Summary
2024 has brought a slew of thoughtful, funny, frightening, and dramatic newBlack moviesto streamers and screens, with many still on their way in fall and winter. Movies starring Black actors and by Black creators are worthy of note because, among many reasons,iconic Black moviesare still underrepresented in cinema. Even in 2024, a year with some fantastic Black movies, by the end of July, less than 10% of major movie releases starred a mostly Black cast, were directed by a Black director, or were focused on issues pertaining mostly to Black people.
Despite low representation,there have still been some wonderful Black movies this year, and more are on their way. 2024 is expected to end with at least 20 notable new Black movies - and this does not include short films, and focuses mainly on bigger budget or major independent films. Some, likeShirleyandBob Marley: One Love, are dramatic retellings of history; others, likeThe Book of Clarence, are weighty comedies; while still others, likeBad Boys: Ride or DieandBeverly Hills Cop: Axel Fare continuations of beloved franchises.
12 Best Black Actor And Director Collaborations
Although catered more to Black audiences, some of cinema’s best movies come from Black actors and directors collaborating on multiple projects.
The Book of Clarence
Cast
The Book of Clarence is a comedy-drama film by writer and director Jeymes Samuel. Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield) finds himself in awe of the arrival of Jesus Christ and the miracles he provided in Jerusalem in 29 A.D. Hoping to free himself of his life of poverty; he acts as a false Messiah sent by god to capitalize on the situation.
The Book of Clarenceis a comedic retelling of the biblicalstory of the rise of Jesus Christ. Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield) is a 1st-century Hebrew man living in Jerusalem who hears about the coming of Christ and the followers he has gained through his miracles. Seeing a chance to better his station, Clarence decides to proclaim himself a Messiah as well, leading to fame and fortune, and eventually the fate of most messiahs.
A historical comedy with an eye for deeper issues, a lot is going on inThe Book of Clarence. It threatens to become unwieldy, but Stanfield’s performance along with the talented ensemble keeps the characters engaging and the laughs coming.
The Underdoggs
Snoop Dogg stars in The Underdoggs, a sports comedy movie that follows a former NFL pro forced to re-evaluate his life after getting in trouble with law enforcement. Given the option to coach an underprivileged youth football team to avoid prison time, Jaycen Jenning (Dogg) decides to take up the task while hoping to revive his pro career.
InThe Underdoggs, Snoop Dogg stars as Jaycen, a washed-up former football star who is ordered to perform community service in his hometown after a traffic incident. He decides to help rebuild a struggling youth football program with the cynical intention of helping his own brand identity, but ends up becoming a true believer in the kids.
The R-rated crassness of the comedy is a refreshing and hilarious take on the classic underdog sports story and a reminder of how great Snoop can be on-screen when he’s having a good time.
The Underdoggsis filled with a cast of notable comediansand Snoop still manages to stand out among them. The R-rated crassness of the comedy is a refreshing and hilarious take on the classic underdog sports story and a reminder of how great Snoop can be on-screen when he’s having a good time.
Bob Marley: One Love
Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, Bob Marley: One Love is a biographical music-drama that explores the life of Bob Marley, as portrayed by Kingsley Ben-Adir. The film highlights the ups and downs of Marley’s life and career until his untimely death in 1981.
Kingsley Ben-Adir stars as the titular reggae legend inBob Marley: One Love, a musical biopic about the lead singer of The Wailers and one of the most important musicians of the modern era. The film tracks Marley’s life from the mid-1970s during his rise to fame, to 1981, when he died from cancer at the age of 36.
Ben-Adir’s performance as Marley is remarkable, as he captures the posture, vocal quality, and energy of the singer. The film itself may be a slightly paint-by-numbers musical biopic in terms of structure, but the performances, and of course, the incredible music, make it a must-watch for anyone who’s ever appreciated his warbling tones.
Mea Culpa
Mea Culpa is a 2024 dramatic crime thriller written and directed by Tyler Perry. A criminal defense attorney takes up a domestic murder case when an artist is believed to have murdered his girlfriend - all hoping for the level of the case to propel them to the position of partner at their firm.
Tyler Perry’sMea Culpais a courtroom thriller that follows Mea Harper (Kelly Rowland), a seasoned defense attorney, who takes on the case of a local artist, Zyair Malloy (Trevante Rhodes), accused of murdering his girlfriend. A dramatic and twisting series of events follow, leading toMea Culpa’s shocking ending.
Mea Culpais a Latin phrase that means “my fault” or “my mistake” and is used to signify an acknowledgment of having done something wrong.
A campy thriller,Mea Culpauses outrageous plotlines and steamy, noir tropes to create a story that is at times silly, but still a classic addition to the Perry filmography. It won’t disappoint anyone familiar with his films, andthe twists and turns are unexpected enough to be surprisingly thrilling.
