Afro-American Cinema
At DAARAC, we describe Black Cinema as films that feature an all-black cast, an Afro American actor that has a substantial role in a movie, or the theme of the film centered around Afro Americans.
You will notice comprehensive lists of films and eras that represent Afro American cinema. These films are not made in the United States exclusively. We define the timeline for the evolution of Afro American cinema as Vintage Black Hollywood (1900-1954), the Race Film Era (1915 - 1955), the Civil Rights Era (1956 - 1969), the Blaxploitation Era (1967 - 1980),and the Contemporary (Modern) Era (1980 - present). The era names come from a particular time and culture of Aro Americans. All these eras fall under the umbrella of Afro American Cinema, and within the periods exists additional genres. For example, the Contemporary Era is a mash-up of diverse styles of Afro American Cinema. Still, Spike Lee's pioneering style of film making introduced the New Jack Cinema genre of Afro American Cinema.
The following list provided below does not include films from the Vintage Black Hollywood Films, Race Films, Civil Rights Era, Blaxploitation, and TV Movies.
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A
- A Soldier's Story (1984)
- Above the Rim (1994)
- Action Jackson (1988)
- African Deal, The (1973)
- Amistad (1997)
- Angel Heart (1987)
- Another 48 Hrs. (1990)
- Antwone Fisher (2002)
- Arena, The (1974)
- Ashanti (1979)
- ATL (2006)
- B*A*P*S (1997)
- Baby Boy (2001)
- Babylon (1981)
- Bad Boys (1995)
- Baller Blockin' (2000)
- Bamboozled (2000)
- Bare Knuckles (1977)
- Beat Street (1984)
- Bebe's Kids (1992)
- Believers, The (1987)
- Belly (1998)
- Beloved (1998)
- Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
- Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
- Beverly Hills Cop III (1994)
- Black Alley Cats, The (1973)
- Black and White (1999)
- Black August (2007)
- Black Bunch, The (1973)
- Black Cobra (1987)
- Black Cobra II (1990)
- Black Cobra III (1990)
- Black Cobra IV (1991)
- Black Devil Doll (2007)
- Black Jesus (1968)
- Black Mama, White Mama (1973)
- Black Rodeo (1972)
- Blade (1998)
- Blankman (1994)
- Blood Tide (1982)
- Blue Collar (1978)
- Blue Hill Avenue (2001)
- Boomerang (1992)
- Booty Call (1997)
- Bopha! (1993)
- Bowfinger (1999)
- Boyz N The Hood (1991)
- Breakin' (1984)
- Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo (1984)
- Breeders (1986)
- Brewster's Millions (1985)
- Brian's Song (1971)
- Brother From Another Planet, The (1984)
- Brother John (1971)
- Buffalo Soldiers (1997)
- Bugged (1997)
- Burn! (1969)
- Busted Up (1986)
- Caged Heat (1974)
- Caged in Paradiso (1990)
- Candyman (1992)
- Candyman 2: Farewell To The Flesh (1995)
- Candyman 3: Day of the Dead (1999)
- Carbon Copy (1981)
- Catch My Soul (1973)
- Caught Up (1998)
- CB4 (1993)
- Certain Fury (1985)
- Chameleon Street (1989)
- Choices - The Movie (2001)
- Civil Brand (2002)
- Class Act (1992)
- Class of '74 (1972)
- Color Purple, The
- Colors (1988)
- Coming To America (1988)
- Congo (1995)
- Conrack (1974)
- Cool Runnings (1993)
- Cotton Club, The (1984)
- Countryman (1982)
- Crack House (1989)
- Crazed Cop (1986)
- Crime Partners (2003)
- Critical Condition (1987)
- Crooklyn (1994)
- D.C. Cab (1983)
- Da Game of Life (1998)
- Da Last Don (1998)
- Dangerous Ground (1997)
- Dangerous Minds (1995)
- Dawn of the Dead (1978)
- Deacons For Defense (2003)
- Dead Presidents (1995)
- Deadly Illusion (1987)
- Deadly Vengeance (1981)
- Deep Cover (1992)
- Def By Temptation (1990)
- Demolition Man (1993)
