What To Watch If You Love 'The Help'
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Vote up the movies and shows that fans of 'The Help' are sure to love.
- Photo: Hidden Figures / 20th Century Fox
For fans of: Octavia Spencer movies
Hidden Figures is an inspiring drama that recounts the untold story of three African-American women working at NASA during the 1960s Space Race. Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) serve as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit. A stirring exploration of race, gender, and scientific innovation, this film illuminates their pivotal roles in a monumental event. Having won multiple awards, Hidden Figures is a testament to these unsung heroes whose calculations helped catapult mankind into space. - Photo: Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker
For fans of: historical TV dramas with Octavia Spencer
Exploring the remarkable journey of a trailblazing entrepreneur, Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker delves into the life of America's first self-made female millionaire. The limited series, which has received critical acclaim for its compelling storytelling, showcases the tenacity and determination of Sarah Breedlove (Octavia Spencer), who overcame numerous obstacles to build a haircare empire. Set against the backdrop of the early 20th century, the show masterfully blends historical context with dramatic flair, earning praise for its performances, particularly that of Spencer. Self Made not only tells an inspiring story but also sheds light on the often overlooked contributions of African American women in history. - Photo: On the Basis of Sex
For fans of: strong female leads
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a struggling attorney and new mother who faces adversity and numerous obstacles in her fight for equal rights. When Ruth takes on a groundbreaking tax case with her husband, attorney Martin Ginsburg, she knows it could change the direction of her career and the way the courts view gender discrimination.More On the Basis of Sex
- Photo: The Secret Life of Bees / Fox Searchlight
For fans of: movie adaptations of books
Haunted by memories of her late mother and abused by her father (Paul Bettany), 14-year-old Lily Owens (Dakota Fanning) runs away with her friend and caregiver Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson) to the South Carolina town that holds the key to her mother's past. There, Lily meets the Boatwright sisters (Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo), who take her in and teach her about beekeeping, honey, and the Black Madonna. Lily also discovers that the truth about her mother is closer than she thinks.- #88 of 133 onThe Most Utterly Depressing Movies Ever Made
- #103 of 472 onThe Best Black Movies Ever Made, Ranked
- #45 of 106 onGreat Movies That Take Place In The '60s
- Photo: The United States vs. Billie Holiday
For fans of: Oscar nominated black dramas
The Federal Bureau of Narcotics launches an undercover sting operation against jazz singer Billie Holiday.- #66 of 89 onThe Greatest African American Biopics Of All Time, Ranked
- #343 of 472 onThe Best Black Movies Ever Made, Ranked
- #32 of 137 onThe 100+ Best Movies With Black Female Leads
- Photo: Selma / 20th Century Fox
For fans of: historical drama movies
Selma is a stirring historical drama, capturing the pivotal moment in American history when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) led the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. The march was a campaign for equal voting rights that faced violent opposition, yet resulted in President Lyndon B. Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. Directed by Ava DuVernay, Selma won an Oscar for Best Original Song and was nominated for Best Picture. This film depicts a key chapter in U.S. history with a spellbinding mix of passion and political intrigue.More Selma- #10 of 85 onGreat Historical Black Movies Based On True Stories
- #124 of 165 onThe Best Political Films Of All Time
- #58 of 106 onGreat Movies That Take Place In The '60s
- Photo: Bessie
For fans of: historical black icons
Blues singer Bessie Smith (Queen Latifah) rises to fame in the 1920s to become a musical legend.More Bessie- #223 of 240 onThe 200+ Best Movies Based On A True Story
- #58 of 89 onThe Greatest African American Biopics Of All Time, Ranked
- #43 of 85 onGreat Historical Black Movies Based On True Stories
- Photo: Insecure
For fans of: Black female-led tv shows
