The 163 Best Black Movies of the 21st Century

Critics Consensus: A vibrant exploration of family and social mores, On Becoming a Guineau Fowl marks another superb effort from writer-director Rungano Nyoni.

Synopsis: On an empty road in the middle of the night, Shula stumbles across the body of her uncle. As funeral proceedings begin around them, she… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Susan Chardy, Roy Chisha, Blessings Bhamjee, Chungu Bwalya

Directed By: Rungano Nyoni, Olivia Sleiter, Christian Vesper, Eva Yates

Critics Consensus: Descendant serves as a fantastically compelling example of how history can be reclaimed — and a stirring tribute to a resilient community.

Synopsis: Documentary filmmaker Margaret Brown (“The Order of Myths”, “The Great Invisible”) returns to her hometown of Mobile, Alabama to document the search for and historic… View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Margaret Brown, Shawn Gee, Kate Hurwitz, Jeff Skoll

Critics Consensus: All In: The Fight for Democracy lives up to its title as a galvanizing rallying cry for voters to exercise — and preserve — their right to be heard.

Synopsis: Filmmakers Liz Garbus and Lisa Cortes examine the history of voter suppression and the activists who fight for the rights of U.S. citizens.

Directed By: Lisa Cortes, Liz Garbus, Jon Bardin, Julie Gaither

Critics Consensus: O.J.: Made in America paints a balanced and thorough portrait of the American dream juxtaposed with tragedy and executed with power and skill.

Synopsis: Director Ezra Edelman examines race and celebrity through the life of O.J. Simpson. Beginning at the emergence of his football career at the University of… View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Ezra Edelman

Critics Consensus: Attica revisits the titular riot with intelligence, compassion, and anger, presenting a version of events that honors history as much as it exemplifies the art of documentary filmmaking.

Synopsis: During the summer of 1971, tensions between inmates and guards at the Attica Correctional Facility are at an all-time high. On the morning of Sept…. View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Stanley Nelson, Traci Curry, Vinnie Malhotra, Stanley Nelson

Critics Consensus: Strong Island uses one family’s heartbreaking tragedy to offer a sobering picture of racial injustice in modern America.

Synopsis: When filmmaker Yance Ford investigates the 1992 murder of a young black man, it becomes an achingly personal journey since the victim, 24-year-old William Ford… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Yance Ford, Harvey Walker, Kevin Myers, Lauren Ford

Directed By: Yance Ford, Danny Glover, Michel Merkt, Lisa Nishimura

Critics Consensus: Fueled by a gripping performance from David Oyelowo, Selma draws inspiration and dramatic power from the life and death of Martin Luther King, Jr. — but doesn’t ignore how far we remain from the ideals his work embodied.

Synopsis: Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally desegregated the South, discrimination was still rampant in certain areas, making it very difficult for Blacks to… View Full Synopsis

Starring: David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, Carmen Ejogo, Giovanni Ribisi

Directed By: Ava DuVernay, Brad Pitt, Cameron McCracken, Nik Bower

Critics Consensus: Deftly interweaving incredible live footage with a series of revealing interviews, Summer of Soul captures the spirit and context of a watershed moment while tying it firmly to the present.

Synopsis: In his acclaimed debut as a filmmaker, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson presents a powerful and transporting documentary-part music film, part historical record created around an epic… View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, Jody Allen, David Barse, Rocky Collins

Critics Consensus: I Am Not Your Negro offers an incendiary snapshot of James Baldwin’s crucial observations on American race relations — and a sobering reminder of how far we’ve yet to go.

Synopsis: In 1979, James Baldwin wrote a letter to his literary agent describing his next project, “Remember This House.” The book was to be a revolutionary,… View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Raoul Peck

Critics Consensus: Brilliantly capturing a remarkable performer near the peak of her prodigious power, Amazing Grace is a thrilling must-watch documentary for Aretha Franklin fans.

Synopsis: Singer Aretha Franklin performs gospel songs at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles in 1972.

Starring: The Rev. James Cleveland, Alexander Hamilton

Directed By: Alan Elliott, Joey Carey, Alexandra Johnes, Stefan Nowicki

Critics Consensus: Like a pageant winner walking across the stage, Miss Juneteenth follows a familiar path — but does so with charm and grace.

Synopsis: A former beauty queen and single mom prepares her rebellious teenage daughter for the “Miss Juneteenth” pageant.

Starring: Nicole Beharie, Kendrick Sampson, Alexis Chikaeze, Lori Hayes

Directed By: Channing Godfrey Peoples, David Lowery, Nate Kamiya

Critics Consensus: The Forty-Year-Old Version opens a compelling window into the ebbs and flows of the artist’s life — and announces writer-director-star Radha Blank as a major filmmaking talent with her feature debut.

Synopsis: Radha, a down-on-her-luck NY playwright, is desperate for a breakthrough before 40. But when she foils what seems like her last shot at success, she’s… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Welker White, Reed Birney, Radha Blank, Peter Kim

Directed By: Radha Blank

Critics Consensus: Rich, insightful, and occasionally heartbreaking, 20 Feet From Stardom is an energetic tribute to the passion, talent, and hard work of backup singers.

Synopsis: Filmmaker Morgan Neville shines a long-overdue spotlight on the hit-making contributions of longtime backup singers like Darlene Love and Merry Clayton.

Directed By: Morgan Neville, George Conrades, Art Bilger, Peter Morton

Critics Consensus: Funny, scary, and thought-provoking, Get Out seamlessly weaves its trenchant social critiques into a brilliantly effective and entertaining horror/comedy thrill ride.

Synopsis: Now that Chris and his girlfriend, Rose, have reached the meet-the-parents milestone of dating, she invites him for a weekend getaway with Missy and Dean…. View Full Synopsis

Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford

Directed By: Jordan Peele, Raymond Mansfield, Couper Samuelson, Shaun Redick

Critics Consensus: Moonlight uses one man’s story to offer a remarkable and brilliantly crafted look at lives too rarely seen in cinema.

Synopsis: A look at three defining chapters in the life of Chiron, a young black man growing up in Miami. His epic journey to manhood is… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mahershala Ali, Alex R. Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, Trevante Rhodes

Directed By: Barry Jenkins, Brad Pitt, Sarah Esberg, Tarell Alvin McCraney

Critics Consensus: A hauntingly powerful reflection on larger-than-life figures, One Night in Miami finds Regina King in command of her craft in her feature directorial debut.

Synopsis: On one incredible night in 1964, four icons of sports, music, and activism gathered to celebrate one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. When… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom Jr., Eli Goree

Directed By: Regina King, Paul O. Davis, Chris Harding, Regina King

Critics Consensus: Good news, rom-com fans: Anyone looking for a smart, funny, and heartwarming new addition to the canon can find it waiting on Rye Lane.

Synopsis: Yas (Vivian Oparah) and Dom (David Jonsson), two twenty-somethings both reeling from bad break-ups, connect over the course of an eventful day in South London… View Full Synopsis

Starring: David Jonsson, Vivian Oparah, Charlie Knight, Simon Manyonda

Directed By: Raine Allen Miller, Eva Yates, Rose Garnett, Kristin Irving

Critics Consensus: Time delivers a powerful broadside against the flaws of the American justice system — and chronicles one family’s refusal to give up against all odds.

Synopsis: Entrepreneur Fox Rich spends the last two decades campaigning for the release of her husband, Rob G. Rich, who is serving a 60-year prison sentence… View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Garrett Bradley, Davis Guggenheim, Kathleen Lingo, Laurene Powell-Jobs

Critics Consensus: MLK/FBI presents a sobering overview of the American intelligence community’s efforts to discredit and destroy a leader of the civil rights movement.

Synopsis: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered today as an American hero: a bridge-builder, a shrewd political tactician, and a moral leader. Yet throughout his… View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Sam Pollard, Charlotte Cook, Steven Farneth, David Friend

Critics Consensus: Whose Streets? takes a close-up look at the civil unrest that erupted after a shocking act of violence in Ferguson, Missouri – and the decades of simmering tension leading up to it.

Synopsis: An account of the Ferguson uprising as told by the people who lived it. The filmmakers look at how the killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown… View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Sabaah Folayan

Critics Consensus: I Am Not a Witch approaches real-life injustices with a beguiling blend of sorrow, anger, and humor, marking debuting writer-director Rungano Nyoni as an exciting new talent.

