Recently, several major outlets including The New York Times, RollingStone, Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB released lists celebrating the best films of the 21st century. One thing was missing from them all: the perspective of how Black people watch, celebrate, and create cinema.
To address this gap, the Black Movie Hall of Fame (BMHOF) reached out to more than 40 of the world’s top Black film critics and entertainment reporters to rank the most important and influential Black films ever made.
“Inspired by the American Film Institute’s 100 Years…100 Movies list, this is our fresh take on some of the best movies ever made,” said Shawn Edwards, executive director of the Black Movie Hall of Fame and longtime film critic at WDAF (Fox 4 News – Kansas City).“What sets this list apart from others is that every film on the list is about the Black experience and curated entirely by Black film critics and entertainment journalists. It’s a list from a completely different perspective than you usually see.”
This groundbreaking list was curated by a panel led by Edwards and included Gil Robertson (African American Film Critics Association), Aramide Tinubu (Variety), Lee Thomas (WJBK-TV in Detroit), Destiny Jackson (Deadline), Emmanuel Noisette (E-Man’s Reviews), Jasmine Simpkins (KTLA-TV in Los Angeles), Wilson Morales (BlackFilmandTV.com) and Kevin Frazier (Entertainment Tonight), along with dozens of other influential Black film critics and entertainment reporters from around the world.
The 100 Best Black Movies Ever
1. “Malcolm X” (1992)
2. “Black Panther” (2018)
3. “Do The Right Thing” (1989)
4. “The Color Purple” (1985)
5. “Moonlight” (2016)
6. “Claudine” (1974)
7. “12 Years a Slave” (2013)
8. “Get Out” (2017)
9. “Sinners” (2025)
10. “Carmen Jones” (1954)
11. “Coming to America” (1988)
12. “Cooley High” (1975)
13. “Sounder” (1972)
14. “Hoop Dreams” (1995)
15. “Super Fly” (1972)
16. “Ray” (2005)
17. “OJ: Made in America” (2016)
18. “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman” TV (1974)
19. “American Fiction” (2023)
20. “Boyz n the Hood” (1991)
21. “Richard Pryor: Live in Concert” (1979)
22. “Shaft” (1971)
23. “Hidden Figures” (2016)
24. “Friday” (1995)
25. “Dreamgirls” (2006)
26. “A Raisin in the Sun” (1961)
27. “The Five Heartbeats” (1991)
28. “I Am Not Your Negro” (2016)
29. “Watermelon Man” (1970)
30. “City of God” (2002)
31. “Glory” (1989)
32. “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (2018)
33. “Menace II Society” (1993)
34. “Tsotsi” (2005)
35. “The Emperor Jones” (1933)
36. “Eve’s Bayou” (1997)
37. “Lilies of the Field” (1963)
38. “Soul Food” (1997)
39. “Black Caesar” (1973)
40. “Selma” (2014)
41. “She’s Gotta Have It” (1986)
42. “Island in the Sun” (1957)
43. “In the Heat of the Night” (1967)
44. “Lady Sings the Blues” (1972)
45. “When We Were Kings” (1996)
46. “Love & Basketball” (2000)
47. “What’s Love Got to Do With It” (1993)
48. “The Mack” (1973)
49. “To Sleep With Anger” (1990)
50. “Within Our Gates” (1920)
FUN FACTS:
Half way through the list! Check out these fun facts
- The oldest movie on the list is “Within Our Gates” (1920).
- The newest movie on the list is “Sinners”(2025).
- Filmmaker Spike Lee directs the most titles on the list, with five films.
- Sidney Poitier stars in six titles—more than any other actor or actress.
- Denzel Washington appears in four titles, the second most of any actor.
- There are nine titles directed by women on the list.
- The list includes six documentaries.
- There are two animated films on the list.
- There are two made-for-television movies on the list.
- Euzhan Palcy is the only woman director with multiple titles (two) on the list.
- Melvin Van Peebles and Marion Van Peebles are the only father-son director duo with titles on the list.
51. “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song” (1971)
52. “Set It Off” (1997)
53. “Waiting to Exhale” (1995)
54. “Straight Outta Compton” (2015)
55. “Blade” (1998)
56. “Devil in a Blue Dress” (1995)
57. “Sonkofa” (1993)
58. “Love Jones” (1997)
59. “A Rage in Harlem” (1991)
60. “A Soldier’s Story” (1984)
61. “A Dry White Season” (1989)
62. “Hollywood Shuffle” (1987)
63. “Black Orpheus” (1959)
64. “Stormy Weather” (1943)
65. “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka” (1988)
66. “Cabin in the Sky” (1943)
67. “The Exile” (1931)
68. “Rosewood” (1997)
69. “To Sir, With Love” (1967)
70. “New Jack City” (1991)
71. “House Party” (1990)
72. “The Green Pastures” (1936)
73. “Hotel Rwanda” (2004)
74. “Home of the Brave” (1949)
75. “Hallelujah!” (1929)
76. “Nothing But a Man” (1964)
77. “Purple Rain” (1984)
78. “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge” (1999)
79. “Krush Groove” (1985)
80. “La haine” (1995)
81. “Sugar Cane Alley” (1983)
82. “When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Parts” (2006)
83. “Touki Bouki” (1974)
84. “Juice” (1992)
85. “Uptown Saturday Night” (1974)
86. “Bamboozled” (2000)
87. “Killer of Sheep” (1977)
88. “Cotton Comes to Harlem” (1970)
89. “Paris is Burning” (1991)
90. “Daughters of the Dust” (1991)
91. “The Spook Who Sat by the Door” (1973)
92. “Battle of Algiers” (1966)
93. “Precious” (2009)
94. “Miracle in Harlem” (1948)
95. “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” (1967)
96. “Burning an Illusion” (1981).
97. “The Learning Tree” (1969)
98. “Wild Style” (1982)
99. “Black Girl” (1966)
100. “The Princess and the Frog” (2009)
About the Black Movie Hall of Fame
The Black Movie Hall of Fame was created to honor the pioneers of Black cinema, both in front of and behind the camera. The BMHOFwill feature interactive and traditional exhibits detailing the global history and impact of Black film. Its mission is to preserve and elevate the cultural significance of Black cinema and celebrate the storytellers who have shaped generations. The BMHOF will officially open on Saturday, February 28, 2026 with a star-studded gala.
About Shawn Edwards
Shawn Edwards is the longest running Black film critic on television. As a nationally recognized film and television reviewer for Fox 4 News in Kansas City, Missouri for the past 25 years he has won numerous national awards including Best TV Film Critic twice by the LA Press Club’s National Entertainment Journalism Awards.
Edwards co-founded the African American Film Critics Association in 2003. He is also currently serving his fourth term on the Board of the Critics Choice Association. Edwards created and executive produces “Celebration of Black Cinema and Television’ in conjunction with the Critics Choice Association which premiered in 2014 in Los Angeles. The annual awards show airs nationally each February.
Edwards began his producing career producing numerous TV shows and documentaries for FGW Productions and BlackTree TV, Currently Edwards is overseeing the creation of the Black Movie Hall of Fame which will be based in the Historic 18th and Vine Jazz District in Kansas City, Missouri. The Hall of Fame, an idea Edwards created, will open in 2026 in the Boone Theater with Edwards functioning as its executive director.