African-American cinema – Stream On Demand

Denzel Washington and Viola Davis star in the Oscar-winning film

Oscar-winner ‘Fences’ on Netflix and Paramount+

!Featured, Academy Award, African-American cinema, African-American filmmakers, BAFTA winner, based on a play, Black History, Blu-ray, drama, DVD, Netflix, Paramount+, stage adaptation, Streaming Movies, SVOD 09/21/2023 Sean Axmaker

Denzel Washington directs and stars in the screen adaptation of the acclaimed August Wilson play, reprising his role from the 2010 stage revival along with costars Viola Davis, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Russell Hornsby, and Mykelti Williamson.

Miguel Sandoval, Spike Lee, and Ossie Davis

Spike Lee’s ‘Do The Right Thing’ on Criterion Channel

!Featured, Academy Award nominee, African-American cinema, African-American filmmakers, American Independent Cinema, Blu-ray, Criterion Channel, drama, DVD, Essential Viewing, National Film Registry, Sight & Sound 100 Greatest Films of All Time, socially aware cinema, Streaming Movies, SVOD 09/02/2023 Sean Axmaker

Spike Lee’s vibrant, vital, thoroughly accomplished third feature is a provocative and intelligent exploration of race and racism that opens with a call to action and ends with a ferocious cry in the face of injustice.

Pam Grier stars in 'Foxy Brown' and 'Coffy,' directed by Jack Hill.

Pam Grier is ‘Coffy’ and ‘Foxy Brown’ on Paramount+

!Featured, African-American cinema, American Independent Cinema, Black History, Blu-ray, Classic Movie, Crime, Cult Movies, DVD, Paramount+, SVOD, thriller 07/06/2023 Sean Axmaker

Grier became a leading lady and a seventies icon in these two ‘blaxpoitation’ classics directed by Jack Hill.

‘Black Dynamite’ vs. Kung Fu Island on Hulu and Prime Video

!Featured, Action, African-American cinema, Amazon Prime Video, American Independent Cinema, Blu-ray, Comedy, Cult Movies, DVD, Hulu, satire, Streaming Movies, SVOD 07/01/2023 Sean Axmaker

This tongue-in-cheek tribute to the black exploitation action cinema of the seventies is a dead-on parody of the sloppy filmmaking of the cheapest films of the genre.

Chris Rock and Rosario Dawson in Rock's 'Top Five.'

Chris Rock’s ‘Top Five’ on Prime Video, Paramount+ and MGM+

!Featured, African-American cinema, Amazon Prime Video, Blu-ray, Comedy, DVD, Have You Seen...?, MGM+, Paramount+, Streaming Movies, SVOD 05/30/2023 Sean Axmaker

Rosario Dawson costars in this witty and warn dramedy of the business of entertainment, celebrity behind the comedy, and midlife-crisis for a once-hot comedian attempting a career comeback.

Justin Simien's satire Dear White People on Amazon Prime

‘Dear White People’ – a sharp social satire on Peacock

!Featured, African-American cinema, American Independent Cinema, Blu-ray, DVD, Film Independent Spirit Awards, Have You Seen...?, Peacock, satire, Streaming Movies, Sundance Winner, SVOD, young adult 05/15/2023 Sean Axmaker

The feature debut of director / writer Justin Simien, is a sharp, smart, ambitious satire of race, racism, privilege, prejudice, and power at an Ivy League college.

‘The Harder They Come’ – Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican outlaw, on Peacock and Criterion Channel

!Featured, African-American cinema, Blu-ray, Crime, Criterion, Criterion Channel, Cult Movies, DVD, Free, Hoopla, International Classics, Kanopy, music, Peacock, SVOD 04/03/2023 Sean Axmaker

The first homegrown Jamaican feature film is an outlaw adventure driven by a high energy reggae score.

David Oyelowo is Martin Luther King in Ava DuVernay's 'Selma.'

Academy Award winner ‘Selma’ on Paramount+

!Featured, Academy Award, African-American cinema, African-American filmmakers, American Independent Cinema, based on a true story, Black History, Blu-ray, Directed by Women, DVD, Election Special, Essential Viewing, historical, Peacock, socially aware cinema, Streaming Movies, SVOD 03/30/2023 Sean Axmaker 1 Comment

Ava Duvernay directs this acclaimed drama about the 1965 civil rights march through Alabama led by Dr. Martin Luther King.

Sanaa Lathan navigates ‘Love & Basketball’ on Hulu and HBO Max

!Featured, African-American cinema, American Independent Cinema, Blu-ray, Directed by Women, drama, DVD, Film Independent Spirit Awards, Have You Seen...?, Hulu, Max, Romance, sports, Streaming Movies, SVOD 03/20/2023 Sean Axmaker

Gina Prince-Bythewood uses sports as a metaphor for life and love in this intelligent romantic drama starring Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps.

‘To Sleep with Anger’ – a devilish Danny Glover on MUBI

!Featured, African-American cinema, American Independent Cinema, Blu-ray, drama, DVD, Film Independent Spirit Awards, Have You Seen...?, MUBI, National Film Registry, Streaming Movies, Sundance Winner, SVOD 03/09/2023 Sean Axmaker

Charles Burnett explores the collision of rural Southern Black culture and folk superstitions with middle class African-American urban life in this landmark American indie drama.