Synopsis: Shula is the first child taken to a traveling witch camp, where she is told that should she cut the ribbon and attempt to escape,… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Maggie Mulubwa, Nancy Murilo, Henry B.J. Phiri, Nellie Munamonga

Directed By: Rungano Nyoni, Mary Burke, Eve Gabereau, Hannah Thomas

Critics Consensus: Steadily drawing viewers into its harrowing tale with equal parts grim intensity and startling compassion, Night Comes On heralds the arrivals of debuting director Jordan Spiro and her magnetic young stars.

Synopsis: Released from juvenile detention, a teen and her 10-year-old sister embark on a quest to avenge the death of their mother.

Starring: Dominique Fishback, Tatum Marilyn Hall, James McDaniel, John Earl Jelks

Directed By: Jordana Spiro, Donna Gruneich, Kevin Gruneich, Bill Harnisch

Critics Consensus: Offering keen observations and infectious warmth, Keep On Keepin’ On is a joy for jazz buffs and novices alike.

Synopsis: Legendary jazz musician Clark Terry, who taught Quincy Jones and mentored Miles Davis, becomes the mentor of a blind 23-year-old pianist who suffers from crippling… View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Alan Hicks, Tom Gorai, Adam Hart, Alan Hicks

Critics Consensus: A rip-roaring fusion of masterful visual storytelling and toe-tapping music, writer-director Ryan Coogler’s first original blockbuster reveals the full scope of his singular imagination.

Synopsis: Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (Michael B. Jordan) return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell

Directed By: Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson, Will Greenfield, Rebecca Cho

Critics Consensus: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse matches bold storytelling with striking animation for a purely enjoyable adventure with heart, humor, and plenty of superhero action.

Synopsis: Bitten by a radioactive spider in the subway, Brooklyn teenager Miles Morales suddenly develops mysterious powers that transform him into the one and only Spider-Man…. View Full Synopsis

Starring: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali

Directed By: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman, Stan Lee

Critics Consensus: Framed by a pair of powerhouse performances, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom pays affectionate tribute to a blues legend — and Black culture at large.

Synopsis: Tensions and temperatures rise at a Chicago music studio in 1927 when fiery, fearless blues singer Ma Rainey joins her band for a recording session.

Starring: Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman, Colman Domingo

Directed By: George C. Wolfe

Critics Consensus: In dramatizing Rudy Ray Moore’s stranger-than-fiction story, Eddie Murphy makes Dolemite Is My Name just as bold, brash, and ultimately hard to resist as its subject.

Synopsis: Performer Rudy Ray Moore develops an outrageous character named Dolemite, who becomes an underground sensation and star of a kung-fu, anti-establishment film that could make… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Wesley Snipes, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Keegan-Michael Key

Directed By: Craig Brewer, Michael Beugg, Charisse M. Hewitt

Critics Consensus: Led by a breakout turn from Amandla Stenberg, the hard-hitting The Hate U Give emphatically proves the YA genre has room for much more than magic and romance.

Synopsis: Starr Carter is constantly switching between two worlds — the poor, mostly black neighborhood where she lives and the wealthy, mostly white prep school that… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby, K.J. Apa

Directed By: George Tillman Jr., Timothy M. Bourne, Angie Thomas, Isaac Klausner

Critics Consensus: A moving celebration of art’s redemptive power, Sing Sing draws its estimable emotional resonance from a never better Colman Domingo and equally impressive ensemble players.

Synopsis: Divine G (Colman Domingo), imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn’t commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Colman Domingo, Paul Raci, Sean San José, Clarence Maclin

Directed By: Greg Kwedar, Teddy Schwarzman, Michael Heimler, Colman Domingo

Critics Consensus: Mudbound offers a well-acted, finely detailed snapshot of American history whose scenes of rural class struggle resonate far beyond their period setting.

Synopsis: Set in the rural American South during World War II, Dee Rees’ Mudbound is an epic story of two families pitted against one another by… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Carey Mulligan, Jason Clarke, Jason Mitchell, Mary J. Blige

Directed By: Dee Rees, David Gendron, Poppy Hanks, Ali Jazayeri

Critics Consensus: A tribute to parental devotion and a testament to Teyana Taylor’s talent, A Thousand and One presents a heart-wrenching portrait of perseverance in the face of systemic inequity.

Synopsis: A THOUSAND AND ONE follows unapologetic and free-spirited Inez (Teyana Taylor), who kidnaps six-year-old Terry from the foster care system. Holding onto their secret and… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Teyana Taylor, Aaron Kingsley Adetola, Aven Courtney, Josiah Cross

Directed By: A.V. Rockwell, Oren Moverman, Rachel Jacobs, Leonid Lebedev

Critics Consensus: 13th strikes at the heart of America’s tangled racial history, offering observations as incendiary as they are calmly controlled.

Synopsis: Filmmaker Ava DuVernay explores the history of racial inequality in the United States, focusing on the fact that the nation’s prisons are disproportionately filled with… View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Ava DuVernay, Ben Cotner, Adam Del Deo, Lisa Nishimura

Critics Consensus: Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am honors its acclaimed subject with a comprehensive, illuminating, and fittingly profound overview of her life and work.

Synopsis: Author Toni Morrison leads an assembly of her peers, critics and colleagues on an exploration of race, history, America and the human condition.

Directed By: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, Michael Kantor

Critics Consensus: A striking debut feature for writer-director Ekwa Msangi, Farewell Amor movingly captures the fallout from a long-separated family’s reunion.

Synopsis: After 17 years apart, Angolan immigrant Walter is joined in the U.S. by his wife and teen daughter. Now absolute strangers sharing a one bedroom… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Zainab Jah, Jayme Lawson, Joie Lee

Directed By: Ekwa Msangi, Lance Acord, Jackie Kelman Bisbee, Alicia Brown

Critics Consensus: Intimate in scope yet thematically expansive, Hale County This Morning, This Evening draws extraordinary insights out of seemingly ordinary moments.

Synopsis: Filmmaker RaMell Ross captures small, but nevertheless precious, moments in black lives.

Starring: RaMell Ross

Directed By: RaMell Ross, Danny Glover, Tony Tabatznik, Susan Rockefeller

Critics Consensus: A tense, terrifying, and all-around outstanding feature debut for its co-directing duo, The Boy Behind the Door should thrill discerning horror fans.

Synopsis: In The Boy Behind the Door, a night of unimaginable terror awaits twelve-year-old Bobby (Lonnie Chavis) and his best friend, Kevin (Ezra Dewey), when they… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Lonnie Chavis, Ezra Dewey, Kristin Bauer, Scott Michael Foster

Directed By: David Charbonier, Justin Powell

Critics Consensus: Heavy yet hopeful, Earth Mama is a moving look at single motherhood on the margins that features outstanding work from writer-director Savanah Leaf and star Tia Nomore.

Synopsis: With two children in foster care, Gia, a pregnant single mother pitted against the system, fights to reclaim her family. In her close-knit Bay Area… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tia Nomore, Erika Alexander, Doechii, Sharon Duncan-Brewster

Directed By: Savanah Leaf

Critics Consensus: Black Panther elevates superhero cinema to thrilling new heights while telling one of the MCU’s most absorbing stories — and introducing some of its most fully realized characters.

Synopsis: After the death of his father, T’Challa returns home to the African nation of Wakanda to take his rightful place as king. When a powerful… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira

Directed By: Ryan Coogler, Louis D'Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Nate Moore

Critics Consensus: BlacKkKlansman uses history to offer bitingly trenchant commentary on current events — and brings out some of Spike Lee’s hardest-hitting work in decades along the way.

Synopsis: Ron Stallworth is the first African-American detective to serve in the Colorado Springs Police Department. Determined to make a name for himself, Stallworth bravely sets… View Full Synopsis

Starring: John David Washington, Adam Driver, Laura Harrier, Topher Grace

Directed By: Spike Lee, Marcei A. Brown, Edward H. Hamm Jr., Matthew A. Cherry

Critics Consensus: An electrifying dramatization of historical events, Judas and the Black Messiah is a forceful condemnation of racial injustice — and a major triumph for its director and stars.

Synopsis: FBI informant William O’Neal infiltrates the Illinois Black Panther Party and is tasked with keeping tabs on their charismatic leader, Chairman Fred Hampton. A career… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons, Dominique Fishback

Directed By: Shaka King, Jason Cloth, Zinzi Coogler, Ted Gidlow

Critics Consensus: Till reframes an historically horrific murder within a mother’s grief, brought heartwrenchingly to life by Danielle Deadwyler’s tremendous performance.

