The Greatest Movies With Strong Leads to Watch During Black History Month

Every Black History Month, we like to educate ourselves by expanding our consumption of Black-led media. This includes books, television and, of course, movies. There are so many great films with Black leads that will impact your life, from feel-good romantic comedies to action-packed adventures that will have you on the edge of your seat.

Can't decide on the perfect watch? Continue reading to discover our favorite picks in the most popular genres to view this Black History Month and beyond.

Romance

Here at Sweety High, we can never turn down a good romance movie, and for Black History month, there are many hidden gems to enjoy. Take Taraji P. Henson-led What Men Want, which will have you cracking up. For something more serious, try historical romance Belle—that's also based on a true story. Or, if you're looking to dive deeper into the filmography of young actors you love, you can't go wrong with Zendaya's Malcom & Marie or Yara Shahidi's The Sun Is Also a Star.

• The Sun Is Also a Star
• Belle
• Everything, Everything
• Malcom & Marie
• The Perfect Find
• What Men Want

 

Family

Family films may actually be our favorite genre with Black leads. Between Wicked, starring Cynthia Erivo, and The Little Mermaid, featuring Halle Bailey, how can any other genre compete? The movies in this category will certainly improve your mood on your rainiest day, like Space Jam, or reimagine your outlook on life, such as Soul.

• The Little Mermaid
• Soul
• Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
• The Princess and the Frog
• Wicked
• Space Jam (2021)
• Annie (2014)
• Cinderella (1997)

 

Also read about: 6 Singalong Movies to Watch and Belt Your Heart Out

 

Comedy

If you need a good laugh, look no further than these five movies. We've got cult classics, like Coming to America and White Chicks. Meanwhile, One of Them Days and White Chicks will go down in history as some of the best comedy films of the 21st century.

• One of Them Days
• Coming to America
• White Chicks
• Girls Trip
• Bad Boys

 

Horror

Halloween may be in October, but horror is forever. This Black History Month, you can rewatch (or appreciate for the first time) these scary movies. These are some of the best options in the entire genre—you'll understand when you watch anything written by Jordan Peele. Meanwhile, Bones and All is super avant-garde.

• Us
• Bones and All
• Nope
• Ma
• Candyman (2021)
• The Deliverance

 

Action

You know chaos will ensure in an action movie, and these five films are no exception. Prefer something with fantasy? Meet aliens in Men in Black and superheroes in Black Panther. Meanwhile, Jungle Cruise, The Harder They Fall and The Woman King rely on our humanly gifts but still boast equal amounts of ruckus.

• Jungle Cruise
• Men in Black
• Black Panther
• The Harder They Fall
• The Woman King

 

Drama

Drama has the power to make you feel all the usual emotions in one film, from comedy's laughter to horror's terror. At the same time, they can also be some of the most education—for example, biopics Hidden Figures and 42. And no matter what, your life will be changed after each watch.

• Challengers
• The Pursuit of Happyness
• The Hate U Give
• 42
• Hidden Figures

 

Curious to discover even more movies we love? Click HERE to find the five scary flicks we watch every winter.