Netflix has a huge collection of incredible Black movies on the platform, ranging across genres and displaying the creativity of several prominent filmmakers. Many of Netflix's best Black movies are contained under the site’s ‘Black Stories’ collection, which collates all these projects into the same place for audiences to browse at their own leisure, exploring the multiple styles and subgenres that are available.
The Black Stories Collection is an extremely diverse selection of films and television shows, ranging from classic cinema to recent hits and highlighting just how important and innovative Black filmmakers have been throughout the industry’s history. There’s a great mixture of critically-acclaimed projects and more underrated hidden gems that audiences might not have heard of before, with some of Netflix’s best movies being included in the collection.
10 She's Gotta Have It (1986)
Spike Lee's She's Gotta Have It is a brilliant comedy that centers on Nola Darling (Tracy Camilla Johns), a young Black graphic artist who is happily dating three different men at once while they all want her to pick them. It's a classic movie that definitely deserves its spot in the Black Stories collection thanks to its progressive focus on female Black sexuality and agency. She's Gotta Have It is Lee's directorial debut, and it's easy to see exactly how the filmmaker developed his vision from here.
9 The Forty-Year-Old Version (2020)
The Forty-Year-Old Version is one of Netflix’s most creative and subversive original movies, following a struggling artist named Radha (Radha Blank) who reinvents herself as a rapper once her career as a playwright begins to flounder. The movie blends comedy and drama so effectively, finding its voice immediately and making a strong statement on racial inequality is still very present in modern-day arts. A striking black-and-white movie, The Forty-Year-Old Version's visual style makes it stand out, and the entire package makes it one of the best Black movies on Netflix.
8 The Harder They Fall (2021)
The Harder They Fall is another Netflix original that proves exactly why the streamer remains so successful, taking the concept of a traditional Western movie and subverting it completely. The movie’s all-Black ensemble brings this story to life with a series of bold and eccentric performances that often play against type, exploring how Black communities are often written out of history and giving them a chance to reclaim their place in the story. Critics also loved The Harder They Fall thanks to its sharp screenplay and hilarious characters, earning one of Netflix's best Black movies 88% on Rotten Tomatoes.
7 13th (2016)
One of Netflix’s most important projects yet, Ava DuVernsay's 13th is a documentary that focuses on the racial injustice that remains present in the American prison system, exploring how people continue to be affected by this and what needs to be done to change it. The movie is full of fascinating interviews with experts who aren’t afraid to speak the truth about how dangerous this corner of society is becoming. It’s definitely not an easy watch, but it’s movies like this that Black Stories exists to raise awareness of.
6 Get On Up (2014)
Get On Up features Chadwick Boseman in one of his best projects, adopting the role of James Brown in this exploration of the singer’s rise to fame. The movie chronicles the most important moments of the iconic musician’s life, beginning as a young adult living in poverty and showing how he managed to overcome his situation and become the Godfather of Soul. It’s an inspirational story that’s so much more than a stanard musical biopic, offering some genuinely astute commentary on how greatness is often forged through suffering and oppression.
5 His House (2020)
His House is an indie horror that landed on Netflix in 2020 and immediately ranked among the service’s scariest movies. The story follows a young couple from South Sudan who move into a new home in England and discover supernatural forces attempting to push them away. It’s a powerful commentary on contemporary attitudes towards immigrants, highlighting just how quietly oppressed this corner of society often is. One of Netflix's best Black movies, His House was a huge critical success, maintaining an astounding 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie's writer-director Remi Weekes went on to win Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer at the 2021 BAFTA ceremony.
4 ing (2021)
ing is another Netflix original that is one of the best Black movies on Netflix thanks to its powerful narrative about racial injustice and the lengths that Black communities have been forced to go to in order to survive. It follows two Black women named Irene (Tessa Thompson) and Clare (Ruth Negga) who live completely different lives, with the latter ‘ing’ as a white woman to help her social chances. The film is powered by the strong performances from its leads, both of whom were nominated at the BAFTAs alongside the film’s director Rebecca Hall.
3 The Pursuit Of Happyness (2006)
In Netflix's Black Stories collection, The Pursuit of Happyness follows a man named Chris Gardner (Will Smith) who’s struggling to balance looking after his young son with the beginning of his new career. It’s an incredibly inspirational story, leaving a message of hope and optimism that’s not always present in more socially-charged dramas. The Pursuit of Happyness remains one of Smith’s best movies, earning its place among Netflix's best movies thanks to its powerful commentary on social class and race.
2 Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020)
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was a huge critical success after landing on Netflix in 2020, and it’s easy to see why. The film takes place over the course of a hot summer day in 1927, following the iconic singer (Viola Davis) as she’s brought in for a recording session that’s full of emotions and personal revelations, exploring how Black singers were often mistreated in this era of America’s history. The movie is fueled by two Oscar-nominated performances from Davis and Chadwick Boseman, with the former capturing the spirit of Ma Rainey in the lead role.
1 Da 5 Bloods (2020)
Lee’s Da 5 Bloods is a cinematic force to be reckoned with and one of Netflix's best Black movies. It tells the heartbreaking story of four Black war veterans who return to Vietnam to search for the remains of their fallen squad leader. The thought-provoking movie covers many important topics, from the destructive nature of war to the fragility of humanity, and it’s all brought together expertly by Lee’s touching screenplay and the ferocious performances of the entire cast. Delroy Lindo is particularly unforgettable as Paul, whose story is tragically familiar and touches on aspects of the wartime experience that many would rather forget.
