Movies About Racial Justice

From Frank Darabont, starring Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan, David Morse, Bonnie Hunt
Rated R

The Green Mile is a 1999 American fantasy drama film written and directed by Frank Darabont and based on the 1996 Stephen King novel of the same name. The film stars Tom Hanks, David Morse, Bonnie Hunt, and Michael Clarke Duncan and tells the story of Paul Edgecomb (Hanks), a death row corrections officer at Cold Mountain Penitentiary. Edgecomb is initially hostile and cynical towards John Coffey (Duncan), a mysterious inmate with supernatural powers, who is accused of murdering two young girls. However, as Edgecomb witnesses Coffey's miraculous healing ability and kind heart, he begins to question his own beliefs and the justice system of which he is a part. Ultimately, the story culminates in a powerful act of redemption, as Edgecomb and his fellow prison guards struggle to find justice for an innocent man.

From Tony Kaye, starring Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly D'Angelo, Jennifer Lien
Rated R

American History X is an American drama film released in 1998 and directed by Tony Kaye. The film follows Derek Vinyard, a former neo-Nazi skinhead who has been released from prison following a three-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter. Derek returns to his family in Venice, California and is shocked to find that his younger brother, Danny, has become deeply involved in the same white supremacist lifestyle he had left behind. In an effort to protect his brother and save him from a similar fate, Derek commits himself to changing his life and the life of others. The film explores themes of racism, redemption, and family as Derek reevaluates his beliefs and struggles to protect his brother.

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

To Kill a Mockingbird is a 1962 American drama film directed by Robert Mulligan, based on Harper Lee’s 1960 novel of the same name. The film stars Gregory Peck in the role of Atticus Finch, a lawyer in a small Southern town who defends a black man accused of rape. The story is told through the eyes of the Finch's daughter Scout, who learns to appreciate people for who they are, despite the prejudices of her community. The film also stars Brock Peters and Mary Badham, who plays Scout. The film's themes include courage, justice, and racial inequality. The film was a critical and commercial success and was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning three. It has since become a classic of American cinema and is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made.

From Peter Farrelly, starring Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini, Sebastian Maniscalco
Rated PG-13

Green Book is a 2018 American biographical comedy-drama film directed by Peter Farrelly. The film stars Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini, Sebastian Maniscalco and Dimiter D. Marinov. The film is set in the United States during the 1960s and follows a tour of the Deep South by African-American classical and jazz pianist Don Shirley (Ali) and Tony Vallelonga (Mortensen), an Italian-American bouncer who serves as Shirley's driver and bodyguard. Vallelonga is hired by Shirley to drive him on a concert tour from Manhattan to the Deep South, and they rely on The Negro Motorist Green Book to guide them to the few establishments that were then safe for African-Americans. The film follows their journey as they clash over their differences and eventually form an unexpected bond. Along the way, they discover true friendship and the strength of human spirit. The film received critical acclaim and went on to be nominated for five Academy Awards, winning three for Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor for Ali and Best Picture.

From Ava DuVernay, starring Melina Abdullah, Michelle Alexander, Cory Booker, Dolores Canales
Rated TV-MA

13th is a documentary film written and directed by Ava DuVernay that examines the history of racial inequality in the United States. The title of the film is a reference to the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery, and the filmmakers assert that the U.S. prison system has become an extension of slavery. The film takes a deep dive into the systemic racism in the United States and the ways in which it has been perpetuated by various systems of oppression. The film features interviews with activists, politicians, and historians, including Angela Davis, Senator Cory Booker, and Van Jones. 13th explores the way in which the criminal justice system has been used to target African Americans and other minorities, from Jim Crow laws to the disproportionate percentage of African Americans in prisons today. The film also looks at the current and past attempts to reform the system, including the Black Lives Matter movement, and the implications of mass incarceration on the entire social structure. 13th is a powerful documentary that looks at the troubling history of racial injustice in the United States and the need for continued reform.

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

12 Years a Slave is an Academy Award-winning 2013 historical drama film directed by Steve McQueen and based on the 1853 autobiographical memoir of the same name by Solomon Northup. The film tells the true story of Solomon Northup, a free African-American man living in Saratoga, New York, who is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the Deep South in 1841. The film follows Solomon as he desperately tries to get back home to his family, enduring unthinkable hardship and cruelty along the way. With extraordinary performances from Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong’o, and Benedict Cumberbatch, 12 Years a Slave is an emotional and powerful look at the horrors of slavery in America and the resilience of the human spirit.

