During Black History Month, we celebrate the accomplishments and difficulties of the Black community. Although we cannot change the past, we can still learn from it. While this must be done year-round, February is the ideal time to be reminded of the importance of Black representation. Black entertainers and artists are now finally able to tell their own stories, which has enhanced Black representation in film and television over the past several decades.
The emphasis on celebrating the victories, joys, and successes of persons in the Black community is much-needed. Stories depicting enslavement, police brutality, murder, and other forms of violence against Black people appear to have dominated Black cinema throughout Hollywood history. While the ideas of these movies must be documented, it’s also critical to discover some light within the shadows. Finding a feel-good movie to put on and cheer yourself up may be the finest approach to heal wounds, even for a time, given that film is one of the greatest escapes. The top 10 feel-good films in Black cinema are listed below.
Akeelah and the Bee already had the star-studded cast to be a success, and it was. It featured a young Keke Palmer, Laurence Fishburne, and Angela Bassett. When 11-year-old Akeelah realises she has an aptitude for spelling, she intends, against the advice of her mother, to qualify for the National Spelling Bee. Akeelah strives hard to win the gold and enlists the aid of a strange teacher to help her prepare for the tournament. The movie received positive reviews and did well at the box office. It also won a number of accolades, including the Black Movie Award for Outstanding Motion Picture.
Beauty Shop
Beauty Shop is perhaps one of Queen Latifah’s best films. She has established herself as a household brand in black comedy. Gina established a reputation for herself as one of the best hairdressers in Atlanta after relocating there with her daughter up until she fell out with her boss Jorge, which led her to launch her own salon. Jorge would do anything to put an end to Gina’s success, even if she wins over some of his clients and staff in the process. Beauty Shop, a spin-off of the Barbershop series, wasn’t a critical hit, but moviegoers liked the movie’s sense of humour.
Black Panther
Black Panther, one of the most popular movies in the Marvel franchise, has earned a reputation as a source of comfort for many. After his father’s passing, T’Challa returns to Wakanda to assume the throne, but before long, a formidable foe appears, putting him and his family to the test and endangering both Wakanda and the rest of the world. Black Panther, the second-highest earning movie of 2018 and the ninth-highest grossing movie of all time, starred the late Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan. The movie received a total of 90 awards, including three Academy Awards, out of more than 200 nominations. Black Panther is undoubtedly a feel-good film that will lift your spirits when you’re having a bad day.
Brown Sugar
This humorous romantic comedy centres on Sidney and Dre, who both remember seeing hip-hop when they were little. The two later understand that what they discovered that day wasn’t just about music. When Brown Sugar was released in 2002, it was a tremendous hit at the box office because many viewers thought it was a fun romantic comedy that would lift their spirits. A feel-good rom-com is the ideal chicken soup for the tarnished soul, despite the fact that some people may think that a plot like this is just filler.
Prince Akeem, an African King who is looking for a wife who will love him despite his position, is the protagonist of the amazing story Coming to America. Akeem travels to America pretending to be a foreign student working in fast food in order to find such a woman. Coming to America is a laugh riot with a dash of romance, starring Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, and James Earl Jones. When it first came out, this uplifting film was a big hit, and a sequel, Coming 2 America, was released in 2021.
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, a Disney production based on the well-known fairy tale, tells the story of a young girl who is bullied by her evil stepmother and stepsisters. Cinderella has well-known figures like Brandy, Whitney Houston, and Whoopi Goldberg among its mostly Black cast. In fact, Brandy made history by playing Cinderella in this endearing movie as the first Black actress. Due to its diverse cast, the movie received seven Primetime Emmy nominations and was hailed as innovative by critics.
Sister Act
Our ranking is headed by Sister Act, one of Whoopi Goldberg’s most well-known movies. After seeing a murder, lounge singer Deloris is transferred to a convent for her own safety. She is given a job in the convent choir to keep her out of trouble, but she ends up making it into a soulful performance that attracts lots of attention. Due to the movie’s enormous popularity, a sequel and a musical version were produced. With Disney+, a third movie is presently in production, so we have something to look forward to.
Mae is left in emotional turmoil after her mother, an estranged photographer, passes away suddenly, until she finds a snapshot in her mother’s safety deposit box. The trip Mae takes to learn about her mother’s early life ultimately results in her falling in love with a local journalist. The Photograph, starring Issa Rae and LaKeith Stanfield, is a lovely love story about family and love. The NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture was nominated for Rae’s performance.
The Wiz
As Dorothy Gale, a schoolteacher who tries to save her dog from a violent storm, she ends up in Oz, an urban fantasy land, in this film adaptation of the musical of the same name. Similar to The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy must find the Wiz so that he may assist her in getting home. Along the route, she is accompanied by a number of unusual characters. The Wiz, which stars well-known musicians like Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, is sure to cheer you up because to its fantastic score and its distinct storytelling style that takes you out of the actual world for a while.