Synopsis: Till is a profoundly emotional and cinematic film about the true story of Mamie Till Mobley’s relentless pursuit of justice for her 14 year old… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Frankie Faison, Haley Bennett

Directed By: Chinonye Chukwu, Preston L. Holmes, Chinonye Chukwu

Critics Consensus: Tangerine shatters casting conventions and its filmmaking techniques are up-to-the-minute, but it’s an old-fashioned comedy at heart — and a pretty wonderful one at that.

Synopsis: After hearing that her boyfriend/pimp cheated on her while she was in jail, a transgender sex worker and her best friend set out to find… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, Karren Karagulian, Mickey O'Hagan

Directed By: Sean Baker, Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass

Critics Consensus: An unpredictable supernatural drama rooted in real-world social commentary, Atlantique suggests a thrillingly bright future for debuting filmmaker Mati Diop.

Synopsis: Arranged to marry a rich man, young Ada is crushed when her true love goes missing at sea during a migration attempt — until a… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mama Sané, Amadou Mbow, Ibrahima Traoré, Amina Kane

Directed By: Mati Diop, Oumar Sall

Critics Consensus: Step tells an irresistibly crowd-pleasing story in a thoroughly absorbing way — and while smartly incorporating a variety of timely themes.

Synopsis: The senior year of a girls’ high school step team in inner-city Baltimore is documented, as they try to become the first in their families… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Blessin Giraldo

Directed By: Amanda Lipitz, Barbara Dobkin, Dan Cogan

Critics Consensus: Test Pattern surveys the aftermath of a woman’s assault — and uncovers the many ways in which personal trauma can be compounded by systemic injustice.

Synopsis: Young couple Renesha (Brittany S. Hall) and Evan (Will Brill) negotiate a variety of questions, judgments, and other comments on their interracial relationship. Yet, the… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brittany S. Hall, Will Brill, Gail Bean, Drew Fuller

Directed By: Shatara Michelle Ford

Critics Consensus: Just as visually dazzling and action-packed as its predecessor, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse thrills from start to cliffhanger conclusion.

Synopsis: Miles Morales returns for the next chapter of the Oscar®-winning Spider-Verse saga, an epic adventure that will transport Brooklyn’s full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man across the… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac, Jake Johnson

Directed By: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson, Bob Persichetti

Critics Consensus: It’s far from comfortable viewing, but 12 Years a Slave‘s unflinchingly brutal look at American slavery is also brilliant — and quite possibly essential — cinema.

Synopsis: In the years before the Civil War, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is kidnapped and sold into slavery… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano

Directed By: Steve McQueen, John Ridley, Tessa Ross

Critics Consensus: If Beale Street Could Talk honors its source material with a beautifully filmed adaptation that finds director Barry Jenkins further strengthening his visual and narrative craft.

Synopsis: In early 1970s Harlem, daughter and wife-to-be Tish vividly recalls the passion, respect and trust that have connected her and her artist fiancé Alonzo Hunt,… View Full Synopsis

Starring: KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Regina King, Colman Domingo

Directed By: Barry Jenkins, Megan Ellison, Brad Pitt, Sarah Esberg

Critics Consensus: A film as beautiful to contemplate as it is to behold, Soul proves Pixar’s power to deliver outstanding all-ages entertainment remains undimmed.

Synopsis: Joe is a middle-school band teacher whose life hasn’t quite gone the way he expected. His true passion is jazz — and he’s good. But… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Phylicia Rashad, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson

Directed By: Pete Docter, Dan Scanlon, Kiri Hart

Critics Consensus: Creed brings the Rocky franchise off the mat for a surprisingly effective seventh round that extends the boxer’s saga in interesting new directions while staying true to its classic predecessors’ roots.

Synopsis: Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) never knew his famous father, boxing champion Apollo Creed, who died before Adonis was born. However, boxing is in his… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad

Directed By: Ryan Coogler, Nicolas Stern

Critics Consensus: They Cloned Tyrone is provocative, clever sci-fi with an exceptional cast.

Synopsis: A series of eerie events thrusts an unlikely trio (John Boyega, Jamie Foxx and Teyonah Parris) onto the trail of a nefarious government conspiracy in… View Full Synopsis

Starring: John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, Teyonah Parris, Kiefer Sutherland

Directed By: Juel Taylor, Poppy Hanks, Jack L. Murray, Dana Sano

Critics Consensus: Pulsing with authenticity and led by a stirring lead performance from Adepero Oduye, Pariah is a powerful coming out/coming-of-age film that signals the arrival of a fresh new talent in writer/director Dee Rees.

Synopsis: Teenage Alike (Adepero Oduye) lives in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood with her parents (Charles Parnell, Kim Wayans) and younger sister (Sahra Mellesse). A lesbian, Alike… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Adepero Oduye, Pernell Walker, Aasha Davis, Charles Parnell

Directed By: Dee Rees, Spike Lee, Jeff Robinson, Sam Martin

Critics Consensus: André Holland lays himself bare in a characteristically wonderful performance in this vivid portrait of a family coming to terms with the past.

Synopsis: Tarrell (André Holland) is an admired American painter who lives with his wife, singer Aisha (Andra Day), and their young son, Jermaine. Tarrell’s artwork excavates… View Full Synopsis

Starring: André Holland, John Earl Jelks, Andra Day, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor

Directed By: Titus Kaphar

Critics Consensus: All hail Viola Davis! The Woman King rules.

Synopsis: The Woman King is the remarkable story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim

Directed By: Gina Prince-Bythewood, Peter McAleese

Critics Consensus: Passionate and powerfully acted, Fruitvale Station serves as a celebration of life, a condemnation of death, and a triumph for star Michael B. Jordan.

Synopsis: Though he once spent time in San Quentin, 22-year-old black man Oscar Grant (Michael B. Jordan) is now trying hard to live a clean life… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Octavia Spencer, Melonie Diaz, Ahna O'Reilly

Directed By: Ryan Coogler, Michael Y. Chow, Lisa Kleiner-Chanoff, John Kwok

Critics Consensus: As timely as it is overall impactful, Blindspotting blends buddy comedy with seething social commentary, and rises on the strength of Daveed Diggs’ powerful performance.

Synopsis: Collin must make it through his final three days of probation for a chance at a new beginning in his Oakland, Calif., neighborhood. His bond… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Daveed Diggs, Rafael Casal, Janina Gavankar, Jasmine Cephas Jones

Directed By: Carlos López Estrada

Critics Consensus: A romance for the ages, Sylvie’s Love wraps audiences in the sweet embrace of its old-fashioned romance and celebration of Black love.

Synopsis: In Sylvie’s Love, the jazz is smooth and the air sultry in the hot New York summer of 1957. Robert (Nnamdi Asomugha), a saxophonist, spends… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tessa Thompson, Nnamdi Asomugha, Eva Longoria, Aja Naomi King

Directed By: Eugene Ashe, Bobbi Sue Luther, Akbar Gbajabiamila, Matt Rachamkin

Critics Consensus: Dishing out enough laughter and chemistry to spare through Keke Palmer and SZA, One of Them Days makes the buddy-comedy genre feel like magic once again.

Synopsis: Best friends and roommates Dreux (Keke Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA) are about to have One of Them Days. When they discover Alyssa’s boyfriend has blown… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Keke Palmer, SZA, Maude Apatow, Lil Rel Howery

Directed By: Lawrence Lamont, Keke Palmer, Sharon Palmer, Charles D. King

Critics Consensus: Funny, informative, and occasionally sad, Good Hair is a provocative look at the complex relationship between African Americans and their hair.

Synopsis: Prompted by a question from his young daughter, comic Chris Rock sets out to explore the importance of hair in black culture. Rock interviews celebrities… View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Jeff Stilson, Nelson George

Critics Consensus: It’s far more conventional than the life it honors, but John Lewis: Good Trouble remains a worthy tribute to an inspiring activist and public servant.

Synopsis: Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) fights for civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health care reform and immigration.

Directed By: Dawn Porter, Amy Entelis, Stuart Ford, Courtney Sexton

Critics Consensus: Beyoncé is King.

Starring: Beyoncé

Directed By: Beyoncé

Critics Consensus: Like a good wine, once you let Uncorked breathe, its heartfelt tenderness will yield a sweet time.

Synopsis: A young man upsets his father when he pursues his dream of becoming a master sommelier instead of joining the family barbecue business.

Starring: Mamoudou Athie, Courtney B. Vance, Niecy Nash, Sasha Compère

Directed By: Prentice Penny, Drew Brees, Derrick Brooks, Veronica Nickel

Critics Consensus: With Jordan Peele’s second inventive, ambitious horror film, we have seen how to beat the sophomore jinx, and it is Us.

