Celebrate Black History Month By Watching These 20 Excellent Movies On Disney+

The "Black Movie" is a staple in our community that generations pass down from one another and make sure everyone can watch just so we can see ourself on the big screen.

It's Black History Month!

A great way to pay homage to black performers and people is to watch a movie with your kids or yourself that stars Black actors, directors, and voices. Here's my list of 20 movies to watch this February. 

1. Remember The Titans

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This true story of a school integrating Black and white players is always a good watch. If you have read my "Rankings of Denzel" article, you would know I feel very highly of this movie and believe it's a must-watch.

2. The Princess and the Frog

Walt Disney Studios

The movie features Disney’s first Black princess so it has to be on this list. It's one of the most beloved animated movies ever and a landmark moment for Disney. 

3. Black Panther & Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Disney / Via giphy.com

If we talk about firsts, we have to talk about the first movie all about a Black superhero for Disney. This movie transcends any superhero movie I've seen and it is in a realm of its own in terms of impact.

4. Soul

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Joe Gardner is a middle school music teacher who always dreamed about performing live jazz and being a music star. Soul is excellent as it's about making the most out of your time spent on Earth.

5. Jump In!

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This was one of my favorite movies as a kid. Keke Palmer and Corbin Bleu had great chemistry and delivered wonderful performances! A movie about Double Dutch is something I will show my future kids, because I honestly don't know if kids even jump rope for fun anymore.

6. Hidden Figures

20th Century Fox / Via giphy.com

This movie is about the three brilliant Black women —  Katherine Goble Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) — who were the mathematicians at NASA. They helped win the space race for the USA. It's always refreshing to learn about the countless contributions Black people have made toward the development and betterment of this country.

7. Glory Road

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Coming back to movies about firsts, the 1966 Texas Miners are the first team to win the NCAA University Division Championship against a team with an all-Black starting lineup. The film is a worthy tribute to one of the most important college basketball teams ever.

8. Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute For A King

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It's a charming documentary about the late Chadwick Boseman, that recognized the great man he was both outside and inside the entertainment business.

9. Red Tails

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Inspired by true events from the World War II, Red Tails tells the story of the 13 Black cadets trained to be fighters pilots in the army. The famed Tuskegee Airmen proved their talents and worth, despite the countless racism, discrimination, and lack of support they faced during their training.

10. Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit

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Sister Mary Clarence (Whoopi Goldberg) proves she might be a miracle worker as she uses the power of music to help a school from closing. 

11. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella

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We all know the story of Cinderella by now, but this reimagined version is in a league of its own! Brandy being cast as the first Black Cinderella is groundbreaking and something every kid should see and the diverse representation throughout the film speaks for itself.

12. Let It Shine

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Tyler James Williams, Coco Jones, and Trevor Jackson have grown into household names over the past year, so seeing them in this movie really shows us just how far they've come. The film centers around a young kid afraid to share his rapping skills with the people who matter most to him. But when his crush gets involved, he realizes it just might be the way for him to get noticed.

13. Kazaam

Hulton Archive / Getty Images

Shaq is widely known for being an NBA champion, but him playing a genie in Kazaam plays a close second! A bullied young boy (Francis Capra) gains a friend in Kazaam the genie after discovering he'd been locked inside a boombox. This movie is filled with magic and surprises, making it the perfect movie to watch with your family.

14. Black is King

Parkwood Entertainment, Walt Disney Pictures

The Lion King: The Gift's visual companion is one of Beyoncé's many masterpieces. Watching the elaborate music vides felt like a celebration of Blackness and the way she incorporated various African cultures was beautiful.

15. Ruby Bridges

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Ruby Bridges is the real-life 6-year-old who was chosen as the only Black child to attend an all-white school in New Orleans. It's a must-watch film for those looking to understand a lot of the racism and discrimination Black people were subjected to in America, as well as the progress that has been made in this country since then.

16. The Proud Family Movie

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The Proud Family series is amazing so you already know the actual movie is not too far behind! The laughs, the one-liners, and the shenanigans are still there, but on a bigger scale!

17. Twitches

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Two Black witches meet each other on their 21st birthday after being separated at birth. The two are forced to team up to save the world as they're the only ones with the power to vanquish The Darkness and restore The Coventry. Sign me up for anything Tia and Tamera!

18. Jett Jackson: The Movie

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Jett Jackson is sucked into the fictional series he plays on TV. And to make matters even weirder, his character finds his way into Jett's real life. The two swap places and they have to find their way back to the worlds they've always known. This body-swap movie is unlike any you have ever seen. I feel like this era was full of these types of movies and now we barely get any. For that alone, y'all make sure to watch this.

19. The Color of Friendship

Disney Channel/Courtesy Everett Collection

This movie was honestly way before our time! The Color of Friendship is based on actual events that transpired between two friends: a Black teenager named Piper and a white exchange student from South Africa named Mahree. When their two worlds collide they learn about the differences that set them a part, and the similarities that bring the together, all while battling the injustices caused by the South African embassy.

20. And lastly, Cool Runnings

Walt Disney / Alamy

Cool Runnings is an action movie loosely based on the Jamaican Olympic bobsled team that made their debut in the 1988 Winter Olympics. It's a wild ride filled with laughter and excitement.

Any movies that should be added?

Disney Channel is full of great Black movies or movies with phenomenal main characters that are Black! Let me know which one is at the top of your watchlist!

Black History Month is here! Join us from Feb. 1 to Feb. 28 (or all-year round) and support our content celebrating the culture.

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