When it comes to “best movies” lists, Black films are too often sidelined or treated as add-ons. Recently, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDB all released their picks for the greatest films of the century. What they left out? The lens of how Black audiences watch, celebrate, and create cinema.
Now, the Black Movie Hall of Fame (BMHOF) has stepped in to change that. Partnering with more than 40 of the world’s leading Black film critics and entertainment reporters, the BMHOF has ranked the 100 Best Black Movies of All Time—and the list is as joy-filled as the culture itself.
“Every film on the list is about the Black experience and curated entirely by Black film critics and entertainment journalists. It’s a list from a completely different perspective than you usually see.”
Shawn Edwards, executive director of the Black Movie Hall of Fame.
Who’s Behind the List?
The list was spearheaded by Edwards, a longtime film critic at WDAF-TV (Fox 4 Kansas City) and co-founder of the African American Film Critics Association. He was joined by a powerhouse panel including:
- Gil Robertson (AAFCA)
- Aramide Tinubu (Variety)
- Lee Thomas (WJBK-TV Detroit)
- Destiny Jackson (Deadline)
- Emmanuel Noisette (E-Man’s Reviews)
- Jasmine Simpkins (KTLA Los Angeles)
- Wilson Morales (BlackFilmandTV.com)
- Kevin Frazier (Entertainment Tonight)
…and dozens of other influential Black voices in film criticism.
The Top 10
- Malcolm X (1992)
- Black Panther (2018)
- Do the Right Thing (1989)
- The Color Purple (1985)
- Moonlight (2016)
- Claudine (1974)
- 12 Years a Slave (2013)
- Get Out (2017)
- Sinners (2025)
- Carmen Jones (1954)
The top ten spans almost a century of Black storytelling—from Carmen Jones bringing Dorothy Dandridge to the big screen in 1954, to Sinners (Ryan Coogler’s 2025 Afrofuturist saga) cementing itself as an instant classic.
Fun Facts That Tell the Story
- The oldest movie on the list: Within Our Gates (1920).
- The newest: Sinners (2025).
- Spike Lee dominates with five titles.
- Sidney Poitier leads the actors with six films.
- Denzel Washington appears in four.
- There are nine women-directed films, six documentaries, and even two animated entries (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and The Princess and the Frog).
- Euzhan Palcy is the only woman with multiple directing credits.
- Melvin and Mario Van Peebles are the only father-son director duo.
Beyond the Numbers: Critics’ Top 10s
Each participating critic also shared their personal “Top 10” list, reflecting deeply personal connections to the stories that shaped them.
“I chose films that made me feel something in the reflection of my Blackness,” said Tyra Martin of WGN-TV. “And films that reminded me of the impact I have in this country, because of my Blackness.”
Why This Matters
Black cinema has always been about more than entertainment. From Oscar Micheaux’s Within Our Gates (1920) to Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight (2016), these films have chronicled history, reimagined possibility, and given voice to the fullness of the Black experience.
Lists like this one re-center that legacy. They remind us that Black audiences and storytellers deserve to see our stories ranked, remembered, and respected.
What’s Next
The Black Movie Hall of Fame will open its doors on February 28, 2026, in Kansas City’s historic 18th & Vine Jazz District. The Boone Theater will house the museum, offering interactive exhibits and tributes to the pioneers who shaped the art form.
Until then, the top 100 list is live and ready to inspire debates, rewatches, and syllabus updates.
See the full list of all 100 films here: Black Movie Hall of Fame Top 100.
Cover photo: Black Critics Just Dropped the Definitive List of the 100 Best Black Movies Ever / Credit: Warner Bros. Dicovery
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