Movies About The Civil Rights Movement

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

I Am Not Your Negro is a 2016 documentary film directed by Raoul Peck, based on James Baldwin's unfinished manuscript Remember This House. The film explores the history of racism in the United States through Baldwin's reminiscences of Civil Rights leaders Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., as well as personal accounts of the author's childhood. Through Baldwin's writings and conversations with Peck, the film seeks to challenge the notion of a "post-racial" America and to expose the continuing legacy of racism and inequality in U.S. society.

From Aaron Sorkin, starring Eddie Redmayne, Alex Sharp, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jeremy Strong
Rated R

The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a 2020 American historical drama film written and directed by Aaron Sorkin. The film follows the trial of seven defendants charged with conspiracy and inciting a riot during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The defendants include Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Tom Hayden, and Bobby Seale, among others. The story is told through the perspectives of the prosecutors, defense attorneys, and defendants, as well as through the deliberations of the trial judge and jury. As the trial progresses, the defendants use their platform to make powerful statements about the Vietnam War, racial inequality, free speech, and other social issues. The film culminates in a riveting climactic courtroom scene that highlights the power of the judicial system. The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a powerful and timely story of justice, courage, and solidarity in the face of adversity.

From Destin Daniel Cretton, starring Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Brie Larson, Charlie Pye Jr.
Rated PG-13

Just Mercy is a 2019 American biographical drama film directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, and starring Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Brie Larson, and Tim Blake Nelson. It is based on the memoir of the same name by Bryan Stevenson. The film follows young lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Jordan) and his history-making battle for justice. After graduating from Harvard, Bryan moves to the Deep South, to offer legal help to those wrongfully condemned or those not afforded proper representation. He soon meets Walter McMillian (Foxx), a man on death row for a crime he did not commit. Despite overwhelming evidence proving Walter's innocence, Bryan's quest for justice is met with an onslaught of legal obstacles. With the help of local advocate Eva Ansley (Larson), Bryan fights in the courts, out in the field, and ultimately, in the hearts of his honorably determined clients. Just Mercy is a powerful and thought-provoking drama about mercy, compassion, and justice.

From Spike Lee, starring John David Washington, Adam Driver, Laura Harrier, Topher Grace
Rated R

BlacKkKlansman tells the true story of a black police officer in Colorado Springs, Ron Stallworth, who infiltrates and exposes the Ku Klux Klan in the 1970s. With the help of Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver), a white colleague, Stallworth pretends to be a white supremacist in order to infiltrate the Klan and expose their criminal activities. As Stallworth's investigation continues, tension rises between the police and the civil rights activists in the community, led by Kwame Ture (Corey Hawkins). The film offers a powerful insight into the racial tensions of the time and serves as a cautionary tale about the resurgence of white supremacy today.

From Shaka King, starring LaKeith Stanfield, Daniel Kaluuya, Jesse Plemons, Dominique Fishback
Rated R

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

From Regina King, starring Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom Jr.
Rated R

From Benedict Andrews, starring Kristen Stewart, Yvan Attal, Gabriel Sky, Jack O'Connell
Rated R