From Tate Taylor, starring Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard
Rated PG-13

The Help is a 2011 drama directed by Tate Taylor and adapted from the novel of the same name by Kathryn Stockett. Set in Jackson, Mississippi in the early 1960s, the film follows Skeeter Phelan (Emma Stone), a recent college graduate who sets out to write a book about the African-American women who work as maids in white households. Through her journey she befriends two maids, Aibileen Clark (Viola Davis) and Minny Jackson (Octavia Spencer) who bravely share their stories with her despite the risks that come with it. With their help, Skeeter is able to create a book that changes the lives of the maids, while challenging the social norms of the time. Despite facing racism and discrimination, the maids ultimately come together in a powerful stand of solidarity and hope.

From Daniel Petrie, starring Sidney Poitier, Claudia McNeil, Ruby Dee, Diana Sands
Rated Approved

A Raisin in the Sun is a 1961 American drama film directed by Daniel Petrie, based on the play of the same name by Lorraine Hansberry. Set on Chicago's South Side in the 1950s, the film tells the story of the Younger family, an African American family struggling with poverty and racial prejudice. Patriarch Walter Younger dreams of a better life for himself and his family, and uses the life insurance policy from his deceased father to purchase a house away from the city. Though his wife, Mama Lena, is unhappy about leaving but reluctantly agrees to go. However, Walter's sister, Beneatha, does not want to leave. An unexpected opportunity then arises when Walter is offered a chance to invest in a liquor store. Meanwhile, Beneatha dreams of becoming a doctor and is courted by two suitors, a Nigerian student and an old family friend. The family ultimately faces a moral dilemma, and must decide whether to accept a substantial offer to buy out their new home. A Raisin in the Sun is a powerful exploration of family, identity, dreams, and ambition in the face of prejudice and limited opportunities.

From Michael Roemer, starring Ivan Dixon, Abbey Lincoln, Julius Harris, Gloria Foster
Rated Not Rated

Nothing But a Man is a 1964 drama directed by Michael Roemer that follows Duff Anderson, a black railroad worker who moves to a small Southern town with his family. After his family is exposed to racism and bigotry, Duff is determined to provide a better life for them. He becomes the town’s only black schoolteacher, and later takes a job at a local factory. He also begins a relationship with Josie, a young woman who has a child from another man. Despite Duff’s best efforts, he is met with resistance from the townspeople and law enforcement, who attempt to drive him out of town. Eventually, Duff and his family are forced to flee the town, but not before Duff and Josie find a newfound courage and strength in one another. Despite the racism that Duff and his family encountered, Nothing But a Man offers hope for a better future for those who have faced oppression.

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

I Am Not Your Negro is a documentary film directed by Raoul Peck and narrated by Samuel L. Jackson. The film is based on the unfinished manuscript of author James Baldwin's unfinished book, Remember This House. It explores the history of racism in America through Baldwin’s remembrances of civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Medgar Evers. The film takes an intimate and detailed look at the struggle for civil rights in the US and how it still resonates in the present day. It is said to be an ‘urgent condemnation of America’s racial injustice.’ Ultimately, the film serves as a call to action for people to confront the challenges of racism and to create a more just and equal future for all.

From Norman Jewison, starring Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, Warren Oates, Lee Grant
Rated Approved

In the Heat of the Night is a 1967 mystery drama film directed by Norman Jewison. It follows the story of a black Philadelphia detective, Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier), who arrives in a southern town while in transit to his new job. When a wealthy industrialist is murdered, Tibbs is arrested and must use his skills to prove his innocence. During his investigation, Tibbs is met with hostility and racism due to his race, but perseveres in order to bring the murderer to justice. The film was a critical and commercial success, winning numerous awards, including five Academy Awards. The film is widely credited with helping to spark the Civil Rights Movement and changing attitudes towards race in the United States.

From Spike Lee, starring Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Richard Edson
Rated R

Do the Right Thing is a 1989 American comedy-drama film written, produced, and directed by Spike Lee. The film tells the story of a Brooklyn neighborhood's simmering racial tension, which culminates in tragedy on a hot summer day. The film stars Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Richard Edson, Giancarlo Esposito, Bill Nunn, John Turturro, and Spike Lee. Do the Right Thing explores topics of racism, violence, and urban life. The film is set in a Brooklyn neighborhood on the hottest day of the summer, and tensions between members of the various racial and ethnic groups living in the neighborhood are coming to a head. The film follows Mookie, an African-American pizza deliveryman, and his Italian-American boss, Sal, who owns the pizza shop. As the day progresses, tensions in the neighborhood grow, and eventually erupt into violence. The film culminates in a powerful and thought-provoking climax, which forces the audience to ask hard questions about violence, justice, and the cost of social unrest. Do the Right Thing was critically acclaimed upon its release, and is still considered one of the greatest films of all time.

