Watching a movie is a great way to spend time with your significant other. Films can make us laugh, cry, inspire conversation, discover untold stories and deepen our relationships. Although there are plenty of educational, thought-provoking and entertaining movies available, which ones are good for couples to watch together during Black History Month?
From box office hits to powerful documentaries, here are 28 films highlighting Black relationships, love, culture and identity that you can watch together this month or any month.
Do The Right Thing
This 30-year-old cult classic, written, directed and produced by Spike Lee, focuses on race in America in the late 1980s. Set in a Brooklyn, New York, neighborhood on one of the hottest days of the summer, bigotry and hate accelerate into violence. Watch now on Amazon
Queen & Slim
Slim and Queen’s first date takes an unexpected turn when a policeman pulls them over. When the situation escalates, Slim (Daniel Kaluuya) shoots the officer in self-defense. Now labeled cop killers, Slim and Queen (Jodie Turner-Smith) feel they have no choice but to go on the run. Watch now on Amazon
Southside with You
This biographical romantic drama captures the first date of former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. While working at a Chicago law firm in 1989, summer associate Barack Obama (Parker Sawyers) attempts to win the heart of his supervisor, Michelle Robinson (Tikka Sumpter), who initially wants nothing to do with the charming Harvard law student. Watch Now on Google Play
Poetic Justice
Trying to find ways to deal with grief after the death of her boyfriend, LA hairdresser Justice (Janet Jackson) turns to poetry as an outlet. When she’s hired as a stylist for an event in Oakland, California, she jumps at the opportunity, but her car breaks down. Forced to catch a ride in a postal truck with her friend Lesha (Regina King) and her boyfriend, Chicago (Joe Torry), and his co-worker Lucky (Tupac Shakur), Justice has to decide if she is ready for love again and if Lucky’s the man she has been waiting for. Watch Now on Amazon
Waves
Set against the vibrant landscape of South Florida, and featuring an astonishing ensemble of award-winning actors, Waves traces the epic journey of a suburban African-American family—led by a well-intentioned but domineering father (Sterling K. Brown)—as they navigate love, forgiveness and coming together in the aftermath of a loss. Watch Now on Google Play
If Beale Street Could Talk
This Academy Award-winning film from Barry Jenkins profiles childhood friends turned lovers, Clementine “Tish” Rivers (Kiki Layne) and Alonzo “Fonny” Hunt (Stephan James). The young Harlem couple struggles to find a place to live as most landlords refuse to rent to Blacks. However, their plans are derailed when Fonny is arrested for a crime he did not commit. Watch now on Hulu
Boomerang
Hotshot advertising executive Marcus Graham (Eddie Murphy) is a womanizer. He is hardly prepared for his new boss, Jacqueline (Robin Givens), who is nothing more or less than a female version of Marcus. Now, for the first time, he’s getting a taste of his own medicine. Watch now on Google Play
The Wedding Party
This Nollywood blockbuster takes place during the lavish-turned-nightmare wedding between Dunni Coker (Adesua Etomi), an art gallery owner, and IT entrepreneur Dozie Onwuka (Banky Wellington). Between the fighting parents, uninvited guests and exes popping up, this movie is full of rollercoaster rides and laughter. Watch now on Netflix
Middle of Nowhere
Before Selma, Ava Duvernay won a Sundance Film Festival Award for directing Middle of Nowhere, an intimate drama that follows Ruby (Emayatzy E. Corinealdi), a bright medical student who sets aside her dreams when her husband Derek (Omari Hardwick) is incarcerated. As the committed couple endures an eight-year prison sentence, Ruby must learn to live another life. Watch now on Amazon
Coming to America
Long before Wakanda, there was Zamunda, a wealthy African nation where Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) is set to marry a woman his parents have selected. But he wants a woman who loves him, despite his royal lineage. To escape the arranged marriage, Akeem flees to America accompanied by his sidekick, Semmi (Arsenio Hall), to find his queen. Watch now on Amazon Prime
Nothing but A Man
Single father Duff Anderson (Ivan Dixon) drifts through life with little ambition. But his outlook changes when he meets and marries teacher Josie Dawson (Abbey Lincoln). Duff and Josie struggle to hold on to their marriage as they face the oppressive racism of 1960s America. Watch now on Netflix
Claudine
Claudine (Diahann Carroll) is a single mother in NYC who works as a maid for wealthy suburban families. One day, she meets Roop (James Earl Jones), a charismatic but irresponsible garbage collector. Romance quickly ensues, but Claudine doubts that their relationship is good for her six children; and Rupert, despite his good nature, is reluctant to take on fatherhood. Watch now on Daily Motion
Purple Rain
Minneapolis musician, the Kid (Prince) uses music to escapes his tumultuous home life. While navigating the club scene with his band, The Revolution, he meets and falls in love with local singer Apollonia (Apollonia Kotero). But another musician (Morris Day) wants to steal his spotlight and his woman. Watch now on Netflix
Jason’s Lyric