- Demons (1985)
- Devil Hunter (1980)
- Devil In A Blue Dress (1995)
- Diamonds (1975)
- Diamonds of Kilimandjaro (1983)
- Disorderlies (1986)
- Distinguished Gentleman, The (1992)
- Do The Right Thing (1989)
- Don't Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood (1996)
- Down in the Delta (1998)
- Drop Squad (1994)
- Drumline (2002)
- Eddie (1996)
- El Condor (1970)
- Embassy (1972)
- End of the Road (1970)
- Enemy Territory (1987)
- Enemy Within, The (1994)
- Enter The Dragon (1973)
- Eve's Bayou (1997)
- Event Horizon (1997)
- Fakin' Da Funk (1997)
- Fallen (1998)
- Fast Break (1979)
- Fast Forward (1985)
- Fear of a Black Hat (1993)
- Firehouse (1973)
- First Breeze of Summer, The (1976, Broadway)
- Fist of Fear, Touch of Death (1980)
- Five Heartbeats, The (1991)
- Fly by Night (1992)
- Foolish (1999)
- Foreign Student (1994)
- Freedom Road (1979)
- Fresh (1994)
- Friday (1995)
- Friday After Next (2002)
- Gang of Roses (2003)
- Gang Related (1997)
- Get Down On It (2001)
- Get on the Bus (1996)
- Ghetto Freaks (1970)
- Gifted, The (1993)
- Girl 6 (1996)
- Girls Are For Loving (1973)
- Girls For Rent [a.k.a. I Spit On Your Corpse] (1974)
- Ghost Dog (1999)
- Glory (1989)
- Glove, The (1979)
- Go For Broke (2002)
- Go Tell It on the Mountain (1984)
- Golden Needles (1974)
- Good Burger (1997)
- Grasshopper, The (1970)
- Great White Hype, The (1996)
- Harlem Nights (1989)
- Hav Plenty (1997)
- Hawk Jones (1986)
- He Got Game (1998)
- Head of State (2003)
- Held Up (1999)
- Hell of the Living Dead (1980)
- Hicky & Boggs (1972)
- Higher Learning (1995)
- High School High (1996)
- Hollywood Shuffle (1987)
- Hoodlum (1997)
- Horror High (1974)
- Hot Box, The (1972)
- Hot Boyz (2000)
- Hot Pants Holiday [a.k.a. Tropic Heat] (1971)
- Hotel Rwanda (2004)
- House Party (1990)
- House Party 2 (1991)
- House Party 3 (1994)
- How To Be A Player (1997)
- Huey P. Newton Story, A (2001)
- Hurricane Smith (1992)
- I Escaped From Devils Island (1973)
- I Got The Hook Up (1998)
- I'm Bout It (1997)
- I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988)
- Idlewild (2006)
- Il corpo [a.k.a. The Body] (1974)
- Illusions (1982)
- In The Heat Of The Night (1967)
- In Too Deep (1999)
- Inglorious Bastards [A.K.A. G.I. Bro] (1977)
- Inkwell, The (1994)
- Ilsa, Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks (1976)
- Jackie Brown (1997)
- Jason's Lyric (1994)
- Jefferson in Paris (1995)
- Jimmy the Kid (1982)
- Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986)
- Joanna (1968)
- Journey of August King, The (1995)
- Juice (1992)
- Jungle Fever (1991)
- Just Another Girl On The I.R.T. (1992)
- Kid Vengeance (1977)
- Kill Squad (1982)
- Killa Season (2006)
- Killer of Sheep (1979)
- Kiss of Death (1997)
- Klash (1995)
- Krush Groove (1985)
- Kung Fu Executioner (1981)
- L.A. Heat (1988)
- L.A. Vice (1989)
- La Ragazza dalla Pelle di Luna (1972)
- La Ragazza Fuori Strada (1973)
- Las Vegas Lady (1975)
- Last Dragon, The (1985)
- Last Fight (1983)
- Last of the Mobile Hot Shots (1970)
- Last Rebel, The (1971)
- Last Wave, The (1977)
- Lawman Without A Gun (1978)
- Lean On Me (1989)
- Leonard Part 6 (1987)
- Life (1999)
- Light It Up (1999)
- Lil' Pimp (2005)
- Live and Let Die (1973)
- Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
- Livin' Large (1991)
- Long Ships, The (1964)
- Losing Ground (1982)
- Losing Isaiah (1995)
- Lost in the Stars (1974)
- Love and Basketball (2000)
- Love Jones (1997)
- Love Is Not a Game [Original title: Vill så gärna tro] (1971)
- Low Down Dirty Shame, A (1994)
- Major Payne (1995)
- Malcolm X (1992)