From Jason Osder, starring Birdie Africa, Ramona Africa, Wilson Goode, William Brown III
Rated Not Rated

Let the Fire Burn is a 2013 documentary film directed by Jason Osder. The film chronicles the events of the 1985 confrontation between the city of Philadelphia and the controversial radical urban group MOVE. By piecing together archival footage, the film gives an in-depth look into how the tension between the two groups escalated until a police-led bombing left sixty-one homes destroyed, eleven people dead and an entire neighborhood devastated. Through interviews from both survivors and experts, the film delves into the complexities of the case and questions the accountability of those responsible for the tragic event. The film serves as an ominous reminder of the power of government and police and the consequences of unchecked authority.

From Eugene Jarecki, starring Eugene Jarecki, David Simon, Shanequa Benitez, William Julius Wilson
Rated Not Rated

The House I Live In is a 2012 documentary film by Eugene Jarecki that examines the consequences of the United States' current War on Drugs. The film follows Jarecki as he interviews drug offenders, law enforcement personnel, former addicts, and politicians in order to explore the human cost of the current drug policy in the US. The film highlights the racism and hypocrisy inherent in the current drug policy and how it disproportionately affects minorities and makes billions of dollars for the prison-industrial complex. The film ultimately calls for an end to the War on Drugs and advocates for more progressive approaches to reduce drug use in the US.

From Stanley Kramer, starring Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier, Katharine Hepburn, Katharine Houghton
Rated Approved

"Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" (1967) is a classic and iconic film that tells the story of Joanna Drayton (Katharine Hepburn), a wealthy widow living in San Francisco, and her daughter Joey (Katharine Houghton), who brings home her fiancé John Prentice (Sidney Poitier). John is an African American doctor, which comes as a shock to Joanna and her husband Matt (Spencer Tracy). Despite the initial surprise, the family soon comes to accept the budding relationship, and Joanna and Matt must confront the racial issues that still exist in the 1960s. Through a series of conversations and confrontations, the family must examine their own beliefs and prejudices, ultimately deciding to accept the relationship and set an example for the rest of the nation.

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

4 Little Girls is a documentary by acclaimed director Spike Lee. The film tells the story of the 1963 Birmingham, Alabama church bombing that killed four African-American girls - Addie Mae Collins (age 14), Denise McNair (age 11), Carole Robertson (age 14), and Cynthia Wesley (age 14). Through interviews with family members, civil rights activists, and survivors of the bombing, Lee uncovers the devastating impact the tragedy had on the community and sheds light on the contributions these four young girls made to the civil rights movement. The film ultimately seeks to bring justice to those responsible for the bombing, and to honor the memory of the four girls who lost their lives.

From Theodore Melfi, starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner
Rated PG

Hidden Figures is a 2016 American biographical drama film directed by Theodore Melfi and written by Melfi and Allison Schroeder. It is loosely based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly about female African-American mathematicians who worked at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) during the Space Race. The film follows the story of three female African-American mathematicians—Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe)—as they work at NASA in the early 1960s despite the pervasive racism and sexism of the time. Despite the odds stacked against them, they become integral in the launch of astronaut John Glenn (Glen Powell) into orbit, ultimately proving their intelligence and value to the scientific community. As they take on their respective roles at NASA, they must also fight for respect and recognition in their personal lives. The film demonstrates the importance of strength, courage and determination to the success of the space program.

From Directors: Rita Coburn, Bob Hercules, starring Cicely Tyson, Guy Johnson, Diahann Carroll, Don Martin
Rated Not Rated

"Maya Angelou and Still I Rise" is a 2016 documentary about the life and work of renowned poet, author, and activist Maya Angelou. The film explores Angelou’s life journey, from her humble roots in 1930s Arkansas to her leadership of the civil rights and black power movements in the 1960s and beyond. Through intimate interviews, archival footage, and powerful readings of her iconic works, the film offers a unique insight into Angelou’s incredible life story and her critical role in the struggle for civil rights. The film follows Angelou as she speaks out on issues of racial injustice, gender equality, and personal identity, illuminating her courage and resilience in the face of oppression. In the end, “Maya Angelou and Still I Rise” is a fitting tribute to an inspirational artist and leader.