Synopsis: Accompanied by her husband, son and daughter, Adelaide Wilson returns to the beachfront home where she grew up as a child. Haunted by a traumatic… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker

Directed By: Jordan Peele, Daniel Lupi, Beatriz Sequeira

Critics Consensus: In heartwarming, crowd-pleasing fashion, Hidden Figures celebrates overlooked — and crucial — contributions from a pivotal moment in American history.

Synopsis: Three brilliant African American women at NASA, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, serve as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner

Directed By: Theodore Melfi, Jamal Daniel, Renee Witt, Ivana Lombardi

Critics Consensus: Fearlessly ambitious, scathingly funny, and thoroughly original, Sorry to Bother You loudly heralds the arrival of a fresh filmmaking talent in writer-director Boots Riley.

Synopsis: In an alternate reality of present-day Oakland, Calif., telemarketer Cassius Green finds himself in a macabre universe after he discovers a magical key that leads… View Full Synopsis

Starring: LaKeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler, Omari Hardwick

Directed By: Boots Riley, Michael Y. Chow, Michael K. Shen, Kim Roth

Critics Consensus: Jeffrey Wright and American Fiction will forever be inextricable thanks to the actor’s committed approach to the pointedly humorous and insightful material.

Synopsis: AMERICAN FICTION is Cord Jefferson’s hilarious directorial debut, which confronts our culture’s obsession with reducing people to outrageous stereotypes. Jeffrey Wright stars as Monk, a… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander

Directed By: Cord Jefferson, Rian Johnson, Ram Bergman, Percival Everett

Critics Consensus: An affecting story powerfully told, The Last Black Man in San Francisco immediately establishes director Joe Talbot as a filmmaker to watch.

Synopsis: Jimmie and his best friend Mont try to reclaim the house built by Jimmie’s grandfather, launching them on a poignant odyssey that connects them to… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jimmie Fails, Jonathan Majors, Rob Morgan, Tichina Arnold

Directed By: Joe Talbot, Brad Pitt, Kimberly Parker Zox, Sarah Esberg

Critics Consensus: Dave Chappelle’s Block Party is a raucous return to the spotlight for the comic, buoyed by witty, infectious humor and outstanding musical performances.

Synopsis: Actor, writer and comic Dave Chappelle loads up a bus with residents of his Ohio hometown and takes them to Brooklyn, N.Y. Once there, the… View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Michel Gondry, Skot Bright, Doug Levine, Greg Manocherian

Critics Consensus: Equal measures inspiring, and enraging, this typical sports drama knows how to take a hit and dole them out with enough emotion and vigor to stoke The Fire Inside.

Synopsis: THE FIRE INSIDE is the inspirational true story of Claressa Shields, arguably the greatest female boxer of all time. Claressa, a high school Junior from… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ryan Destiny, Brian Tyree Henry, Olunike Adeliyi, De'Adre Aziza

Directed By: Rachel Morrison, Lyn Lucibello, Rachel Morrison, Claressa Shields

Critics Consensus: An affectionate celebration of Sly & the Family Stone that’s all the more powerful for recognizing its subject’s flaws, SLY LIVES! is a sterling sophomore documentary feature from Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson.

Synopsis: “SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)” examines the life and legacy of Sly & The Family Stone, the groundbreaking band led by the… View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, Amit Dey, Shawn Gee, Zarah Zohlman

Critics Consensus: Fierce energy and ambition course through Da 5 Bloods, coming together to fuel one of Spike Lee’s most urgent and impactful films.

Synopsis: Four African American vets battle the forces of man and nature when they return to Vietnam seeking the remains of their fallen squad leader and… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis

Directed By: Spike Lee, Mike Bundlie, Jonathan Filley, Barry Levine

Critics Consensus: From its reunited Broadway stars to its screenplay, the solidly crafted Fences finds its Pulitzer-winning source material fundamentally unchanged — and still just as powerful.

Synopsis: Troy Maxson makes his living as a sanitation worker in the 1950s Pittsburgh. Maxson once dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player, but was deemed… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Stephen Henderson, Jovan Adepo

Directed By: Denzel Washington, Molly Allen, Eli Bush, Aaron L. Gilbert

Critics Consensus: Precious is a grim yet ultimately triumphant film about abuse and inner-city life, largely bolstered by exceptional performances from its cast.

Synopsis: Pregnant by her own father for the second time, 16-year-old Claireece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey Sidibe) can neither read nor write and suffers constant abuse at… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Lenny Kravitz

Directed By: Lee Daniels, Lisa Cortes, Tom Heller, Tyler Perry

Critics Consensus: Director RaMell Ross’ stylistically radical approach to adapting Colson Whitehead’s searing novel will be jarring for some, but Nickel Boys‘ sense of immersion achieves the jaw-dropping effect of walking in another’s shoes.

Synopsis: Elwood Curtis’s college dream shatters alongside a two-lane Florida highway. Bearing the brunt of an innocent misstep, he’s sentenced to the netherworld of Nickel Academy,… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Hamish Linklater, Fred Hechinger

Directed By: RaMell Ross, Brad Pitt, Gabby Shepard, Emily Wolfe

Critics Consensus: Southside With You looks back on a fateful real-life date with strong performances and engaging dialogue, adding up to a romance that makes for a pretty good date movie in its own right.

Synopsis: Future U.S. President Barack Obama (Parker Sawyers) and lawyer Michelle Robinson (Tika Sumpter) go on a fateful first date in the summer of 1989.

Starring: Tika Sumpter, Parker Sawyers, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Jerod Haynes

Directed By: Richard Tanne, Stuart Ford, Matt Jackson, Glendon Palmer

Critics Consensus: Clemency mines serious social issues for gripping drama, brought to life by an outstanding cast led by Alfre Woodard.

Synopsis: Years of carrying out death row executions are taking a toll on Warden Bernadine Williams. As she prepares for another one, Williams must confront the… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Alfre Woodard, Aldis Hodge, Richard Schiff, Wendell Pierce

Directed By: Chinonye Chukwu, Kathryn Bostic, Emma Lee, Johnny Chang

Synopsis: Filmmakers Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon examine a 1989 case of five teenagers who were wrongfully convicted of raping a woman. After spending… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ed Koch, Craig Steven Wilder, Dr. Calvin O. Butts III, David Dinkins

Directed By: Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, David McMahon, Ken Burns

Critics Consensus: The Black Panthers: Vanguard Of The Revolution offers a fascinating — if somewhat rudimentary — introduction to a movement, and an era, that remains soberingly relevant today.

Synopsis: Filmmaker Stanley Nelson examines the rise of the Black Panther Party in the 1960s and its impact on civil rights and American culture.

Starring: Blair Anderson, Omar Barbour, Julian Bond, Elaine Brown

Directed By: Stanley Nelson, Sally Jo Fifer

Synopsis: Swedish journalists document the black power movement in America.

Starring: Abiodun Oyewole, Talib Kweli, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, Angela Davis

Directed By: Göran Olsson, Tobias Janson

Critics Consensus: Premature transcends its familiar trappings with sharp dialogue and a strong sense of setting that further establish Rashaad Ernesto Green as a gifted filmmaker.

Synopsis: On a summer night in Harlem during her last months at home before starting college, 17-year-old poet Ayanna begins a summer romance with Isaiah, a… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Zora Howard, Joshua Boone, Michelle Wilson, Alexis Marie Wint

Directed By: Rashaad Ernesto Green, Chadd Harbold, Eric Schultz, Nikki Silver

Critics Consensus: Widows rounds up a stellar ensemble for a heist thriller that mixes popcorn entertainment with a message – and marks another artistic leap for director Steve McQueen.

Synopsis: A police shootout leaves four thieves dead during an explosive armed robbery attempt in Chicago. Their widows — Veronica, Linda, Alice and Belle — have… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Viola Davis, Colin Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki

Directed By: Steve McQueen, Bergen Swanson, Rose Garnett, Daniel Battsek

Critics Consensus: While Passing‘s delicate approach has a dampening effect on its story, debuting director Rebecca Hall makes the most of an impressive cast — and handles thorny themes with impressive dexterity.

Synopsis: In the 1920s New York City, a Black woman finds her world upended when her life becomes intertwined with a former childhood friend who’s passing… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, André Holland, Alexander Skarsgård

Directed By: Rebecca Hall, Michael Y. Chow, Lauren Dark, Chaz Ebert

Critics Consensus: Girls Trip is the rare R-rated comedy that pushes boundaries to truly comedic effect — and anchors its laughs in compelling characters brought to life by a brilliantly assembled cast.