Houston salesman, Jason (Allen Payne) dreams of something better. He helps his mother and tries to steer his criminally-minded brother, Joshua (Bokeem Woodbine), onto the right path. But real joy enters Jason’s life when he meets Lyric (Jada Pinkett). As their romance develops, Jason is forced to confront a painful secret from his past. Watch now on Amazon
Mahogany
Chicago fashion design student Tracy (Diana Ross) goes from rags to riches when a chance meeting with photographer Sean (Anthony Perkins) leads to a runway model career in Rome. Tracy’s overnight success and strong ambitions bring her professional success, but her diva antics may destroy her relationship with social activist Brian (Billy Dee Williams), as well as her respect in the fashion world. Watch now on Netflix
Been So Long
A chance encounter during a night out leads two weathered North London souls to love. Just like the film’s title, it’s certainly been a while since single mother Simone (Michaela Coel) got twisted with her friends. Dragged to a local bar she is charmed by Raymond (Arinzé Kene), a handsome yet troubled loner. But she isn’t sure if she is ready to open her heart. Watch now on Netflix
The Color Purple
The Color Purple is still one of the most important movies to display how deep Black sisterhood and friendship can run. In the 1940s, Celie (Whoopi Goldberg) undergoes personal evolution in the midst of dealing with an abusive husband (Danny Glover), racism and the loss of her children. Watch now on Amazon
42
This biopic tells the story of all-star baseball player Jackie Robinson’s (Chadwick Boseman) integration of Major League Baseball and his historic rookie season as the first Black player of the Brooklyn Dodgers. While this could be considered a sports movie, it’s truly a love story that reminds you of what you can accomplish when you have the right person by your side. Watch now on Amazon
Night Catches Us
In 1976, complex political and emotional forces are set in motion when ex-Black Panther Marcus (Anthony Mackie) returns to Philadelphia for the funeral of his father. He knows it’s not going to be an easy visit. Many of his old radical friends believe that Marcus was responsible for the death of a Panther leader. While trying to convince everyone he’s not a snitch, Marcus rekindles his relationship with Patricia (Kerry Washington), the widow of the slain leader. Watch now on Amazon
Atlantics
This Afro-futuristic film is centered around two star-crossed lovers: Ada, a young Senegalese girl whose been promised to another man, and Soulemaine, a construction worker who meets a supernatural fate. Watch now on Netflix
Mississippi Damned
A family’s tragic cycle of abuse, addiction and violence leaves three rural Mississippi cousins Sammy (Malcolm Goodwin), Kari (Tessa Thompson) and Leigh (Chastity Hammite) with a choice between confronting the curse that’s plagued their family for generations and succumbing to the grim fate or changing their legacy. Watch now on Hulu
Black Orpheus
This Afro-Brazilian tale set during Carnival, tells the ill-fated love affair of Orfeo, a musician, and streetcar conductor who meets Eurydice, a young country girl visiting family in Rio. As Eurydice and Orfeo get to know one another they fall in love. But when tragedy strikes, Orfeo is forced to go through hell and back to keep his love alive. Watch now on Amazon
Moonlight
A powerful coming of age story chronicles the obstacles Chiron (Trevante Rhodes) faces from childhood to adulthood growing up in Miami. The Oscar-winning film is proof that it’s vital to diverse representations of different Black lifestyles and relationships onscreen, encouraging open conversation about Black male sexuality. Watch now on Amazon
Mo’ Betta Blues
The Bleek Quartet is booked but broke because of the irresponsibility of the band’s manager, Giant (Spike Lee). Saxophonist Shadow (Wesley Snipes) wants to cut him loose. Bleak (Denzel Washington), the band’s trumpeter, defends his childhood pal, leading to a power struggle between the two musicians. Meanwhile, as Bleak tries to straighten things out with his bandmates and manager, he also must choose to be with either sweet teacher Indigo (Joie Lee) or sultry singer Clarke (Cynda Williams). Watch now on Hulu
Brown Sugar
Sometimes the purest forms of romantic love grow from friendships. Brown Sugar explores the evolving relationship of childhood friends Sidney (Sanna Lathan), a thriving music editor, and Dre (Taye Diggs), an unfulfilled music executive. Both come to realize that their best friend will ultimately be their best partner. Watch now on Amazon
Beyond the Lights
Singer Noni Jean (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) should be on top of the world after winning a Billboard Music Award, but the pressure of fame is crushing her. She considers taking her life. Fortunately, Kaz (Nate Parker), the police officer assigned to protect her, thwarts her attempt. The two form an immediate connection, but friends and family fear their relationship will derail the coursed laid out for them both. Watch now on Amazon
The Inkwell
Drew (Larenz Tate) is a shy, troubled 16-year-old from upstate New York. He travels with his parents, Kenny (Joe Morton), and Brenda (Suzzanne Douglas) to Martha’s Vineyard for the summer. On the island, Drew discovers love in an affluent community that dispels the perception of Black people in America. Watch now on Amazon