From Marvel to Shakespeare, there are a lot of exciting Black movies coming to the theaters and streaming platforms in 2022. In celebration of National Black Movie Day, we’re listing the top ten films to watch this year, that headline the best of Black Hollywood.
‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’
Maybe the most anticipated movie of the year, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be part of MCU’s phase four. The sequel to the 2018 box office hit will not feature its main star, Chadwick Boseman who passed away in 2020. But the new movie is expected to honor the late actor’s legacy. There’s also a petition to recast Marvel’s first Black superhero character.
Lupita Nyong’o tweeted a picture of the Black Panther cast to celebrate the movie’s 4th anniversary.
Greetings from Wakanda! Happy 4th anniversary to #BlackPanther. ????? pic.twitter.com/ueDBVyVQQt
— Lupita Nyong’o (@Lupita_Nyongo) February 16, 2022
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Production is taking place in Atlanta. Although King T’challa will be missing, this movie will no doubt have us praising the ancestors and open the door for more Wakandan stories.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is slated to premiere in theaters on Nov. 11, 2022.
‘Doctor Strange: Into the Multiverse of Madness’
Staying in the Marvel universe, Chiwetel Ejiofor will return for the Doctor Strange sequel. After Doctor Stephen Strange casts a spell that unleashes the multiverse, he now has to face some of the biggest threats to humanity, including an alternate version of himself. Ejiofor will play ally-turned villain Mordo.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWzlQ2N6qqg]
Doctor Strange: Into the Multiverse of Madness is slated to premiere in theaters on May 6.
‘Alice’
Keke Palmer headlines this thriller movie directed by Krystin Ver Linden. Alice is about an enslaved person longing for freedom on a Georgia plantation. After escaping through the woods, she stumbles through time into the year 1973. After meeting a disillusioned political activist, she confronts the lies that have kept her from liberation. The movie also stars Common and Sinqua Walls.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YlQa7j0BTU]
Alice hit theaters on March 18.
‘Nope’
If you liked Jordan Peele’s Get Out and Us, then his latest project, Nope will be right down your alley. The horror plot follows residents of an isolated town who witness a mysterious and abnormal event. It stars Keke Palmer and Daniel Kaluuya.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In8fuzj3gck]
Nope premieres in theaters on July 22.
‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’
Denzel Washington stars in William Shakespeare’s tragedy as Macbeth, the Scottish lord is told that he will be the King of Scotland by three witches. The role has earned him his 10th Oscar nomination and is now the most nominated Black actor in Oscar history. Corey Hawkins also stars in the black and white thriller.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4QuYWz84Ck]’
Watch The Tragedy of Macbeth, rated R, on Apple TV.
‘A Journal for Jordan’
Directed by Denzel Washington, Michael B. Jordan plays a sergeant deployed overseas in combat zones who begins writing a journal of love and advice for his newborn son Jordan. Chante Adams also stars in the movie as Jordan’s love interest. The drama/romance is based on the true story of 1st Sgt. Charles Monroe King.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOzrXqf5pvE]
Watch A Journal for Jordan, rated PG-13, on Amazon Prime, YouTube and Apple TV.
‘Swan Song’
When a father and husband are diagnosed with a terminal illness, he is presented with an experimental solution to shield his wife and son from grief–a carbon copy clone. The movie stars Mahershala Ali and Naomi Harris.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxftqrrlSqc]
Watch Swan Song, rated R, on Apple TV.
‘The Batman’
After Gotham City is terrorized by a sadistic serial killer, The Riddler, Batman is forced to play a game of cat and mouse. Twilight’s Robert Pattinson plays the capped crusader and Zoe Kravitz is his leading lady. Also starring in the movie is Jeffrey Wright.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqqft2x_Aa4]T
The Batman premieres in theaters on March 4.
The Woman King
Inspired by true events that took place in The Kingdom of Dahomey, one of the most powerful states of West Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries, Viola Davis plays Nanisca, the general of the all-female military unit.
She leads her army against colonizing enemies who have enslaved their people and threatened to destroy everything they’ve lived for. The Woman King also stars Lashana Lynch, John Boyega, Adrienne Warren, Sheila Atim, Jayme Lawson, and Hero Fiennes Tiffin.
Davis is also starring in Showtime’s television series, The First Lady, which explores the lives of the women married to three US presidents. The Oscar-winning actress will portray First Lady Michelle Obama in the 10-part series. It premieres on April 17.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCxwV5KyKOA]
The Woman King premieres in theaters on Sept. 16.
Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy
From the college dropout to Ye, the documentary film directed by Coodie & Chike explores the life and musical accomplishments of Kanye West. The docuseries also includes home clips, including those of West’s mother, Donda, who died of coronary artery disease in 2007.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvb-1wjAtk4]
Watch Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy on Netflix.