Two black women share friendship and uncomfortable experiences.More Insecure- #23 of 55 onThe 50+ Best HBO Comedies, Ranked
- #19 of 93 onThe Best Comedy Shows On Max, Right Now
- #20 of 98 onThe 90+ Best Black TV Shows Of All Time
- Photo: Fences
For fans of: Viola Davis movies
Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington) makes his living as a sanitation worker in 1950s Pittsburgh. Maxson once dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player, but was deemed too old when the major leagues began admitting black athletes. Bitter over his missed opportunity, Troy creates further tension in his family when he squashes his son's (Jovan Adepo) chance to meet a college football recruiter.More Fences- #252 of 472 onThe Best Black Movies Ever Made, Ranked
- #24 of 120 onThe Best Movies Based On Plays
- #67 of 137 onThe 100+ Best Movies With Black Female Leads
- Photo: The Butler / Lantern Entertainment
For fans of: historical fiction movies
After leaving the South as a young man and finding employment at an elite hotel in Washington, D.C., Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker) gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he is hired as a butler at the White House. Over the course of three decades, Cecil has a front-row seat to history and the inner workings of the Oval Office. However, his commitment to his "First Family" leads to tension at home, alienating his wife (Oprah Winfrey) and causing conflict with his anti-establishment son.More The Butler- #146 of 240 onThe 200+ Best Movies Based On A True Story
- #5 of 85 onGreat Historical Black Movies Based On True Stories
- #133 of 472 onThe Best Black Movies Ever Made, Ranked
- Photo: Waiting to Exhale / 20th Century Fox
For fans of: black ensemble casts
Navigating through careers, family and romance, four friends bond over the shortcomings in their love lives -- namely, the scarcity of good men. Both as the "other woman," Savannah (Whitney Houston) and Robin (Lela Rochon) carry on relationships with married men, each believing their lovers will leave their wives for them. On the flip side, Bernadine (Angela Bassett) ends up alone when her husband divorces her for his mistress. Meanwhile, Gloria (Loretta Devine) finds love with a new neighbor.More Waiting to Exhale- #74 of 90 onThe Best Movies Of 1995
- #318 of 473 onThe 400+ Best Chick Flicks Ever
- #19 of 472 onThe Best Black Movies Ever Made, Ranked
- Photo: Sylvie's Love / Amazon Studios
For fans of: historical romantic drama movies
Sylvie's Love is a 2020 American romantic drama film directed by Eugene Ashe. A woman working at her father's record store in Harlem in the late 1950s meets an aspiring saxophone player. - Photo: Juanita / Netflix13
For fans of: black drama films
Juanita is a 2019 American drama film, directed by Clark Johnson, based on the novel Dancing on the Edge of the Roof by Sheila Williams. Fed up with her deadbeat grown kids and marginal urban existence, Juanita (Alfre Woodard) takes a Greyhound bus to Paper Moon, Montana where she reinvents herself and finds her mojo.More Juanita- #17 of 27 onThe Best Movies About a Midlife Crisis in Women
- #41 of 65 onThe Best Netflix Original Movies of 2019, Ranked
- #29 of 36 onThe Best "Netflix and Chill" Movies Available Now
- Photo: For Colored Girls / Lionsgate
For fans of: ensemble drama movies
In New York, a group of black women, most of whom live in the same Harlem apartment building, faces personal crises, heartbreak and other challenges. Crystal (Kimberly Elise) faces an unhappy existence as an abused lover. Jo (Janet Jackson) is a successful magazine editor, but her husband has a secret double life. Juanita (Loretta Devine) is a relationship counselor but cannot seem to get her love life in order. These three and others become bound together by their experiences.More For Colored Girls- #99 of 472 onThe Best Black Movies Ever Made, Ranked
- #46 of 137 onThe 100+ Best Movies With Black Female Leads
- #67 of 84 onThe 75 Best Black Romance Movies
- Photo: Netflix
For fans of: Viola Davis in historical drama movies
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is a 2020 American drama film directed by George C. Wolfe, based on the 1982 play by August Wilson. During a recording session, tensions rise between "Mother of the Blues," Ma Rainey (Viola Davis), her ambitious horn player (Chadwick Boseman), and the white management. - Photo: Harriet16
For fans of: Oscar nominated biopics
From her escape from slavery through the dangerous missions she led to liberate hundreds of slaves through the Underground Railroad, the story of heroic abolitionist Harriet Tubman is told.More Harriet- #37 of 89 onThe Greatest African American Biopics
