Best Movies About MLK

From Robert Mulligan, starring Gregory Peck, John Megna, Frank Overton, Rosemary Murphy
Rated Approved

To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic drama set in the fictional small town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s. It tells the story of young Scout Finch and her brother Jem, as they observe the tensions in their small town. After a black man named Tom Robinson is accused of rape and put on trial, their father Atticus Finch, a lawyer, defends him against the charges. Through the course of the trial and the events leading up to it, Jem and Scout come to understand the complexities of prejudice, courage, and justice. Atticus is eventually vindicated when Tom is found innocent, but he is tragically shot and killed during an attempted prison escape. Through Scout's experiences, she comes to learn the importance of understanding and compassion for others.

From Steve McQueen, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Kenneth Williams, Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt
Rated R

12 Years a Slave is a 2013 biographical drama film directed by Steve McQueen, based on the autobiography of the same name by Solomon Northup. It stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Northup, a free-born African-American man who is abducted and sold into slavery in the pre-Civil War United States. The film chronicles Northup's struggle for survival and freedom, as he is subjected to harsh treatment and humiliation by various slave owners. After twelve grueling years, he is eventually released by a Canadian abolitionist, a distant relative of one of his captors. The film follows Northup's journey of resilience and courage, as he perseveres through adversity and ultimately regains his freedom.

From Peter W. Kunhardt, starring
Rated TV-14

King in the Wilderness, directed by Peter W. Kunhardt, is a powerful documentary about the last years of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life. The film covers the years between 1965 and 1968, and examines the events leading up to his death including the Poor People’s Campaign and the passage of the Voting Rights Act. The documentary focuses on Dr. King's personal struggle to maintain his commitment to nonviolence in the face of mounting criticism from his own people. It is an intimate portrait of a man who was tireless in his pursuit of justice and equality for all Americans. It is an inspirational look at a leader who was unafraid to stand up for what was right, even in the face of danger.

From Raoul Peck, starring Samuel L. Jackson, James Baldwin, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X
Rated PG-13

I Am Not Your Negro is an award-winning documentary film directed by Raoul Peck. The film is based on James Baldwin’s unfinished manuscript, Remember This House, and explores the history of racism in America through the lens of Baldwin’s experiences as a Black American. It weaves together Baldwin’s recollections of civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X with modern-day footage of violence and injustice against African Americans. The film highlights the importance of the civil rights movement and examines the progress made and the challenges still faced by the African American community. It is an emotional and thought-provoking exploration of race and identity in America.

From Spike Lee, starring Maxine McNair, Walter Cronkite, Chris McNair, Fred Lee Shuttlesworth
Rated TV-14

4 Little Girls is a documentary film directed by Spike Lee about the racially motivated bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. It focuses on the lives of the four girls who were killed in the attack - Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley - and the historical context in which the bombing occurred. The film covers the civil rights movement in Birmingham and the violence and unrest that followed, including the plight of African Americans in the city and their fight for equality. It also explores the legacy of the bombing and how it affected countless lives in the years that followed.

From Spike Lee, starring Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Delroy Lindo, Spike Lee
Rated PG-13

Malcolm X is a 1992 biographical film based on the life of the African American civil rights leader of the same name. Directed by Spike Lee, the film stars Denzel Washington in the title role. The narrative follows Malcolm X's life journey from street hustler to religious leader, and his transformation from a man of violence to a proponent of nonviolent civil rights activism. The film details his involvement with the Nation of Islam, his travels to Africa and the Middle East, his struggles to reconcile his conflicting ideologies, and his assassination in 1965. The film also includes archival footage of Malcolm X, allowing viewers to gain insight into his passionate oratory style. Ultimately, Malcolm X serves as a powerful tribute to one of the most influential figures in American history.

