By Joséphine Li
The lack of visibility of struggles and under-representation of black lives in popular culture has been a major topic of discussion in recent months. More and more mainstream actors, directors, producers, and movie studios are beginning to admit accountability and are making promises to do more in the future, but there are some who are already fighting against the tide. If you are looking for examples either for yourself or for friends and family, this article highlights 4 of the game-changing, industry-shaking films of the 21st century, which put black talent, black lives, and issues of race on the frontline.
1. Black Panther (2018)
For starters, “Black Panther” is THE world’s favorite superhero movie.
This movie celebrated African culture and black characters through the fictional East African nation of Wakanda into the mainstream of popular culture and it really lived up to the hype—it is the first superhero movie ever to take in a whopping $1.3 billion at the box office and received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. It sweeps the audience off their feet with their engaging action and likable characters. Black Panther is not just one of many gripping movies in the acclaimed Marvel Universe, it is far more than just a superhero story. It is the character that stands next to the best fare offered up by the Marvel Universe.
2. Selma (2014)
Some said that this is a movie that will be remembered for a very, very long time. Selma depicts the Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches and it impresses on anyone how hard-won the gains of the Civil Rights era were. The movie is dramatically tight and emotionally true. It offers not only a superbly-realized presentation of a particular series of events, but also a sense of what it meant to live through the historical period in question.
The movie received four Golden Globe Award nominations and was nominated for Best Picture and won Best Original Song at the Academy Awards. To my mind, Ava DuVernay’s best film ever. It is a movie that leaves audiences moved and shaken.
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3. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse (2018)
Thirsty for a truly wild and electric journey?
Believe the hype, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is exactly what you are looking for—You will love its fast-paced action sequences and its energetic soundtrack that almost makes you feel like you are getting absorbed in the comic book. It is the first animated movie in the Spider-man franchise that depicts a teenage boy who becomes Spider-Man. The movie is set in a ‘multiverse,’ which leads to Miles, a regular teenage boy meeting and teaming up with several other versions of Spider-Man from different dimensions to save New York City by joining their forces.
Into the Spider-Verse is a literal and symbolic passing of the torch, a stream of jokes that occasionally intersected with moments of real heart and a heady cocktail of entertainment.
Of all the movies I’ve seen in recent years, this is one of the most rewatchable and it is one I am eager for family and friends to go and see.
4. Hidden Figures (2016)
It’s a long-overdue story about perseverance and triumph in the face of adversity told with a lot of verve and charm.
Hidden Figures tells the stories of 3 black female mathematicians who worked at NASA during the Space Race between the US and Russia in the 1960s. The three mathematicians were contributory and instrumental to NASA’s success, and the movie explores this as well as sexism and racism the women confronted. The three endearing leads are inspiring, empowering features with stellar performances. Their story delivered a strong social message at the core of the movie.