- #34 of 80 onGreat Historical Black Movies Based On True Stories
- #77 of 79 onGreat Period Movies Set in the 19th Century
- Photo: Mudbound17
Mudbound
For fans of: historical black dramas
Laura McAllan is trying to raise her children on her husband's Mississippi Delta farm, a place she finds foreign and frightening. In the midst of the family's struggles, two young men return from the war to work the land. Jamie McAllan, Laura's brother-in-law, is everything her husband is not - charming and handsome, but he is haunted by his memories of combat. Ronsel Jackson, eldest son of the black sharecroppers who live on the McAllan farm, now battles the prejudice in the Jim Crow South.More Mudbound- #29 of 85 onGreat Historical Black Movies Based On True Stories
- #348 of 472 onThe Best Black Movies Ever Made, Ranked
- #58 of 79 onGreat Period Movies Set in the 19th Century
- Photo: Loving / Focus Features18
For fans of: romantic drama movies
Loving is a 2016 historical drama film written and directed by Jeff Nichols. It features Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga as Richard and Mildred Loving, the plaintiffs in the 1967 U.S. Supreme Court decision Loving v. Virginia, which invalidated state laws prohibiting interracial marriage. It was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. The film was released in the United States on November 4, 2016, by Focus Features.More Loving - Photo: Queen Sugar
For fans of: TV shows that take place in the south
In the heart of Louisiana lies a gripping family drama, where the complexities of life are untangled through the lens of the Bordelon siblings. Queen Sugar, a critically acclaimed series, has garnered attention for its poignant storytelling and exceptional ensemble cast. As viewers follow the journey of Nova (Rutina Wesley), Charley (Dawn-Lyen Gardner), and Ralph Angel (Kofi Siriboe), they witness the struggles and triumphs of these characters amidst the backdrop of their family's sugarcane farm. With an array of accolades, including NAACP Image Awards, the show's authentic portrayal of contemporary issues continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.More Queen Sugar- #225 of 409 onThe Best TV Shows Returning In 2022
- #46 of 95 onThe 90+ Best Black TV Shows Of All Time
- #25 of 70 onThe Best TV Shows with Non-White Stars
- Photo: Beauty Shop / MGM Pictures
For fans of: black ensemble movies
Far from Chicago, hairdresser Gina Norris (Queen Latifah) has relocated to Atlanta with her daughter (Paige Hurd) and has quickly established herself as a rare talent in her profession. But after repeatedly butting heads with her shady, over-the-top boss, Jorge (Kevin Bacon), Norris sets out to create her own salon -- even snagging a few of Jorge's employees and clients, including Lynn (Alicia Silverstone) and Terri (Andie MacDowell), respectively. Now, Jorge will do anything to shut her down.More Beauty Shop- #451 of 703 onThe All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
- #110 of 472 onThe Best Black Movies Ever Made, Ranked
- #44 of 137 onThe 100+ Best Movies With Black Female Leads
- Photo: Watchmen21
Watchmen
For fans of: socially conscious tv shows
In an alternate history, superheroes are treated as outlaws.More Watchmen- #27 of 685 onThe 600+ Best TV Shows Of The Last 5 Years
- #12 of 305 onThe Best Shows Canceled After a Single Season
- #7 of 142 onThe Best New HBO Shows of the Last Few Years
- Photo: Betty and Coretta / Lifetime22
Betty and Coretta
For fans of: movies about civil rights
Betty and Coretta is a 2013 biographical drama film directed by Yves Simoneau. Coretta Scott King and Dr Betty Shabazz develop a friendship after the tragic deaths of their husbands; Dr Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X and through their strength and dignity they carried on the civil rights movement becoming role models for millions of women all over the world. - Photo: The Color of Friendship / Disney Channel Original Movies
For fans of: movies about friendship
In 1977, two girls from opposite sides of the world come together and change each other's lives. Young, white Mahree Bok (Lindsey Haun) lives in apartheid South Africa with her wealthy family. Piper Dellums (Shadia Simmons), the daughter of a black U.S. congressman in Washington, D.C., prepares to welcome Mahree to the U.S. for a semester abroad. Mahree is surprised to find her host family is black, and Piper is stunned that Mahree is white. Each will have to question the assumptions she had. - Photo: Dream Girls / Paramount Pictures
