Black Movies of 2021 to Watch - updated in March 2024

Check out our carefully curated list of movies with Black Leads released in 2021, watch black movie trailers and check premiere dates, where to watch the movies and streaming platforms availability.

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New Black Movies To Watch Right Now

New Movies released in 2021 with Black Leads, already available on theaters and streaming services.

The Tragedy of Macbeth

The Tragedy of Macbeth (December 25, 2021)

Macbeth, the Thane of Glamis, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself.
A Journal for Jordan

A Journal for Jordan (December 22, 2021)

Chronicles Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Dana Canedy's relationship with a soldier named Charles Monroe King. Deployed overseas in combat zones, he began writing a journal full of life lessons for their newborn son Jordan.
Merry Liddle Christmas Baby
This holiday, the Liddles have much to be merry about! Jacquie Liddle and her husband, Tyler, are preparing for the arrival of their first baby. With their family expanding in ways they could never have expected, the Liddles are headed for a crazy Christmas filled with merry mayhem and lots of love and laughter.
Swan Song

Swan Song (December 17, 2021)

In the near future, Cameron Turner is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Presented with an experimental solution to shield his wife and son from grief, he grapples with altering their fate.
A Naija Christmas

A Naija Christmas (December 16, 2021)

A mother's Christmas wish - and the grand prize that comes with it - sets off a fierce competition between her sons.
National Champions

National Champions (December 10, 2021)

A star quarterback ignites a players’ strike hours before the biggest game of the year in order to fight for fair compensation, equality, and respect for the athletes who put their bodies and health on the line for their schools.
American Refugee

American Refugee (December 10, 2021)

A story of a family seeking shelter in a neighbor’s bunker while the American economy is in collapse and the nation under martial law. There they find the danger inside is potentially greater than the danger outside.
A Sisterly Christmas

A Sisterly Christmas (December 07, 2021)

Sisters Kristina (Deborah Joy Winans) and Vicky (Lisa Michelle Cornelius) receive an early Christmas gift—a luxurious vacation at an exclusive resort—from their Aunt Debbie (Marium Carvell), who hopes to bring them together after they've grown apart since their mother’s death. The sisters are less than thrilled by the idea of spending time together: Vicky loves Christmas, whereas Kristina no longer enjoys the holiday without their mom. With strong convincing from Aunt Debbie, the sisters reluctantly accept her gift. Once they arrive at the resort, Kristina and Vicky run into Reginé (Kyana Teresa), a famous singer and one-time best friend who left them behind when fame came calling.
My Favorite Christmas Melody
Once a promising singer-songwriter, Abby now finds herself writing uninspired jingles for commercials. As she heads home for the holidays, she's enlisted by the local high school music teacher to help save the school arts program. In the process, Abby rediscovers her voice and regains the confidence to go after her dreams and lets the possibility of love in too.
Kirk Franklin's A Gospel Christmas
When Olivia, a young assistant pastor, gets assigned to be a lead pastor at a new church a month before Christmas, she's fearful she can't manage the transition, including getting the choir ready to open the town's annual Winter Jamboree. Banding together with her new congregation, Olivia discovers a new home for herself, and even finds a little Christmas romance along the way!
Our Christmas Journey

Our Christmas Journey (December 04, 2021)

As a single mom and her teenaged son with autism come to a crossroad during Christmas, she must learn to let go so he can flourish as she finds her own heart healing in unexpected ways.
A Chestnut Family Christmas

A Chestnut Family Christmas (November 30, 2021)

A talented pastry chef, accidentally commits to hosting her family for the holidays, she poses as the wealthy homeowner in order to impress them. Everything is fine, until everyone's secrets are exposed and relationships begin to unravel.
Saying Yes to Christmas

Saying Yes to Christmas (November 30, 2021)

A magical Christmas wish makes a career-obsessed June say yes to every invitation while she's home for the holidays. But when an old flame, Blake, joins her hectic schedule of Christmas activities, past feelings are reignited. June must choose between saying yes to her career and life in the city or to her heart in her hometown.
Christmas Déjà Vu

Christmas Déjà Vu (November 25, 2021)

A Christmas angel grants a wish to a Christmas hater, to have her life as a singer.
A Holiday Chance

A Holiday Chance (November 24, 2021)

The family of the founder of a multi-million-dollar film company experiences some tragic events during the holidays and two sisters must set aside a life-long rivalry and come together to turn the company around and keep the family intact.
King Richard

King Richard (November 18, 2021)

A look at how tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams became who they are after the coaching from their father Richard Williams.
Bruised

Bruised (November 17, 2021)

A disgraced MMA fighter finds redemption in the cage and the courage to face her demons when the son she had given up as an infant unexpectedly reenters her life. It's not a second chance. It's a last chance.
A Holiday in Harlem

A Holiday in Harlem (November 14, 2021)

Business executive Jazmin Carter is known for two things: turning fledgling businesses into profit producers and avoiding Christmas in Harlem, the neighborhood where she grew up.
Coins Forever

Coins Forever (November 14, 2021)

Madison and Alec are flourishing in their dream jobs and have grown their budding romance but new challenges open old wounds and threaten to derail their relationship and their friendship.
7 Prisioneiros