Synopsis: Best friends Ryan, Sasha, Lisa and Dina are in for the adventure of a lifetime when they travel to New Orleans for the annual Essence… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Tiffany Haddish

Directed By: Malcolm D. Lee, Preston L. Holmes, James Lopez

Critics Consensus: Luce brings a stellar ensemble to bear on a satisfyingly complex story that addresses its timely themes in thought-provoking fashion.

Synopsis: A liberal-minded couple are forced to reconsider their image of their adopted son after he writes a disturbing essay for a class assignment.

Starring: Naomi Watts, Octavia Spencer, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tim Roth

Directed By: Julius Onah, Rob Feng, J.C. Lee, Amber Wang

Critics Consensus: Taking the form of a classic college comedy while adding some socially relevant function, Emergency is as smart and disturbing as it is hilarious.

Synopsis: Kunle (Donald Elise Watkins) and his best friend, Sean (RJ Cyler), are both seniors in college about to embark on an epic night of Spring… View Full Synopsis

Starring: RJ Cyler, Donald Elise Watkins, Sebastian Chacon, Sabrina Carpenter

Directed By: Carey Williams, Kim Coleman, Paul O. Davis

Critics Consensus: Support the Girls handles serious themes with wit and humor, and provides a strong showcase for Regina Hall and a talented ensemble cast.

Synopsis: Lisa is the general manager of Double Whammies, a sports bar that features skimpily dressed waitresses. Always nurturing and protective of her staff, she soon… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Regina Hall, Haley Lu Richardson, Shayna McHayle, James Le Gros

Directed By: Andrew Bujalski, Jon Fryd, Scott Carmel, Paul Bernon

Critics Consensus: Dear White People adds a welcome new voice to cinema’s oft-neglected discussion of race, tackling its timely themes with intelligence, honesty, and gratifyingly sharp wit.

Synopsis: A campus culture war between blacks and whites at a predominantly white school comes to a head when the staff of a humor magazine stages… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tyler James Williams, Tessa Thompson, Kyle Gallner, Teyonah Parris

Directed By: Justin Simien, Leonid Lebedev, Stephanie Allain

Critics Consensus: An entertaining and intriguing tribute to a father from his son.

Synopsis: Director Mario Van Peebles chronicles the complicated production of his father Melvin’s classic 1971 film, Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song. Playing his father in the film,… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mario Van Peebles, Joy Bryant, Terry Crews, Ossie Davis

Directed By: Mario Van Peebles, Michael Mann, Jerry Offsay

Critics Consensus: Heartfelt, thought-provoking, and above all funny, Barbershop: The Next Cut is the rare belated sequel that more than lives up to the standard set by its predecessors.

Synopsis: To survive harsh economic times, Calvin and Angie have merged the barbershop and beauty salon into one business. The days of male bonding are gone… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer, Regina Hall, Sean Patrick Thomas

Directed By: Malcolm D. Lee, Malcolm D. Lee, Becki Cross Trujillo, Ronald G. Muhammad

Critics Consensus: A toe-tapping tribute to the band that gave Motown its sound.

Synopsis: This documentary mixes performances, interviews and reenactments to celebrate the Funk Brothers, the 1960s soul hitmakers. As the musicians behind the Temptations, the Four Tops… View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Paul Justman, Paul Elliot

Critics Consensus: Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey celebrates the yuletide season with a holiday adventure whose exuberant spirit is matched by its uplifting message.

Synopsis: Decades after his apprentice betrays him, a once joyful toymaker finds new hope when his bright young granddaughter appears on his doorstep.

Starring: Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, Hugh Bonneville, Anika Noni Rose

Directed By: David E. Talbert, Vicki Dee Rock, Harvey Mason Jr., Ty Stiklorius

Critics Consensus: Not just a powerful telling of the journey of exiled Sudanese boys, God Grew Tired of Us is also a poignant account of the determination of the human spirit.

Synopsis: Filmmaker Christopher Quinn observes the ordeal of three Sudanese refugees — Jon Bul Dau, Daniel Abul Pach and Panther Bior — as they try to… View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Christopher Dillon Quinn, Brad Pitt, Adam Schlesinger, Jack Schneider

Critics Consensus: Entertaining for longtime fans as well as casually interested viewers, Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool burnishes the legacy of a brilliant artist.

Synopsis: An exploration of the musician’s archival photos and home movies.

Directed By: Stanley Nelson, Michael Kantor, Geoff Kempin, Terry Shand

Critics Consensus: Graced with such a realistic feel that it resembles a documentary, Our Song is a sensitive portrayal of three teenage girls.

Synopsis: Follows three friends, Lanisha (Kerry Washington), Maria (Melissa Martinez) and Joycelyn (Anna Simpson), best friends and members of their school’s marching band, through the hot… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kerry Washington, Anna Simpson, Melissa Martinez, Marlene Forte

Directed By: Jim McKay, Caroline Kaplan, Jonathan Sehring, Michael Stipe

Critics Consensus: Miss Sharon Jones! only captures a portion of its subject’s power — or her inspiring story — but that’s more than enough to offer absorbing, entertaining viewing for fans and newcomers alike.

Synopsis: Filmmaker Barbara Kopple follows rhythm and blues singer Sharon Jones as she tries to hold her band together while battling pancreatic cancer.

Directed By: Barbara Kopple

Critics Consensus: Presenting Princess Shaw works as a uniquely uplifting look at internet stardom — and a compelling glimpse of an artist whose gifts transcend the medium.

Synopsis: The extraordinary story of New Orleans singing sensation Princess Shaw and her collaborator Kutiman, a musician in Israel who uses her YouTube videos to create… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Princess Shaw, Kutiman

Directed By: Ido Haar

Critics Consensus: Burning Cane is a compelling look at weighty themes — and a remarkably assured debut from an impressively talented young filmmaker.

Synopsis: An aging mother who lives in cane fields of rural Louisiana, is torn between her religious convictions and the love of her son.

Starring: Wendell Pierce, Karen Kaia Livers, Dominique McClellan, Braelyn Kelly

Directed By: Phillip Michael Youmans, Benh Zeitlin

Critics Consensus: King Richard transcends sport biopic formulas with refreshingly nuanced storytelling — and a towering performance from Will Smith in the title role.

Synopsis: Armed with a clear vision and a brazen 78-page plan, Richard Williams is determined to write his daughters, Venus and Serena, into history. Training on… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Jon Bernthal, Saniyya Sidney

Directed By: Reinaldo Marcus Green, Isha Price, Serena Williams, Venus Williams

Critics Consensus: For viewers willing and able to adjust to its leisurely, recursive rhythm, All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt is a beautifully elegant exploration of grief and longing.

Synopsis: A lyrical, decades-spanning exploration across a woman’s life in Mississippi, the feature debut from award-winning poet, photographer and filmmaker Raven Jackson is a haunting and… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Charleen McClure, Moses Ingram, Kaylee Nicole Johnson, Reginald Helms Jr.

Directed By: Raven Jackson

Critics Consensus: This documentary focuses less on the music and more on the personality clashes and in-group tensions to great, compelling effect.

Synopsis: Actor Michael Rapaport examines the music of the 1990s hip-hop group as well as the conflicts that drove the band members apart.

Starring: Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Q-Tip, Jarobi White

Directed By: Michael Rapaport, Niraj Bhatia, Dan Burks, Zack Free

Critics Consensus: What Happened, Miss Simone? is a compelling — albeit necessarily incomplete — overview of its complex subject’s singular artistic legacy and fascinating life.

Synopsis: Classically trained pianist, dive-bar chanteuse, black power icon and legendary recording artist Nina Simone lived a life of brutal honesty, musical genius, and tortured melancholy.

Starring: Lisa Simone Kelly, Roger Nupie, Al Schackman, George Wein

Directed By: Liz Garbus, Sidney Beaumont, Adam Del Deo, Jon Kamen

Critics Consensus: Stepping out from Rocky Balboa’s iconic shadow at last, the Creed franchise reasserts its champion status thanks to star Michael B. Jordan’s punchy direction and a nuanced heel turn by Jonathan Majors.

Synopsis: After dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) has been thriving in both his career and family life. When a childhood friend and… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris

Directed By: Michael B. Jordan, Sev Ohanian, Zinzi Coogler, Nicolas Stern

Critics Consensus: Straight Outta Compton is a biopic that’s built to last, thanks to F. Gary Gray’s confident direction and engaging performances from a solid cast.

Synopsis: In 1988, a groundbreaking new group revolutionizes music and pop culture, changing and influencing hip-hop forever. N.W.A’s first studio album, “Straight Outta Compton,” stirs controversy… View Full Synopsis

Starring: O'Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Neil Brown Jr.