- Man Friday (1975)
- Manhandlers, The (1974)
- Marvin and Tige (1983)
- Master Gunfighter, The (1975)
- Maurie (1973)
- McMasters, The (1970)
- Menace II Society (1993)
- Meteor Man (1993)
- Mighty Quinn, The (1989)
- Mo' Better Blues (1990)
- Mo' Money (1992)
- Money Train (1995)
- Moving (1988)
- Mr. Ricco (1975)
- Murda Muzik (2004)
- Murder Was the Case (1995)
- Mushroom Man, The [El hombre de los hongos] (1976)
- My Brother's Wedding (1983)
- Negotiator, The (1998)
- New Jack City (1991)
- New Jersey Drive (1995)
- Next Friday (2000)
- Night Call Nurses (1972)
- Night of the Cobra Woman (1972)
- Night of the Living Dead (1990)
- Night of the Strangler (1972)
- Nothing But A Man (1964)
- Nutty Professor, The (1996)
- Omega Man, The (1971)
- On The Right Track (1981)
- One Eight Seven (1997)
- Othello (1995)
- Our Song (2000)
- Out of Sync (1995)
- Panther (1995)
- Passenger 57 (1992)
- People Under The Stairs, The (1991)
- Players Club, The (1998)
- Poetic Justice (1993)
- Policewomen (1974)
- Pootie Tang (2001)
- Posse (1993)
- Pound (1970)
- Preacher's Wife, The (1996)
- Predator (1987)
- Principal, The (1987)
- Purple Rain (1984)
R
- Rage In Harlem, A (1991)
- Rappin (1985)
- Red Ink (2000)
- Report to the Commissioner (1975)
- Ricochet (1991)
- Ride (1998)
- Riot (1969)
- Ritual (2000)
- Riverbend (1989)
- Rockin' With A Bullet (1987)
- Rooftops (1989)
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (1978)
- Roommates, The (1973)
- Rosewood (1997)
- Round Midnight (1986)
- Running Scared (1986)
- Sankofa (1993)
- Sarafina! (1992)
- School Daze (1988)
- Scott Joplin (1977)
- Serpent and the Rainbow, The (1988)
- Set It Off (1996)
- Shaft (2000)
- She's Gotta Have It (1986)
- Sheriff, The (1971)
- Shoot to Kill (1988)
- Shottas (2002)
- Sidewalk Stories (1989)
- Sixth Man, The (1997)
- Skin Game (1971)
- Slam (1998)
- Soldier's Story, A (1984)
- Some Kind of Hero (1982)
- Soul Food (1997)
- Soul in the Hole (1997)
- Soul to Soul (1971)
- Sounder (1972)
- South Beach (1992)
- South Central (1992)
- Space Jam (1996)
- Split, The (1968)
- Sprung (1997)
- S.T.A.B. (1976)
- State Property (2002)
- Stigma (1972)
- Stony Island (1978)
- Story Of A 3-Day Pass, The [aka La Permission] (1968)
- Straight Out Of Brooklyn (1991)
- Stranger Inside (2001)
- Strapped (1993)
- Street Smart (1987)
- Streets of Gold (1986)
- Streets Is Watching (1998)
- Strictly Business (1991)
- Strip Search (1997)
- Sugar Hill (1993)
- Sunset Park (1996)
- Super Cops, The (1974)
- Surviving the Game (1994)
- Sweet Sugar (1972)
- Tales From The Hood (1995)
- Tales from the Quadead Zone (1987)
- Talkin' Dirty After Dark (1991)
- Talons of the Eagle (1992)
- Tanya's Island (1980)
- Tenafly (1973)
- Terminal Island (1973)
- Thank God It's Fiday (1978)
- That's the Way of the World (1975)
- Thicker Than Water (1999)
- Thin Line Between Love And Hate, A (1996)
- Thug Life (2001)
- Tick...Tick...Tick... (1970)
- Tougher Than Leather (1988)
- Toy, The (1982)
- Trading Places (1983)
- Trespass (1992)
- Trial of the Moke (1978)
- Trippin' (1999)
- Tripwire (1989)
- True Identity (1991)
V
W
- Waiting to Exhale (1995)
- Walking Dead, The (1995)
- Warm December, A (1973)
- Warriors, The (1979)
- Wash, The (2001)
- What's Love Got To Do With It (1993)
- White Dog (1982)
- White Men Can't Jump (1992)
- Who Made the Potato Salad? (2006)
- Who's The Man (1993)
- Why Do Fools Fall In Love (1998)
- Wilby Conspiracy, The (1975)
- Wild Style (1983)
- Wiz, The (1978)
- Women In Cages (1971)
- Women of Brewster Place, The (1989)
- Woo (1998)
- Wood, The (1999)
Y
Z