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Recommended Films
Hulu
Movies
Nina - the story of jazz musician Nina Simone starring Zoe Saldana in the titular role
Sorry to Bother You - an alternate, fantastical reality film that really benefits from going into it knowing absolutely nothing. Content warning - recommend looking up
The Color Purple - classic Oscar-nominated adaptation of Alice Walker's book with an incredible cast
I am Not Your Negro (also on Netflix and Prime) - documentary that is perfect to watch while we read James Baldwin's work
If Beale Street Could Talk - beautiful and emotional movie that covers relationships and justice for a young Black couple. Slight content warning
Shows
Woke - an African-American cartoonist becomes 'woke' and experiences life differently after something unexpected occurs
Atlanta - critically acclaimed comedy/drama series from Donald Glover that tells the stories of rappers trying to make it while facing a myriad of social and economic issues. Slight content warning
Queen Sugar - Ava DuVernay-created series about three siblings who inherit a sugarcane farm in Louisiana
black-ish, grown-ish mixed-ish - for someone who just wants to diversify what they watch, these sitcom/dramas tackle big issues in a much lighter way
High Fidelity - a race and gender swapped version of the movie of the same name that provides what we need more of: a romantic comedy/drama starring people of color. Slight content warning
Netflix
Movies
Moonlight - deeply beautiful and emotional Oscar-winning movie that tells the story of a young Black man struggling with his identity and sexuality. Slight content warning
13th - a difficult to watch but incredibly necessary documentary that looks into racism within the prison system
Becoming - Michelle Obama's documentary based around her experience with her autobiography and book tour
Da 5 Bloods - one of Chadwick Boseman's last movies that tells a story of African American veterans of the Vietnam war
Trevor Noah: Son of Patricia - another easy way to diversify what you watch by seeking out Black comedian stand up specials
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind - based on a true story about a young boy who invents a way to save his community from starvation
The Lovebirds - an incredibly silly romantic comedy starring Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani that is also a murder mystery
Into the Spider-Verse - a phenomenal animated movie to watch with the whole family, even if you aren't into superhero stories
Shows
All-American - Friday Night Lights meets LA neighborhoods and contains a lot of social and economic commentary for being a CW show
#blackAF - a short comedy series about parenting and relationships
When They See Us - miniseries by Ava DuVernay about the Central Park Five that tells their story of being falsely accused of a terrible crime
Disney+
Movies
Hamilton - even if you're tired of hearing about this musical or aren't a fan of rap music, this musical showcases some legitimately incredible talent
Black is King - Beyonce's visual album to go along with the music she created for The Lion King remake
Black Panther - a bit of an obvious recommendation, but a superhero film that has so much more significance than being just a Marvel movie
Remember the Titans - one of the original emotional sports films that tells a true and amazing story
Princess & the Frog - another great movie to watch with the whole family, featuring the first Black Disney princess and a lot of fun New Orleans culture
Queen of Katwe - a wonderful biography about a young African girl whose entire world changes once she is introduced to the game of chess
HBOMax
Shows (content warning for all these shows - recommend looking them up)
Insecure - a romantic comedy series about an African-American woman going (often awkwardly) through everyday life and relationships
Watchmen - not your every-day comic book movie, this series tells an alternate history of the world after the Tulsa Race Riots
Lovecraft Country - just something for the scary-movie fans out there, it combines racial issues and lovecraftian horror into a sci-fi thriller
Prime
Movies
The Last Black Man in San Francisco - a quiet but heavy tale of a young Black man trying to figure out his identity and history in a changing world. Slight content warning
Crown Heights - a lesser known film that tells the story of a man wrongfully convicted of murder and the pursuit of proving his innocence. Slight content warning
These reviews are provided by CTK parishioner Heather Thompson. For more reviews, visit http://themillennialmoviegoer.com/. -
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