Directed By: F. Gary Gray, Will Packer, Adam Merims, David Engel

Critics Consensus: Reveling in Tessa Thompson’s commanding turn as Hedda, Nia DaCosta’s smoldering update on Henrik Ibsen’s seminal play locates a bracingly contemporary pulse within a classic text.

Synopsis: From writer/director Nia DaCosta comes a provocative, modern reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s classic play. HEDDA (Tessa Thompson) finds herself torn between the lingering ache of… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tessa Thompson, Nina Hoss, Imogen Poots, Nicholas Pinnock

Directed By: Nia DaCosta, Brad Pitt, Kishori Rajan, Michael S. Constable

Critics Consensus: Loving takes an understated approach to telling a painful — and still relevant — real-life tale, with sensitive performances breathing additional life into a superlative historical drama.

Synopsis: Interracial couple Richard and Mildred Loving fell in love and were married in 1958. They grew up in Central Point, a small town in Virginia… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Joel Edgerton, Ruth Negga, Marton Csokas, Nick Kroll

Directed By: Jeff Nichols, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Jack Turner, Jared Goldman

Critics Consensus: Zola captures the stranger-than-fiction appeal of the viral Twitter thread that inspired it — and announces director/co-writer Janicza Bravo as a filmmaker to watch.

Synopsis: “Y’all wanna hear a story about why me & this bitch here fell out? It’s kind of long but full of suspense.” Thus began the… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Taylour Paige, Riley Keough, Nicholas Braun, Colman Domingo

Directed By: Janicza Bravo, A'Ziah King, Jennifer Konawal, David Kushner

Critics Consensus: It Comes at Night makes lethally effective use of its bare-bones trappings while proving once again that what’s left unseen can be just as horrifying as anything on the screen.

Synopsis: After a mysterious apocalypse leaves the world with few survivors, two families are forced to share a home in an uneasy alliance to keep the… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Joel Edgerton, Christopher Abbott, Carmen Ejogo, Riley Keough

Directed By: Trey Edward Shults

Critics Consensus: It isn’t as bold and fearless as its characters, but The Harder They Fall fills its well-worn template with style, energy, and a fantastic cast.

Synopsis: When outlaw Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) discovers that his enemy Rufus Buck (Idris Elba) is being released from prison he rounds up his gang to… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, Delroy Lindo, LaKeith Stanfield

Directed By: Jeymes Samuel, G. Mac Brown

Critics Consensus: Whitney shifts from soaring highs to heartbreaking lows with palpable emotion and grace befitting its singular subject.

Synopsis: Filmmaker Kevin Macdonald examines the life and career of singer Whitney Houston. Features never-before-seen archival footage, exclusive recordings, rare performances and interviews with the people… View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Kevin Macdonald, Nicole David, Patricia Houston, Will Clarke

Critics Consensus: Featuring a starmaking performance from Shameik Moore and a refreshingly original point of view from writer-director Rick Famuyiwa, Dope is smart, insightful entertainment.

Synopsis: High-school senior Malcolm (Shameik Moore) and his friends Jib (Tony Revolori) and Diggy (Kiersey Clemons) bond over ’90s hip-hop culture, their studies and playing music… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons, Kimberly Elise

Directed By: Rick Famuyiwa, Michael Y. Chow, Rick Famuyiwa, David Lonner

Critics Consensus: Although it’s frustratingly clumsy in certain respects, The Inspection is an affecting actors’ showcase in service of some truly worthy themes.

Synopsis: In Elegance Bratton’s deeply moving film inspired by his own story, a young, gay Black man, rejected by his mother and with few options for… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jeremy Pope, Raúl Castillo, McCaul Lombardi, Aaron Dominguez

Directed By: Elegance Bratton, Chris Quintos Cathcart, Kim Coleman, Nina Fialkow

Critics Consensus: A Southern Gothic played at a ferocious key, The Piano Lesson brings August Wilson’s words to vivid life with an outstanding ensemble.

Synopsis: Set in 1936 Pittsburgh during the aftermath of the Great Depression, The Piano Lesson follows the lives of the Charles family in the Doaker Charles… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Danielle Deadwyler, Ray Fisher

Directed By: Malcolm Washington, Christopher Miller, Jennifer Roth, Katia Washington

Critics Consensus: Madeline’s Madeline proves experimental cinema is alive and well — and serves as a powerful calling card for Helena Howard in her big-screen debut.

Synopsis: Madeline has become an integral part of a prestigious physical theater troupe. When the workshop’s ambitious director pushes the teenager to weave her rich interior… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Helena Howard, Molly Parker, Miranda July, Okwui Okpokwasili

Directed By: Josephine Decker, Michael Decker, Peter Gilbert, Edwin Linker

Critics Consensus: Wise, compassionate, and beautifully acted, Middle of Nowhere offers an early testament to writer-director Ava DuVernay’s startling talent.

Synopsis: A med student (Emayatzy Corinealdi) considers leaving her long-imprisoned husband (Omari Hardwick) for a charming bus driver (David Oyelowo).

Starring: Emayatzy Corinealdi, David Oyelowo, Omari Hardwick, Lorraine Toussaint

Directed By: Ava DuVernay

Critics Consensus: A refreshingly optimistic look at urban community life, The Outside Story is further distinguished by a layered leading performance from Brian Tyree Henry.

Synopsis: Brian Tyree Henry takes on his first big screen lead role as Charles Young, a broken-hearted video editor. Perceiving a betrayal of trust as a… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brian Tyree Henry, Sonequa Martin-Green, Sunita Mani, Olivia Edward

Directed By: Casimir Nozkowski, Lisa Kleiner-Chanoff, Cameron O'Reilly, Evan Thayer

Critics Consensus: Bold, bloody, and stylistically daring, Django Unchained is another incendiary masterpiece from Quentin Tarantino.

Synopsis: Two years before the Civil War, Django (Jamie Foxx), a slave, finds himself accompanying an unorthodox German bounty hunter named Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz)… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson

Directed By: Quentin Tarantino, Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein, Michael Shamberg

Critics Consensus: Beasts of the Southern Wild is a fantastical, emotionally powerful journey and a strong case of filmmaking that values imagination over money.

Synopsis: Six-year-old Hushpuppy lives with her father, Wink, in a remote Delta community. Wink is a stern taskmaster, but he is preparing his young daughter for… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Quvenzhané Wallis, Dwight Henry, Levy Easterly, Lowell Landes

Directed By: Benh Zeitlin, Philipp Engelhorn, Paul Mezey, Michael Raisler

Critics Consensus: While it could stand to be a little funnier and quite a bit scarier, The Blackening is a thoughtful satire that skewers horror tropes and racial stereotypes.

Synopsis: The Blackening centers around a group of Black friends who reunite for a Juneteenth weekend getaway only to find themselves trapped in a remote cabin… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Antoinette Robertson, Dewayne Perkins, Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler

Directed By: Tim Story

Critics Consensus: A smart, well-acted, and refreshingly messy coming-of-age story, Selah and the Spades suggests a bright future for debuting writer-director Tayarisha Poe.

Synopsis: Five factions run the underground life of a prestigious east coast boarding school. The head of The Spades walks a fine line between being feared… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Lovie Simone, Jharrel Jerome, Celeste O'Connor, Ana Mulvoy-Ten

Directed By: Tayarisha Poe, Ryan Ahrens, Derrick Brooks, Chaz Ebert

Critics Consensus: This group of high school girls and their eccentric basketball coach easily win your heart with their unusual humanity and dynamism.

Synopsis: Filmed over a period of seven years, director Ward Serrill profiles Bill Resler, a university professor who coaches a basketball team comprised of high-school girls…. View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Ward Serrill, Larry Estes

Critics Consensus: The Gospel According to André offers an engaging overview of its fascinating subject, even if his accomplishments — and outsize personality — prove too expansive for a single film.

Synopsis: Filmmaker Kate Novack explores the life and career of fashion journalist André Leon Talley — from his childhood in the segregated South to his iconic,… View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Kate Novack, Roger Ross Williams

Critics Consensus: Spike Lee’s energetic and clever bank-heist thriller is a smart genre film that is not only rewarding on its own terms, but manages to subvert its pulpy trappings with wit and skill.

Synopsis: A tough detective matches wits with a bank robber, while an enigmatic woman has her own agenda.

Starring: Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Willem Dafoe

Directed By: Spike Lee, Daniel M. Rosenberg

Critics Consensus: The warmth of traditional Disney animation makes this occasionally lightweight fairy-tale update a lively and captivating confection for the holidays.