From Keith Beauchamp, starring Mamie Till Mobley, Wheeler Parker, Simeon Wright, Ruthie Mae Crawford
Rated PG-13

The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till is a 2005 documentary by director Keith Beauchamp. It details the story of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American boy who was brutally murdered in Mississippi in 1955. The film highlights the racial tension of the time period and examines how, 56 years later, Emmett's death still resonates with the African American community. Through interviews and archival footage, the film also looks at the impact Till's murder had on the civil rights movement, as well as the courage of Till's mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, who publicly displayed her son's disfigured body during his open casket funeral. The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till highlights the necessity of reckoning with the lasting effects of racism and the need for justice for victims of racially-motivated violence.

From Göran Olsson, starring Angela Davis, Stokely Carmichael, Bobby Seale, Abiodun Oyewole
Rated Not Rated

The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 is a 2011 documentary by Swedish director Göran Olsson. The film chronicles the emergence of the Black Power Movement in the United States during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Through a combination of archival footage, recorded interviews, and voiceovers, the film explores the struggle for civil rights and social justice in the African American community. The film also examines the perspectives of leading activists and intellectuals such as Angela Davis, Stokely Carmichael, Bobby Seale, and Erykah Badu, highlighting the progress and sacrifices of the movement. The film ultimately serves as an eye-opening exploration of an oft-ignored part of American history.

From Tom McCarthy, starring Richard Jenkins, Haaz Sleiman, Danai Gurira, Hiam Abbass
Rated PG-13

The Visitor is a 2007 drama film written and directed by Tom McCarthy, starring Richard Jenkins. The film follows the story of Walter Vale (Jenkins), a widowed college professor who finds his life re-invigorated when a young couple, Tarek and Zainab, from Syria, illegally rent out his Manhattan apartment. As he gets to know them, he learns about their hopes, dreams, and struggles, and discovers a renewed purpose in life. After Tarek is arrested and detained by the Department of Homeland Security, Walter finds himself drawn into a world of bureaucracy, despair, and injustice, and decides to stand up for Tarek and his family. The Visitor is an uplifting story of acceptance and redemption, and the power of the human spirit.

From Ava DuVernay, starring David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Wilkinson
Rated PG-13

Selma is a historical drama film based on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches led by James Bevel, Hosea Williams, Martin Luther King Jr., and John Lewis to successfully secure voting rights for African Americans. The film follows Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as he attempts to secure equal voting rights for all African Americans in the United States during the tumultuous civil rights period of the 1960s. With the support of his wife Coretta and the rest of the civil rights movement, Dr. King and his allies launch a series of peaceful protests, including the famous march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, to demand that President Lyndon B. Johnson pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Despite facing violence and threats of death, the protesters manage to reach Montgomery and the Voting Rights Act is eventually passed. The film highlights the courage, tenacity and strength of the protesters and their commitment to fighting for a just cause.

From Gus Van Sant, starring Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna
Rated R

Milk is a 2008 biographical drama film directed by Gus Van Sant and based on the life of gay rights activist and politician Harvey Milk. The film stars Sean Penn in the title role, with Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, and James Franco all giving powerful performances. The film follows the life and times of Harvey Milk, who is one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States. The film covers his rise as a political figure in San Francisco, his struggles to gain acceptance from the city’s large gay population, and his tragic assassination by a former colleague in 1978. Along the way, Milk faces opposition from the conservative establishment, and succeeds in gaining acceptance from both the gay and straight communities. The film culminates in a powerful and emotional finale as Milk's legacy lives on.

From Kasi Lemmons, starring Don Cheadle, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Bruce McFee, Mike Epps
Rated R

From Stanley Nelson, starring Blair Anderson, Omar Barbour, Julian Bond, Elaine Brown
Rated Not Rated

From Lee Daniels, starring Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack, Jane Fonda
Rated PG-13

From Paola di Florio, starring Julie Stevens, Stockard Channing, Molly Howe, Viola Gregg Liuzzo
Rated Not Rated

From Denzel Washington, starring Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Jovan Adepo
Rated PG-13

From Spike Lee, starring Roger Guenveur Smith, Rahum Brown, Georgina Ransley, Marlon Brando
Rated TV-14

From Kasi Lemmons, starring Cynthia Erivo, Janelle Monáe, Leslie Odom Jr., Joe Alwyn
Rated PG-13