We donโt need to tell you that itโs not cheap to go to the movies. Every time you decide to head to the theater, youโre 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 Rootโs best Black movies of 2022.
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10: Honk For Jesus, Save Your Soul

Black churches are so essential to the Black community, but itโs also no secret that some of them arenโt completely in it for the Lord. The way this film challenges the institution with fantastic performances from Regina Hall and Sterling K. Brown is fun and thought provoking. Seriously, put some respect on Regina Hallโs name!
9: Nope

The thing about Jordan Peeleโs work is that itโs always interesting, and thatโs not something you can say about a lot of filmmakers. He never phones it in. No matter what you think of the craziness, youโll be talking about it long after youโve seen the movie.
8: Devotion

Jonathan Majors is having a moment right now. The closest comparison I can come up with is โ90s Denzel, where heโs delivering banger after banger after banger. In Devotion, he deftly balances honoring Jesse Brown, the decorated pilot, with telling the story of his humanity and struggle for dignity in a world that doesnโt think he deserves it.
7: Descendant

For all those white people who want to take slavery out of textbooks and think it happened so long ago it doesnโt matter anymore, I suggest you watch Descendant. The residents of Africatown are in a direct fight to stop the industrial complex from bulldozing their history at the same time weโre all fighting to prevent certain governmental systems from erasing ours. Descendant is a showcase for why documentaries are still such an important part of filmmaking.
6: The Inspection

Elegance Brattonโs debut film chronicling a Marineโs quest for acceptance and peace of mind is a barrage of emotions, but itโs all beautifully handled by the veteran cast. Jeremy Pope and Gabrielle Union are at the top of their game as they guide the audience through every step of this standout work of art.
5: Sidney

Honoring an icon like Sidney Poitier isnโt necessarily easy. We all know about his impact on Black entertainment and how many actors and filmmakers heโs inspired. But where Sidney excels is that it finds the humanity behind the star and actually honors the man, not the icon.
4: Till

It takes a strong performer to embody a woman like Mamie Till-Mobley and not get lost in the importance of the story. Danielle Deadwyler guides us through every moment of Mamieโs grief, resolve, shock and strength without ever going over the top or losing sight of the real woman behind the history.
3: Everything Everywhere All at Once
Itโs so rare to be surprised by a movie nowadays, but thatโs exactly what Everything Everywhere All at Once did. Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan are awesome, the visuals are cool and itโs fun to watch. I donโt want to spoil how truly spectacular this movie is, but just know that itโs entertaining in every single universe.
2: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Ryan Coogler managed to guide us all through our collective grief while also delivering a thrilling follow-up to a history-making, game-changing film. Shuri, Nakia, MโBaku and Okoye all grew as characters and Wakanda grows as a country. In any other year, it would have been the unquestioned best movie, but you can never count out Viola.
1: The Woman King

From the cast, to the direction, to the historical setting, The Woman King excels on every level. Itโs the kind of art that sticks with you long after youโve seen it. Viola Davis is a general in every sense of the word. She commands the audience to follow her and her warriors through this gripping story. Then she expertly moves us through every emotion she rains down on us. This film will have a lasting legacy as an impactful moment for cinema.
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