For fans of: musical drama films
Dreamgirls is a musical drama that unfurls the rise of an all-female singing trio, the Dreams. Effie White (Jennifer Hudson), Deena Jones (Beyonce Knowles), and Lorrell Robinson (Anika Noni Rose) navigate the turbulent waters of fame, managed by Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx). The journey to stardom is fraught with heartbreaks and betrayals, underpinned by a captivating rhythm of Motown soul. Directed by Bill Condon, this film won two Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actress for Hudson's powerful portrayal of Effie. Noteworthy are its dazzling costumes and unforgettable songs, anchoring the narrative in the vibrant era of 1960s music scene.More Dreamgirls- Dig Deeper...Every Song in Dreamgirls, Ranked by Singability
- #104 of 204 onMusical Movies With The Best Songs
- #23 of 89 onThe Greatest African American Biopics Of All Time, Ranked
- Photo: Roots / History Channel25
Roots
For fans of: historical drama TV shows
Roots is a 2016 American miniseries and a remake of the 1977 miniseries with the same name, based on Alex Haley's 1976 novel, Roots: The Saga of an American Family. It traces an African-American family from the time of slavery in Africa to the American Civil War. - Photo: Driving Miss Daisy / Warner Bros. PicturesDriving Miss Daisy, a drama set in the mid-20th century American South, chronicles the unlikely friendship between an elderly Jewish woman and her African-American chauffeur. Daisy Werthan (Jessica Tandy), a stern widow, finds her life intertwined with Hoke Colburn's (Morgan Freeman) after a driving mishap. Over two decades, their bond deepens against the backdrop of racial tensions and societal changes. The film won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Tandy. Director Bruce Beresford presents this poignant narrative with understated grace, focusing on character development and social commentary.More Driving Miss Daisy
- Dig Deeper...Movies That Won Best Picture at the Oscars and Golden Globes
- #50 of 96 onThe Very Best Oscar-Winning Movies For Best Picture
- #168 of 399 onThe Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
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For fans of: black female led movies
Clemency is a 2019 American drama film directed by Chinonye Chukwu. A Death Row prison warden, Bernadine Williams (Alfre Woodard) makes a connection to the prisoner she is sanctioned to execute.More Clemency- #435 of 460 onThe Best Black Movies Ever Made, Ranked
- #40 of 97 onMovies About Racism Against Black People
- #21 of 42 onThe Best Sundance Grand Jury Prize Winners
- Photo: The Long Walk Home / Miramax Films28
The Long Walk Home
For fans of: movies about civil rights
Odessa Carter (Whoopi Goldberg) needs to get to work as a nanny in the home of the affluent Miriam Thompson (Sissy Spacek), but she refuses to take the bus. Odessa is participating in the Montgomery bus boycott, protesting against the inequality between blacks and whites, so Miriam decides to offer Odessa a ride to work every day. Though the community and Miriam's husband (Dwight Schultz) insist she not get involved, the relationship between Miriam and Odessa has already changed for the better. - Photo: Custody / Lucky Monkey Pictures29
For fans of: drama movies featuring Viola Davis
Custody is a 2016 American courtroom drama film directed by James Lapine. When a hard-working single mother has her children taken away after she is suspected of injuring her son, a recent law school graduate is assigned to represent her case before Judge Martha Schulman (Viola Davis), a veteran of the Family Court System. - Photo: Green Book
For fans of: Oscar winning dramas
In the multi-award-winning film Green Book, Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen), a bouncer from an Italian-American neighborhood in the Bronx, is hired to drive Dr. Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali), a world-class African-American pianist, on a concert tour across the Deep South in 1962. The mismatched pair navigate their way through racial tension and societal norms using the Green Book - a travel guide for safe travel through America's racial segregation. Their journey unfolds into an unexpected camaraderie that transcends their differences, offering a poignant snapshot of an era riddled with prejudice. With its compelling narrative and exceptional performances, Green Book won the Best Picture at the 91st Academy Awards.
