAG-AFTRA strike officially came to an end. On Wednesday, the union announced that its negotiating committee “voted unanimously to approve a tentative agreement with the [Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers] AMPTP.” — Stephanie Holland
Black Hollywood Honors Richard Roundtree’s Influence, Impact on the Culture
Richard Roundtree was more than a legendary actor. He was an indelible part of Black culture. As John Shaft, he really was our first big screen Black superhero. He had a badass costume, unforgettable theme song and bad guys trembled at the mention of his name. Roundtree had a long and distinguished career that included more than just Shaft, but his influence on the Black experience made him a giant to the community. Sadly, on Tuesday, the actor lost his battle with pancreatic cancer and died at the age of 81. — Stephanie Holland
Celebrate Halloween With the Scariest Black Movies And TV Series
When theme parks start overflowing with monsters and there’s nothing on TV but scary movies, that means it’s spooky season. Horror is a genre that hasn’t always been the most welcoming for Black characters, but there are some movies that feature prominent Black stories and heroes. Prepare to get scared with our list of the best Black horror movies and series. — Stephanie Holland
Stream These Classic Black Movies While Hollywood is On Strike
As Hollywood strikes put productions on pause, now’s your chance to go back and watch some of those movies you’ve always wanted to see, but haven’t had time to. We’re talking about the classics. These are the films that set the standard for all your modern-day favorites. Since you can find almost anything on one of the various entertainment platforms out there, we’ve gathered a helpful list of where you can stream all the most essential Black movies. — Stephanie Holland
Black Movies and TV Shows That Will Remind You of Your Dad
A lot of things can remind us of our parents. It could be the watch you got for your birthday or the pair of shoes you got for Christmas. — Noah A. McGee
Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse Is Another Black Blockbuster Dominating The Summer
So, it turns out we’re in the middle of the Blackest movie summer ever. It’s been one awesome hit after another in 2023, and our latest success comes from everyone’s favorite Spider-Man, Miles Morales. Based on the success and popularity of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, we knew its sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse would open big, but damn that box office was huge. The latest adventures of Miles Morales entered the scene with a monster $120.5 million, giving it the third highest opening for a Spider-Man movie, coming in behind No Way Home‘s $260.1 million and Spider-Man 3‘s $151.1 million. Across the Spider-Verse finished the weekend with $208.6 million globally. — Stephanie Holland
Charles Is Crowned King, but Here’s More Black Men We Call Royal
Updated 05/7/2023 at 3:07 p.m. ET: — Noah A. McGee
Rihanna Surprises Us With Major Movie Announcement at CinemaCon 2023
At Hollywood’s annual trip to Las Vegas for its CinemaCon presentation to theater owners, the most anticipated films of the year showcased what’s in store for movie fans. Many of these films feature your favorite Black stars and characters, so we need to check in and see what unexpected surprises were dropped. Since everything she does is interesting, we’re starting with Rihanna’s unexpected move to Smurf village. — Stephanie Holland
The Best Black Movies of 2022
We don’t need to tell you that it’s not cheap to go to the movies. Every time you decide to head to the theater, you’re committing to spend at least $12-15 per ticket and maybe $15-20 on concessions. With that much money on the line, the last thing you want is to sit through a mediocre movie. Luckily, none of these films fall into that category. These are the ones that you went back and paid that high price to see again. Take a moment and reflect on The Root’s best Black movies of 2022. — Stephanie Holland
Abbott Elementary Leads Golden Globe TV Nominations but Black Movies Receive Very Little Recognition
Coming off of its scandal surrounding the lack of inclusivity in nominations and membership, the embattled Hollywood Foreign Press Association has a lot to prove with the Golden Globes comeback show. Nominations for the 80th Annual Golden Globes were announced Monday morning, and it appears that he HFPA is avoiding controversy by playing it safe. There are no real surprises here, as the noms follow in the footsteps of other major critics’ awards and best of the year lists. Unfortunately, the group seemed to miss some of the Black names on all those critics’ lists. There’s a lot to talk about, so let’s start with the good news. — Stephanie Holland
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