From Paul Haggis, starring Don Cheadle, Sandra Bullock, Thandiwe Newton, Karina Arroyave
Rated R

Crash is a 2004 American drama film written, produced, and directed by Paul Haggis. The film is set in Los Angeles and follows the intersecting lives of various characters in the wake of a car crash. The film features an ensemble cast, including Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, Brendan Fraser, Terrence Howard, Thandie Newton, Ryan Phillippe, and Larenz Tate. The story delves into the lives of the characters and explores the complexities of racial and social issues in Los Angeles. Through their connections, the characters experience the impact of racism and prejudice in their lives. The film has been noted for its realistic and natural dialogue, which was improvised by some of the actors. The film received critical acclaim and was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (Newton), and Best Original Screenplay. It won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.

From Alan Parker, starring Gene Hackman, Willem Dafoe, Frances McDormand, Brad Dourif
Rated R

Mississippi Burning is a 1988 American crime drama directed by Alan Parker. Set in 1964, the film follows two FBI agents, Rupert Anderson (Gene Hackman) and Alan Ward (Willem Dafoe), as they investigate the disappearance of three civil rights activists in Jessup County, Mississippi. The investigation leads them to the small town of Jessup, where they are met with hostility and silence by the townspeople. As they try to uncover the truth behind the disappearance, they are forced to confront the brutality and racism of the townsfolk. In the end, Anderson and Ward face a violent confrontation as they bring the perpetrators of the crime to justice.

From John Singleton, starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Laurence Fishburne, Hudhail Al-Amir, Lloyd Avery II
Rated R

"Boyz n the Hood" is an inner-city drama directed by John Singleton and released in 1991. The movie follows three young men--Tre Styles, Ricky Baker, and Doughboy--as they come of age in the crime-ridden streets of South Central Los Angeles. As their lives intertwine, the boys experience the dangers of gang violence and drug abuse, as well as the pressures of growing up as a black man in America. Tre is determined to go to college, while Ricky and Doughboy face the challenge of staying out of trouble. Together, they face the realities of a world that is hostile to their hopes and dreams. Ultimately, the film paints a powerful picture of the struggles faced by young African-American men.

From Douglas Sirk, starring Lana Turner, John Gavin, Sandra Dee, Susan Kohner
Rated Not Rated

Imitation of Life is a 1959 American romantic drama film directed by Douglas Sirk and starring Lana Turner, John Gavin, Sandra Dee, and Juanita Moore. The film tells the story of two widows—Lora Meredith, a white woman struggling to make a living as an actress, and Annie Johnson, an African-American woman working as a servant—and their complicated relationship over the course of two decades. Lora and Annie's daughters, Susie, who is white and identifies with her mother, and Sarah Jane, a black girl struggling with her racial identity, also have a strained relationship as they grow up. Ultimately, the story is a drama about motherhood, acceptance, and the consequences of living a life of pretense. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards.

From Boaz Yakin, starring Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Wood Harris, Ryan Hurst
Rated PG

Remember the Titans is a 2000 American sports film directed by Boaz Yakin. The movie is based on a true story and follows the newly-appointed African-American coach, Herman Boone (played by Denzel Washington), as he takes over the football team at the newly integrated T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia in 1971. The team faces initial resistance from both the white and black players and coaches, but eventually learns to work together and form a unifying bond as they become a winning team. The story follows the Titans as they face prejudice and personal conflicts, ultimately leading to them winning the 1971 Virginia state championship. Themes of tolerance, perseverance, and courage in the face of adversity are found throughout the film.

From Steven Spielberg, starring Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Margaret Avery
Rated PG-13

The Color Purple is a 1985 American historical drama film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker. Set in early 20th-century rural Georgia, it tells the story of a young African-American woman named Celie Harris (Whoopi Goldberg) who struggles with a difficult life full of abuse and poverty. With the help of two strong-willed women, Shug Avery (Margaret Avery) and Sofia (Oprah Winfrey), Celie finds the strength to fight for independence and discover her true identity. Along the way, she learns to embrace her uniqueness, find courage within herself, and build a fulfilling life. The film also stars Danny Glover and Akosua Busia.

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

Malcolm X is a 1992 biographical drama directed by Spike Lee that chronicles the life of African American activist Malcolm X. The film follows Malcolm's life from his early days as a street criminal to his transformation into a political leader with the Nation of Islam. Along the way, it chronicles his struggles with racism and his deep disappointment in the civil rights movement's approach to ending discrimination. In the end, Malcolm X is assassinated, but the film illustrates how his message of black pride and self-determination continues to inspire people.