Synopsis: Hardworking and ambitious, Tiana dreams of one day opening the finest restaurant in New Orleans. Her dream takes a slight detour when she meets Prince… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos, Keith David, Michael-Leon Wooley

Directed By: Ron Clements, John Musker, John Lasseter, Aghi Koh

Critics Consensus: A warm, family-friendly underdog story, featuring terrific supporting performances from Keke Palmer, Laurence Fishburne, and Angela Bassett.

Synopsis: Akeelah, an 11-year-old girl living in South Los Angeles, discovers she has a talent for spelling, which she hopes will take her to the National… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett, Keke Palmer, Curtis Armstrong

Directed By: Doug Atchison, Marc Butan, Mark Cuban, Michael Paseornek

Critics Consensus: Confident directing and acting deliver an insightful look at young athletes.

Synopsis: Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) are two childhood friends who both aspire to be professional basketball players. Quincy, whose father, Zeke (Dennis Haysbert),… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps, Alfre Woodard, Dennis Haysbert

Directed By: Gina Prince-Bythewood, Andrew Z. Davis, Cynthia Guidry, Jay Stern

Critics Consensus: Just Mercy dramatizes a real-life injustice with solid performances, a steady directorial hand, and enough urgency to overcome a certain degree of earnest advocacy.

Synopsis: After graduating from Harvard, Bryan Stevenson heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or those not afforded proper representation. One of his first cases… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Brie Larson, Rob Morgan

Directed By: Destin Daniel Cretton, Bryan Stevenson, Mike Drake, Niija Kuykendall

Critics Consensus: As smart, funny, and trenchant as writer-director-star Chris Rock’s best standup work, Top Five is a career highlight for its creator — and one of the comedy standouts of 2014.

Synopsis: Though he began in stand-up comedy, Andre Allen (Chris Rock) hit the big-time as the star of a trilogy of action-comedies about a talking bear…. View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson, Kevin Hart, Gabrielle Union

Directed By: Chris Rock, Tony Hernandez, Lila Yacoub

Critics Consensus: Somber and thought provoking, Monster’s Ball has great performances all around.

Synopsis: Hank, an embittered racist prison guard working on death row, begins an unlikely, emotionally charged sexual relationship with Leticia, a Black woman and wife of… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Halle Berry, Billy Bob Thornton, Heath Ledger, Peter Boyle

Directed By: Marc Forster, Michael Paseornek, Michael Burns, Mark Urman

Critics Consensus: A poignant tribute that satisfyingly moves the franchise forward, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever marks an ambitious and emotionally rewarding triumph for the MCU.

Synopsis: In Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje (including… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong'o, Tenoch Huerta

Directed By: Ryan Coogler, Victoria Alonso, Louis D'Esposito, Barry H. Waldman

Critics Consensus: Candyman takes an incisive, visually thrilling approach to deepening the franchise’s mythology — and terrifying audiences along the way.

Synopsis: For as long as residents can remember, the housing projects of Chicago’s Cabrini-Green neighborhood were terrorized by a word-of-mouth ghost story about a supernatural killer… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Colman Domingo

Directed By: Nia DaCosta, Shauna Bryan, Jason Cloth, Aaron L. Gilbert

Critics Consensus: An up-close look at one family’s emotional ups and downs, Waves captures complicated dynamics with tenderness and grace.

Synopsis: The epic emotional journey of a suburban African American family as they navigate love, forgiveness and coming together in the wake of a tragic loss.

Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., Taylor Russell, Sterling K. Brown, Lucas Hedges

Directed By: Trey Edward Shults, Jacob Jaffke

Critics Consensus: An innovative blend of samurai and gangster lifestyles.

Synopsis: Ghost Dog (Forest Whitaker) is a contract killer, a master of his trade who can whirl a gun at warp speed and moves through this… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Forest Whitaker, John Tormey, Cliff Gorman, Henry Silva

Directed By: Jim Jarmusch

Critics Consensus: The dances in Rize are electric even if the documentary doesn’t go that deeply into the performers’ lives.

Synopsis: Celebrated fashion photographer David LaChapelle makes his documentary filmmaking debut with a visually arresting film shot on the streets of Los Angeles’ gritty South Central… View Full Synopsis

Directed By: David LaChapelle, Ellen Jacobson, Ishbel Whitaker

Critics Consensus: Well-acted and visually stylish, Monsters and Men tells its timely story with enough compassion and complexity to make up for occasionally uneven execution.

Synopsis: Tensions rise when a young man records a police officer shooting a black motorist in a Brooklyn, N.Y., neighborhood.

Starring: John David Washington, Anthony Ramos, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Chanté Adams

Directed By: Reinaldo Marcus Green, Chiara Bernasconi, Leonid Lebedev, Oren Moverman

Critics Consensus: Languid and melancholy, George Washington is a carefully observed rumination on adolescence and rural life.

Synopsis: Set in the landscape of a rural southern town, George Washington is a stunning portrait of how a group of young kids come to grips… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Candace Evanofski, Donald Holden, Curtis Cotton III, Eddie Rouse

Directed By: David Gordon Green, Sam Froelich

Critics Consensus: Injecting a classic story with fresh innovation and social relevance, The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster is a thrillingly assured feature debut for writer-director Bomani J. Story.

Synopsis: Vicaria is a brilliant teenager who believes death is a disease that can be cured. After the brutal and sudden murder of her brother, she… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Laya DeLeon Hayes, Denzel Whitaker, Chad L. Coleman, Reilly Stith

Directed By: Bomani J. Story, Jeremy Elliott, Jasmine Johnson

Critics Consensus: Creed II‘s adherence to franchise formula adds up to a sequel with few true surprises, but its time-tested generational themes still pack a solid punch.

Synopsis: In 1985, Russian boxer Ivan Drago killed former U.S. champion Apollo Creed in a tragic match that stunned the world. Against the wishes of trainer… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad

Directed By: Steven Caple Jr., Ryan Coogler, Michael B. Jordan, Guy Riedel

Critics Consensus: Colman Domingo is sensational in Rustin, a stirring biopic that shines an overdue light on a remarkable legacy of public service.

Synopsis: The architect of 1963’s momentous March on Washington, Bayard Rustin was one of the greatest activists and organizers the world has ever known. He challenged… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Colman Domingo, Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, Audra McDonald

Directed By: George C. Wolfe, David Permut, Alex G. Scott, Daniel Sladek

Critics Consensus: Hustle & Flow is gritty and redemptive, with a profound sense of place and exciting music.

Synopsis: DJay is a pimp living day to day on the tough streets of Memphis, Tennessee. Pushing 40, he’s tired of the life he’s living and… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Terrence Howard, Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning, Taraji P. Henson

Directed By: Craig Brewer, Dwight Williams

Critics Consensus: It doesn’t add many new ingredients to the genre, but action fans in the mood for an old-school thriller will be happy to buy what Copshop is selling.

Synopsis: On the run from a lethal assassin, a wily con artist devises a scheme to hide out inside a small-town police station–but when the hitman… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Gerard Butler, Frank Grillo, Alexis Louder, Toby Huss

Directed By: Joe Carnahan, Robert Simonds, Adam Fogelson, John Friedberg

Critics Consensus: Thanks to smart direction and a powerhouse performance from Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Beyond the Lights transcends its formulaic storyline to deliver thoroughly entertaining drama.

Synopsis: Though she’s been groomed for stardom all her life by an overbearing mother (Minnie Driver), singer Noni (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is having trouble dealing with her… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nate Parker, Minnie Driver, Danny Glover

Directed By: Gina Prince-Bythewood, Tucker Tooley, Matt Alvarez, Robbie Brenner

Critics Consensus: A grounded superhero story with more on its mind than punching bad guys, Fast Color leaps over uneven execution with a singular Gugu Mbatha-Raw performance.

Synopsis: Hunted by mysterious forces, a young woman who has supernatural abilities must go on the run when her powers are discovered. With nowhere else to… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Lorraine Toussaint, Saniyya Sidney, David Strathairn

Directed By: Julia Hart, Michael Glassman, Jennifer Monroe, Alison Semenza King

Critics Consensus: A loving and meticulous send-up of 1970s blaxsploitation movies, Black Dynamite is funny enough for the frat house and clever enough for film buffs.

Synopsis: After The Man kills his brother and poisons the neighborhood with tainted liquor, a kung fu fighter (Michael Jai White) wages a war that takes… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael Jai White, Kym Whitley, Tommy Davidson, Kevin Chapman

Directed By: Scott Sanders, James Berkeley, Deanna Berkeley

Critics Consensus: Detroit delivers a gut-wrenching — and essential — dramatization of a tragic chapter from America’s past that draws distressing parallels to the present.

