1. The Color Purple
The 1985 Steven Spielberg Oscar-nominated classic film, The Color Purple is remade with the addition of the magical musical numbers from the hit Broadway musical production. The film stars Fantasia Barrino as Celie, Halle Bailey as Young Celie, Danielle Brooks as Sofia, Coleman Domingo as Mister and Taraji P. Henson as Shugg Avery.
2. Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé
The documentary follows Beyoncé Knowles Carter as she plans for and tours the country on her cult-status Renaissance Cancer tour in 2023. The curtain is pulled back on her creativity from her bold wardrobe choices, choreography, set creations, song choices, trials and triumphs. The films features interviews with members of her team like her choreographer and music director. We also see the evolution of of daughter Blu Ivy.
3. The Little Mermaid
Ariel (Halle Bailey) is a free spirited adventurous mermaid who is curious about life on land. Her curiosity and beauty catches the eye of gorgeous Prince Eric. Falling in love with the Prince she makes a deal with the devil so that she can live life on land. The film is the live action adaptation of the original Disney animated film of the same name. Also starring Javier Bardem as King Triton, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder and Awkwafina as Scuttle.
4. They Cloned Tyrone
Jamie Foxx, Teyonah Parris and John Boyega star in this Sci-fi conspiracy comedy about a small and poor urban town that is the focus of a secret government experiment causing weird happenings. The trio bands the townspeople together to take back their community.
5. Rye Lane
A charming and contemporary romantic comedy that follows twenty-something young people who connect on an eventful day in South London as they help each other deal with breakups from nightmare exes. Starring David Jonsson, Vivian Oparah, Charlie Knight, Simon Manyonda and Levi Roots.
6. Rustin
A drama about the life of civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, the architect of the 1963 March on Washington. Coleman Domingo stars as Rustin, an openly gay Black man who changed the course of history with the monumental event. Rustin is Directed by George C. Wolfe.
7. The Burial
Jamie Foxx stars as Willie E. Gary, a flashy country attorney who never looses a case, until he goes up against a funeral conglomerate and nearly ruins his winning streak. The film also stars Tommy Lee Jones, Jurnee Smollet, Dorian Missick and Mamoudou Athie.
8. A Thousand and One
Teyana Taylor show she can act in the role of an inner city mom, who, after being released from prison, kidnaps her 6-year old son from his foster care parents. She does the best she can with the resources she has to make a life for both of them.
9. The Blackening
In this horror/thriller, college friends reunite for a Juneteenth celebration weekend but soon find out the game they are forced to play really isn’t a game. The films stars Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Melvin Gregg, X Mayo, Dewayne Perkins, Antoinette Robertson, Sinqua Walls, Jay Pharoah and Yvonne Orji.
10. All Up in the Biz
A documentary about the life of rapper/DJ Biz Markie, the Clown Prince of Hip Hop. His rise to fame is chronicled through celebrity interviews and rare footage. Featured are Nick Cannon, Tracy Morgan, Big Daddy Kane, Fat Joe, Doug E. Fresh, Dapper Dan and more. Directed by Sacha Jenkins.
11. American Fiction
Monk (Jeffrey Wright) is an author who is frustrated and tired of the system of hypocrisy profiting from offensive content and Black stereotypes. As a joke he writes a book under the pseudonym Stagg R. Leigh that is outlandishly stereotypical from cover to cover, only to find that the book is a huge success. Also starring Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams, Adam Brody, John Ortiz and Keith David.
12. Origin
Written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Ava Duvernay, the movie is based on the book The Origins of Our Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson. They film and the book delve into the subject of social hierarchy and the caste system. The project stars Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Isabel Wilkerson as well as Audra McDonald, Niecy Nash-Betts, Jon Bernthal and Blair Underwood.
13. Chevalier
Based on true events, Chavalier is musician Joseph Bologne (Kelvin Harrison, Jr), known as Chevalier de Saint Georges, a Black illegitimate son of a French plantation owner. Chevalier rose to prominence in French society as a musical genius, composer, violinist, champion fencer and friend of queen of France, Marie Antionette (Lucy Boynton).
14. Creed III
Michael B. Jordan stars as retired boxer Adonis Creed, as well as directs and co-produces this sequel to 2018’s sports drama Creed II. Jonathan Majors also stars along with Tessa Thompson, Wood Harris and Phylicia Rashad. Story by Ryan Cooler and Zach Baylin based on characters by Sylvester Stallone.
15. You People
Eddie Murphy, Lauren London, Jonah Hill, Nia Long and Julia Louis- Dreyfus star in this modern comedy about an interracial couple dealing with family pressures, cultural clashes, societal expectations and generational differences in Los Angeles.
16. The Equalizer 3
Denzel Washington stars once again as Robert McCall, a badass former government assassin. Reconciling with the horrific things he’s done in the past, McCall settles into a quiet life in an Amalfi Coast town in Southern Italy but soon discovers this quaint little town is under siege by local crime boss. McCall, of course, handles this. Also starring Dakota Fanning and Gaia Scodellaro.
17. Candy Cane Lane
Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross star in this Christmas comedy/fantasy about the Carver family who unknowingly make a deal with the evil elf, Pepper that brings the 12 days of Christmas to Life. The family and the entire neighborhood pull together to defeat the evil elf and save Christmas forever. The film also stars Robin Thede, Chris Redd, D.C. Young Fly, Danielle Pinnock, and David Allen Grier.
18. Dashing Through The Snow
A holiday comedy starring Ludacris as Eddie Garrick; a social worker who doesn’t believe in Christmas. He and his daughter end up on a magical adventure where they meet Nick, a jolly man in a red suit played by Lil Rel Howery. Nick may forever change their idea of Christmas. Also starring Teyonah Parris and Madison Skye Validium. Directed by Tim Story and Produced by Tim Story and Will Packer.
19. The Mill
A futuristic sci-fi thriller starring Lil Rel Howery as a hardworking man is a future capitalistic US who finds himself imprisoned with no recollection of why. The film explores themes of capitalism, exploitation and the peril of a possible take over by artificial intelligence.
20. Cinnamon
Pam Grier stars in this Tube Black Noir film, reminiscent of the Blaxploitation era of the 70s of which Grier rose to fame with Foxy Brown and Coffy. In Cinnamon, Grier stars as Mama, a ruthless hearing impaired drug cartel matriarch, hunting down a young couple who unknowingly have become entangled in the her search for a missing stash. Also starring Damon Wayans, Hailey Kilgore and David Iacono.
21. Sweetwater
Sweetwater is about Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton (played by Everett Osborne) of the Harlem Globetrotters. Clifton made history as the first Black player to sign a contract with the NBA in 1950. Also staring Jeremy Piven, Robert Ri’chard and Ashani Roberts.
22. House Party
In this latest version of House Party, Kevin (Jacob Latimore) and Damon (Tosin Cole) desperate to get their cash up, have the wacky idea of charging people to come and party at LeBron James’ palatial mansion without LeBron’s permission, of course. And a really bad idea goes really really wrong.
23. Big George Foreman
I saw this one on a plane and didn’t think I would be interested but was surprised how much I didn’t know about George Foreman. World Heavyweight Boxer, Gold-metal winner George Foreman (Played by Khris Davis) went from nothing to something and back to nothing again before turning his life around again. Also starring Jasmine Mathews, Sam Trammell, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Sonja Sohn, Sullivan Jones and Forest Whitaker. Directed by George Tilman Jr.
RELATED: blackfilm.com’s Top Films of 2022