Parallel
Parallel, directed by Kourosh Ahari, follows Vanessa as she retreats to a secluded lake house after the loss of her child. She encounters an alternate version of herself from a parallel universe and confronts the multiverse’s role in either alleviating her grief or condemning her to it indefinitely.
Iranian director Kourosh Ahari’s second feature film,Parallel, is a small science fiction film starring only three actors; Danielle Deadwyler as Vanessa, Aldis Hodge as Alex, and Edwin Hodge as Martel. Vanessa is a grieving woman who suddenly finds herself moving between parallel universes.
Parallelcontinues the recent science fiction trend of films about multiverses and parallel worlds and does so with an all-Black cast who have excellent chemistry with one another. It’s enough chemistry that the complex mechanisms of the twisting plot don’t get in the way of the well-told and even better-acted film.
The American Society of Magical Negroes
The American Society of Magical Negroes is a satirical fantasy-comedy film by writer-director Kobi Libii released in 2024. Aren, a young man, discovers he has magical abilities when invited into a secret society of Black people with magic dedicated to making the lives of white people easier. However, when Aren is tasked with helping a man secure a romance with a woman at work, the situation becomes complicated when he falls for her himself.
The American Society of Magical Negroesfollows Aren (Justice Smith), a young biracial African-American man who joins a secret group of magical African-Americans who dedicate their lives to improving those of white people- a take on the ‘magical negro’ trope. At first, enjoying his magical powers and a new outlook on life, Aren soon realizes that being subservient comes at the cost of his own happiness.
An ambitious and novel concept,The American Society of Magical Negroesboldly examines a creative idea with a satirical bent. With a romance subplot, as well as a clear interest in the actual fantasy of the story,The American Society of Magical Negroesmaybe tries to juggle too many plates. The acting, however, is great, as are many individual scenes dotted throughout the film.
Shirley
Shirley is a biographical drama film written and directed by John Ridley and was created for Netflix. The film explores the life and career of political icon Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to reach Congress successfully and continue to aim higher - as high as running for the office of the President of the United States.
Regina King stars as Shirley Chisholm during her 1972 presidential run inShirley. Chisholm, who was the first Black woman to be elected to the United States Congress, deals with sexist and racist blowback when she becomes the first Black person to run for a major-party nomination for president and the first woman to run for the Democratic Party’s nomination.
WhileShirleyends on a defeated note, it’s still an inspiring tale of determination and willpower. Chisholm’s story is incredible on its own, but King brings a regalness and realness to the character that’s mesmerizing to watch whenever she’s on-screen.
We Grown Now
In ‘We Grown Now,’ set in 1992 Chicago, best friends Malik and Eric explore the city, seeking respite from school and the challenges of public housing life. Their unbreakable bond faces a test when a community tragedy occurs, marking their journey into adolescence.
We Grown Nowfollows two friends, Malik (Blake Cameron James) and Eric (Gian Knight Ramirez), as they grow up together in a Cabrini-Green housing project in Chicago, Illinois. Both boys' innocent worldviews are shattered when another young boy is gunned down in the project, forcing them both to grow up much faster than they ever would have realized.
Eminently charming in its simplicity, and absolutely brutal at certain key points,We Grown Nowis a moving look at the lives of many Black families and children living under the poverty line in dangerous situations. Despite the heavy themes,We Grown Nownever feels saccharine or unrelenting. It’s a slice-of-life, about a life not experienced by better-off people in the country.
12Not Another Church Movie (May 10)
Not Another Teen MovieFor Tyler Perry Fans
The parody filmNot Another Church Movietakes aim directly atTyler Perry and hisMadeafranchise, as well as the many other works by the director/showrunner. Kevin Daniels stars as Taylor Pherry/Madude, an obvious reference, who finds himself on a mission from God (Jamie Foxx) to create a movie based on his own dysfunctional family. The parallels are not subtle as the film riffs on the many tropes of Perry’s films.
WhileNot Another Church Moviedoesn’t break new territory in the parody movie genre, it will be a delight for those who enjoy Perry’s films. Daniels, Foxx, and Mickey Rourke as the Devil make up a funny and talented trio who keep the film lively even when it starts to go over its skis with obscure references and some cheap laughs.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die
Bad Boys: Ride or Die continues the action-packed saga of Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett. The film follows the duo as they face new threats and personal challenges, blending intense action scenes with the camaraderie fans have come to love in the Bad Boys series.
Bad Boys: Ride or Dieis another funnyand action-packed installment in theBad Boysfranchise. In the fourth movie, Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) set out to clear the legacy of their late captain, Conrad Howard (Joe Pantoliano), after it’s suggested he was involved in a criminal conspiracy.
Smith and Lawrence’s chemistry is as good as ever, and they slide back into their routine like they’d never stopped playing the characters.Bad Boys: Ride or Dieis chaotic and roughly made in the best way possible with some fantastic stunts and action sequences as good as any in the franchise.
