Do you spend too much time scrolling through BET, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and yes even Tubi for good Black TV and movies? If the answer is “yes,” I’ve got you, mate. I’ve done a deep dive for you and found Black TV and movies that’ll keep you busy the entire Fall. But here’s the kicker: The shows I’ve picked are led by Black and British actors.
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When it comes to Black British TV, there is always excellent acting, well-developed plot lines and good-looking Black folk. Idris Elba’s Stringer Bell in the American hit The Wire is unforgettable, but have you seen him in Luther. Instead of a smooth, brilliant Gangsta, Elba plays a flawed, brilliant detective. Luther remains a TV icon but wait, there’s more. Sit back and relax, I have a list that will keep you busy for months.
Desmond’s: Amazon Prime, Tubi
Let’s start with Desmond’s. Some Black Brits compare this cheeky sitcom to the Cosby Show. Desmond runs a barbershop in South London, that also acts as a community hub for the locals who live there. In this beloved 1980s sitcom, viewers will enjoy watching the life of a Black British family as they go about their lives and also create a safe place in a barbershop of all places.
Attack The Block: Hulu, Amazon Prime, Max
Attack The Block is for those of us who enjoy Sci-Fi and action. The film was John Boyega’s debut feature role, and in it he plays the leader of a gang of teenagers living on a council estate in South London. Their lives are turned upside down when an alien invasion happens on their block. The teens have to test their bravery to defend themselves from the predators. Though the film wasn’t a box office hit, it has received a standout Rotten Tomatoes score of 91 percent.
Domino Day: Amazon Prime, AMC
For fans of the fantasy genre, Domino Day may be just the show you are looking for. Domino (Siena Kelly) is a witch haunted by her need to feed on humans in order to survive. She doesn’t understand why, but she wants to find out. However, Domino has yet to discover that she is already being tracked by a coven of witches. Audiences are left wondering what will be her fate now that others know her secret?
Supacell: Netflix
Of course I have to include Supacell. The series follows five South Londoners who find their lives changed after discovering they have superpowers. The only connection they share? They are Black and related to someone with sickle cell, an inherited blood disorder. In the series, the five must come together to fight against a force that wants to experiment on them and others like them. Supacell was created by Rapman, a Black British rapper, screenwriter and director, who developed the show to empower Black audiences, and bring awareness to sickle cell.
Luther: Hulu, Amazon Prime
For fans of detective shows and Idris Elba, or maybe just Idris Elba (right ladies?), Luther is worth giving a watch. This detective show turns to a psychological thriller as Luther’s personal and professional life become intertwined. For the role, Elba has won the Critics’ Choice Television Award, Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award. With high critics and audience ratings, Luther is the program that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Top Boy: Summerhouse: Netflix
If you’re a fan of Netflix’s Top Boy then what you might not know is that it’s a reboot of Top Boy: Summerhouse. In this series audiences can watch how Sully (Kano) and Dushane (Ashley Walters) got to where they are, as well as why they fell out and lost everything that they gained. Though it may not be completely necessary to understand everything that happens in Top Boy Netflix, it is a great drama and much grittier than the newer series.
Riches: Amazon Prime
After Stephen Richards, owner of a cosmetics empire, suffers from a heart attack, his family begin fighting over who will next rule. However, old secrets begin rising to the surface. This is a drama for those who like rich people dealing with rich people mess.
Rye Lane: Hulu
Rye Lane is a romantic comedy set over the course of one day. Yas (Vivian Oparah) and Dom (David Jonsson) are both dealing with recent breakups. They first meet at a mutual friend’s art exhibition and then go an adventurous day through London. As the pair get to know each other, and develop a charming chemistry throughout the course of the film, they begin to fall cluelessly in love. If you’re a fan of Black love, this is the romance for you.
Chewing Gum: Amazon Prime, Max, Hulu
Fans of Michaela Coel will love this next sitcom: Chewing Gum. This hilarious comedy follows the life of Tracey (Michaela Coel) as she secretly rebels against her restrictive religious upbringing, and attempts to learn more about herself and the world around her. Though the series doesn’t often step too far off the council estate she lives in (Americans say housing projects), there still is a lot of adventure and hijinks that occur in the small world that Michaela Coel has created.
I May Destroy You: Max, Apple TV, Amazon Prime
Also created by Michaela Coel, I May Destroy You; writer Arabella (Michaela Coel) abandons the drafts of her writings for a night out in East London. Arabella wakes up the next morning with fuzzy memories. After realizing that she may have been sexually assaulted, Arabella spends the rest of the series trying to put pieces of the night’s events together. The show, which is both funny and sometimes triggering, has received high critic and audience ratings and has proved Michael Coel to be a genius writer.
Queenie: Hulu
Adapted from the novel of the same name by Candice Carty-Williams, Queenie is navigating life as a twenty-five year old journalist while comparing herself to her middle-class white peers. Suffering from a recent heartbreak, juggling a home life, and her professional life, she will be relatable to anyone who’s in their twenties or have already experienced what it means to be a messy twenty something.
Boarders: Tubi
Boarders is a comedy drama series that takes place in an elite boarding school. After five under-privileged kids are selected for a scholarship at the exclusive school, they find themselves thrown into a world unknown. Being minorities in a sea of white students and surrounded by staff who want to do nothing but prove the “black excellence” of their newest diverse members, the youngsters in the series take us on a funny but also frustrating experience.
Dreaming Whilst Black: Hulu, Amazon Prime, Paramount, Apple
Kwabena (Adjani Salmon) dreams of being a filmmaker but is stuck at his recruitment job. With criticism from family, and the world around him, Kwabena has to be relentless about his pursuit. Once given the opportunity, will his dreams come to fruition or will he crumble under the weight of them?
Three Little Birds: Amazon Prime
Written by stand-up comedian, actor and writer Sir Lenny Henry is a drama inspired by his mothers stories of moving from Jamaica to Britain. Set in 1957 Three Little Birds follows Leah (Rochelle Neil), Chantrelle (Saffron Coomber), and Hosanna (Yazmin Belo) as they try to start a new life in England. This series is perfect for those curious about the Black British history and experience.
Africa and Britain: A Forgotten History: Amazon Prime, Tubi
Another for those who are fans of history is Africa and Britain: A Forgotten History. Presented by historian David Olusoga, this documentary outlines the history of Black Britons predating slavery, going as far back as North African Roman soldiers in the Third Century. Olusoga brings to the surface the lesser known history of Black tudors, and the roles they played within society. Overall, his documentary series educates us on the rich history of Black people.
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