Synopsis: In the summer of 1967, rioting and civil unrest starts to tear apart the city of Detroit. Two days later, a report of gunshots prompts… View Full Synopsis

Starring: John Boyega, Will Poulter, Algee Smith, Jacob Latimore

Directed By: Kathryn Bigelow, Greg Shapiro, Hugo Lindgren

Critics Consensus: Stylish, provocative, and powerful, Queen & Slim tells a gripping fugitive story steeped in timely, thoughtful subtext.

Synopsis: Slim and Queen’s first date takes an unexpected turn when a policeman pulls them over for a minor traffic violation. When the situation escalates, Slim… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Jodie Turner-Smith, Bokeem Woodbine, Chloë Sevigny

Directed By: Melina Matsoukas, Pamela Hirsch, Daniel Kaluuya, Aaron L. Gilbert

Critics Consensus: Chi-Raq is as urgently topical and satisfyingly ambitious as it is wildly uneven — and it contains some of Spike Lee’s smartest, sharpest, and all-around entertaining late-period work.

Synopsis: The girlfriend (Teyonah Parris) of a Chicago gang leader (Nick Cannon) persuades other frustrated women to abstain from sex until their men agree to end… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Nick Cannon, Wesley Snipes, Teyonah Parris, Jennifer Hudson

Directed By: Spike Lee, Jon Kilik, Kevin Willmott

Critics Consensus: Besides bringing on the laughs, Barbershop displays a big heart and demonstrates the value of community.

Synopsis: A smart comedy about a day in the life of a barbershop on the south side of Chicago. Calvin (Ice Cube), who inherited the struggling… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ice Cube, Anthony Anderson, Cedric the Entertainer, Sean Patrick Thomas

Directed By: Tim Story, Matt Alvarez, Larry Kennar

Critics Consensus: Building on the legacy of the previous film adaptation while incorporating elements of the stage musical, The Color Purple is a crowd-pleasing testament to resilience in the face of trauma.

Synopsis: A story of love and resilience based on the novel and the Broadway musical, THE COLOR PURPLE is a decades-spanning tale of one woman’s journey… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins

Directed By: Blitz Bazawule, Alice Walker, Rebecca Walker, Kristie Macosko Krieger

Critics Consensus: American Gangster is a gritty and entertaining throwback to classic gangster films, with its lead performers firing on all cylinders.

Synopsis: Frank Lucas earns his living as a chauffeur to one of Harlem’s leading mobsters. After his boss dies, Frank uses his own ingenuity and strict… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cuba Gooding Jr.

Directed By: Ridley Scott, Steven Zaillian, Nicholas Pileggi, Branko Lustig

Critics Consensus: 42 is an earnest, inspirational, and respectfully told biography of an influential American sports icon, though it might be a little too safe and old-fashioned for some.

Synopsis: In 1946, Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford), legendary manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, defies major league baseball’s notorious color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman)… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, Nicole Beharie, Christopher Meloni

Directed By: Brian Helgeland, Dick Cook, Jon Jashni, Jason Clark

Critics Consensus: Essentially a sports movie with drums, the energetic Drumline somehow manages to make the familiar seem fresh.

Synopsis: Set against the high-energy, high-stakes world of show-style marching bands, “Drumline” is a fish-out-of-water comedy about a talented street drummer from Harlem who enrolls in… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Nick Cannon, Zoe Saldaña, Orlando Jones, Leonard Roberts

Directed By: Charles Stone III, Dallas Austin, Greg Mooradian

Critics Consensus: An engrossing and energetic portrait of a great musician’s achievements and foibles, Ray is anchored by Jamie Foxx’s stunning performance as Ray Charles.

Synopsis: Legendary soul musician Ray Charles is portrayed by Jamie Foxx in this Oscar-winning biopic. Young Ray watches his 7-year-old brother drown at age seven. When… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Regina King, Clifton Powell

Directed By: Taylor Hackford

Critics Consensus: With an unforgettable Chadwick Boseman in the starring role, Get On Up offers the Godfather of Soul a fittingly dynamic homage.

Synopsis: James Brown was born in extreme poverty in 1933 South Carolina and survived abandonment, abuse and jail to become one of the most influential musicians… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd, Viola Davis

Directed By: Tate Taylor, Jez Butterworth, Peter Afterman, Trish Hofmann

Critics Consensus: Marshall takes an illuminating, well-acted look at its real-life subject’s early career that also delivers as an entertainingly old-fashioned courtroom drama.

Synopsis: Young Thurgood Marshall faces one of his greatest challenges while working as a lawyer for the NAACP. Marshall travels to conservative Connecticut when wealthy socialite… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Josh Gad, Kate Hudson, Sterling K. Brown

Directed By: Reginald Hudlin, Lei Luo, Yan Xu, Chris Bongirne

Critics Consensus: Boasting visual marvels to match its ambitious and inclusive story, Wendell & Wild is a spooky treat for budding horror fans.

Synopsis: From the delightfully wicked minds of Henry Selick and Jordan Peele, comes Wendell & Wild, an animated tale about scheming demon brothers Wendell (Keegan-Michael Key)… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Lyric Ross, Angela Bassett

Directed By: Henry Selick

Critics Consensus: With ingeniously gross hidden-camera bits that often find their unsuspecting marks at their best, Bad Trip turns out to be a surprisingly uplifting ride.

Synopsis: Hidden cameras capture two best friends pulling hilarious and inventive pranks on an unsuspecting public.

Starring: Eric André, Lil Rel Howery, Tiffany Haddish, Michaela Conlin

Directed By: Kitao Sakurai, Aaron L. Gilbert, Shanna Zablow, Jason Cloth

Critics Consensus: Dreamgirls‘ simple characters and plot hardly detract from the movie’s real feats: the electrifying performances and the dazzling musical numbers.

Synopsis: Deena (Beyoncé Knowles), Effie (Jennifer Hudson) and Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose) form a music trio called the Dreamettes. When ambitious manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé, Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Hudson

Directed By: Bill Condon, Patricia Whitcher

Critics Consensus: Keanu‘s absurd premise and compulsively watchable starring duo add up to an agreeably fast-paced comedy that hits more than enough targets to make up for the misses.

Synopsis: Recently dumped by his girlfriend, slacker Rell finds some happiness when a cute kitten winds up on his doorstep. After a heartless thief steals the… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Tiffany Haddish, Method Man

Directed By: Peter Atencio

Critics Consensus: Washington’s directing debut is a solidly crafted, emotionally touching work.

Synopsis: The touching story of a sailor (Derek Luke) who, prone to violent outbursts, is sent to a naval psychiatrist (Denzel Washington) for help. Refusing at… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Derek Luke, Joy Bryant, Denzel Washington, Salli Richardson-Whitfield

Directed By: Denzel Washington, Nancy Paloian

Critics Consensus: With the magnetic Jharrel Jerome as its champion, Unstoppable is an inspirational sports story that honestly earns audiences’ cheers.

Synopsis: Unstoppable is the inspiring true story of Anthony Robles (Jharrel Jerome) who was born with one leg but whose indomitable spirit and unbreakable resolve empowered… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jharrel Jerome, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, Don Cheadle

Directed By: William Goldenberg

Critics Consensus: Loaded up with action and a double helping of leading-man charisma, Bad Boys for Life reinvigorates this long-dormant franchise by playing squarely to its strengths.

Synopsis: The wife and son of a Mexican drug lord embark on a vengeful quest to kill all those involved in his trial and imprisonment –… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Jacob Scipio

Directed By: Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah, Bill Bannerman, James Lassiter

Critics Consensus: It can be didactic rather than truly suspenseful, but Master is an impressively well-crafted horror outing with a lot on its mind.

Synopsis: At an elite New England university built on the site of a Salem-era gallows hill, three women strive to find their place. Navigating politics and… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Regina Hall, Zoe Renee, Talia Ryder, Talia Balsam

Directed By: Mariama Diallo, Regina Hall, Mariama Diallo, Sophia Lin

Critics Consensus: Chiwetel Ejiofor acquits himself well as a writer-director with Rob Peace, a solid and steady drama that enlivens standard clichés with compelling performances.

Synopsis: Directed, adapted by, and starring Academy Award® nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 YEARS A SLAVE), ROB PEACE follows the true story of a brilliant young man… View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jay Will, Mary J. Blige, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Gbenga Akinnagbe

Directed By: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mary J. Blige, Morgan Earnest, Luke Rodgers