17 Films About Black Joy to Watch All Year Round

Starring dynamic duo Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, "Bad Boys" follows detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett as they track down millions of dollars worth of missing drugs under the pressure of the Miami Police Department. An action-packed comedy, "Bad Boys" is a classic movie enjoyable for the whole family with the added bonus of having two equally hilarious sequels.

Watch "Bad Boys" on Netflix.

"Barbershop" chronicles a day in the life of a shop on the south side of Chicago, diving into the camaraderie that exists between men and their barbers. Calvin (aka Ice Cube) inherits the struggling business from his father and immediately sells, but later comes to realise he may have made a mistake.

Watch "Barbershop" on Amazon Prime Video.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Nate Parker lead the underrated romance "Beyond the Lights", about a young singer who finally finds someone who sees her for who she truly is. There are dramatic elements, but this is a love story at its core.

Watch "Beyond the Lights" on Amazon Prime Video.

Set in the 1960s and based on the 1981 Broadway musical, "Dreamgirls" follows a trio of female musicians — The Dreamettes — in their pursuit of mainstream success. With a lineup that includes Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy, and Jennifer Hudson, this film has all the makings of a Black classic from the beginning.

Watch "Dream Girls" on Netflix.

Craig Jones (Ice Cube) loses his job, needs money for rent, and has a best friend who owes money to the town drug dealer. What could go wrong? As it turns out, everything. Jones, along with best friend Smokey (Chris Tucker), embark on a hilariously chaotic Friday adventure in this comedy staple.

Watch "Friday" on Netflix.

A 2011 romantic-comedy drama, "Jumping the Broom" tackles the age-old trope of a wealthy girl falling in love with a poor boy, much to the dismay of her family. In this case, the pairing is Sabrina Watson (Paula Patton) and Jason Taylor (Laz Alonso), whose families clash on their wedding day due to differing traditions and family secrets. When all is said and done, only one question remains: will Sabrina and Jason finally jump the broom?

Watch "Jumping the Broom" on Netflix.

"Princess and the Frog" tells the story of a New Orleans waitress who dreams of one day owning her own restaurant. She meets a frog prince along the way and, trying to return him back to human form, kisses him. The problem? Not only does he not become human; she becomes a frog, too.

This film marked the first time Black kids were able to identify with Disney royalty who looked like them. As the first Black Disney princess, Princess Tiana proved that blonde hair and blue eyes are not a requirement to be a princess.

Watch "Princess and the Frog" on Disney+.

Released this past Christmas, "Soul" is a Pixar animated film focuses on musician who, after a near-death experience that lands him in the afterlife, regrets the life he took for granted. Coming at a time of great uncertainty and stress in the real world, the film — featuring the voices of Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Angela Bassett, and more — stresses themes of community and finding purpose.

Much like the aforementioned animated films, "Soul" breaks huge racial barriers in animation. It is Pixar's first Black protagonist and only the fourth American animated feature with Black leads.

Watch "Soul" on Disney+.

A modern take on the classic underdog story, Akeelah and the Bee tells the story of Akeelah Anderson, an 11-year-old Black girl from South Los Angeles, as she finds herself immersed in the predominantly rich and white world of spelling bees. Supported by powerhouses like Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett, Akeelah and the Bee launched actress Keke Palmer to stardom once and for all.

A hilarious women-led buddy comedy starring Halle Berry alongside the late Natalie Desselle, "B.A.P.S." follows eccentric waitresses Nisi and Mickey as they try to raise enough money to start their own business — a combination soul food restaurant and hair salon. Fate lands them to the estate of Mr. Blakemore (Martin Landau), with whom the duo grow close despite cultural differences.

An abstract interpretation of the 2019 live-action remake of "The Lion King", "Black Is King" tells of a young king who gets cast out as a baby and returns as an adult to reclaim his throne. Throughout his journey, the young man reconnects with his history and identity, making him feel even closer to his culture and people than ever before. Directed, written, and produced by Beyoncé, and supported by an all-star lineup of both African and American musicians, fashion designers, and video directors, "Black Is King" is a celebration of Black people and culture in its truest form.

When T'Challa's claim to the throne is challenged, he must harness the full power of the Black Panther to defeat his enemies, take his rightful place as king, and secure the safety of Wakanda. An integral story in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this film is led by household names like the late Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Angela Bassett, and more. Much like "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse", "Black Panther" was a milestone for Black representation in superhero films.

"Coming to America" is a hilarious 1980s rom-com that has stood the test of time. The film follows an African prince named Akeem (Eddie Murphy) who travels to Queens, New York, to find a wife. Akeem's best friend, Semmi (Arsenio Hall), also joins the prince on his quest, and the two wind up in some very side-splitting scenarios. The film got a sequel in 2021, which is also definitely worth giving a watch after viewing this classic comedy film.

"Jingle Jangle" is a family-friendly musical extravaganza that follows a toymaker and his granddaughter as they set out to save Christmas. Years after Jeronicus Jangle's (Forest Whitaker) apprentice steals the design for his latest toy — leaving Jangle with nothing — his granddaughter (Madalen Mills) helps him bring an old design to life, reawakening the magic within him. Led by an all-Black cast, the film, originally planned as a stage production, received 10 nominations at the 52nd NAACP Image Awards.

Single mother and former pageant girl Turquoise Jones (Nicole Beharie) enters her daughter, Kai (Alexis Chikaeze), into the local Miss Juneteenth pageant. Despite Turquoise falling on hard times and Kai being seemingly unenthused, the two deal with a series of trials and tribulations that force them to grow closer. During the entire process, the duo learn to respect and accept each other for who they are.

Forced to take refuge at St. Katherine's Parish and disguise as a nun, club singer Delores Van Cartier (Whoopi Goldberg) transforms a bland church choir into a soulful chorus. A hilarious inspirational comedy with an unmatched soundtrack, "Sister Act" spawned a sequel that is also a must-watch if you enjoyed the first film's vibrant energy and, of course, Whoopi Goldberg's impeccable talent.

"Summer of Soul" is a music documentary that chronicles the six weeks during the summer of 1969 when thousands of people attended the Harlem Cultural Festival to celebrate Black history, culture, music, and fashion. Featuring concert performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly and the Family Stone, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Mahalia Jackson, B.B. King, The 5th Dimension, and more, much of the footage was largely forgotten . . . until now. A testament to the healing power of music and community, "Summer of Soul" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award.