7 Prisoners (November 11, 2021)

To provide a better life for his family in the country, 18-year-old Mateus accepts a job in a junkyard in São Paulo for his new boss Luca. But when he and a few other boys become trapped in the dangerous world of contemporary slavery, Mateus will be forced to decide between working for the very man who enslaved him or risk his and his family’s future.
A Christmas Treasure

A Christmas Treasure (November 07, 2021)

After opening a 100-year-old time capsule and finding her grandfather’s old journal, Lou questions whether she should move to New York after Christmas to further her writing career or stay in Pine Grove to carry on her family’s local newspaper. Charming chef, Kyle, is also at a crossroads, visiting Pine Grove for the holidays.
Amina

Amina (November 04, 2021)

DramaWarHistory
In 16th-century Zazzau, now Zaria, Nigeria, Amina must utilize her military skills and tactics to defend her family's kingdom. Based on a true story.
Christmas in Harmony

Christmas in Harmony (October 29, 2021)

Harmony is tricked into auditioning for the Holiday Chorus — directed by an ex-boyfriend. By Christmas Eve, they could be harmonizing in the key of love.
Horror Noire

Horror Noire (October 28, 2021)

An anthology film presenting six short horror stories from black writers and directors, featuring racist vampires, supernatural creatures, and Satan his damn self.
Passing

Passing (October 27, 2021)

The unexpected reunion of two high school friends, Clare Kendry and Irene Redfield, ignites a mutual obsession that threatens both of their carefully constructed realities.
The Harder They Fall

The Harder They Fall (October 22, 2021)

When outlaw Nat Love discovers that his enemy Rufus Buck is being released from prison he rounds up his gang to track Rufus down and seek revenge.
Night Teeth

Night Teeth (October 20, 2021)

A young driver picks up two mysterious women for a night of party hopping. But when their passengers reveal their true nature, he must fight to stay alive.
Needle in a Timestack
A devoted husband will stop at nothing to save his marriage when it's destroyed by a time-traveling rival.
There's Someone Inside Your House
As the countdown to graduation begins, students at Osborne High are being stalked by a maniac intent on exposing their darkest secrets to the entire town, terrorizing victims while wearing a life-like mask of their own face. With a mysterious past of her own, Makani and her friends must discover the killer's identity before they become victims themselves.
The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain
Based on the true story of the events that led to the death of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., an elderly African American veteran with bipolar disorder, who was killed during a conflict with police officers who were dispatched to check on him.
Copshop

Copshop (September 17, 2021)

On the run from a lethal assassin, a wily con artist devises a scheme to hide out inside a small-town police station. However, when the hit man turns up at the precinct, an unsuspecting rookie cop finds herself caught in the crosshairs.
Vacation Friends

Vacation Friends (August 27, 2021)

When a straight-laced couple that has fun with a rowdy couple on vacation in Mexico return to the States, they discover that the crazy couple they met in Mexico followed them back home and decide to play tricks on them.
Candyman

Candyman (August 27, 2021)

For as long as residents can remember, the housing projects of Chicago's Cabrini Green neighborhood were terrorized by a word-of-mouth ghost story about a supernatural killer with a hook for a hand, easily summoned by those daring to repeat his name five times into a mirror. In present day, a decade after the last of the Cabrini towers were torn down, visual artist Anthony McCoy and his girlfriend, gallery director Brianna Cartwright, move into a luxury loft condo in Cabrini, now gentrified beyond recognition and inhabited by upwardly mobile millennials.
Beckett

Beckett (August 13, 2021)

A vacationing couple finds themselves in the middle of a violent conspiracy and it’s consequences.
Respect

Respect (August 13, 2021)

The rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom.
Indemnity

Indemnity (August 11, 2021)

An ex-fireman with PTSD goes on the run when accused of a crime he doesn't even remember committing, leading him down a rabbit hole of conspiracy to the highest degree.
Naked Singularity

Naked Singularity (August 06, 2021)

When a successful New York public defender loses his first case, he is pulled into a drug heist by a former client in an effort to beat the broken system at its own game.
The Suicide Squad

The Suicide Squad (August 05, 2021)

Supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker and a collection of nutty cons at Belle Reve prison join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X as they are dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese.
Resort to Love

Resort to Love (July 29, 2021)

Aspiring pop star Erica ends up as the entertainment at her ex-fiancé’s wedding after reluctantly taking a gig at a luxurious island resort while in the wake of a music career meltdown.
Jungle Cruise

Jungle Cruise (July 29, 2021)

Dr. Lily Houghton enlists the aid of wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff to take her down the Amazon in his dilapidated boat. Together, they search for an ancient tree that holds the power to heal – a discovery that will change the future of medicine.
Ailey

Ailey (July 23, 2021)

Alvin Ailey was a visionary artist who found salvation through dance. Told in his own words and through the creation of a dance inspired by his life, this immersive portrait follows a man who, when confronted by a world that refused to embrace him, determined to build one that would.
Space Jam: A New Legacy
With the help of Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes, NBA superstar LeBron James must rescue his missing son by navigating through films in the Warner Bros. catalogue as they challenge against the villainous Al-G's plot to win a basketball game against his team of mates, which will be seen by the entire world.
A Christmas Miracle

A Christmas Miracle (July 15, 2021)

Single mom Emma Sanderson is looking for a Christmas miracle to write about for the lifestyle magazine where she's landed a temporary job. Along the way Emma discovers unexpected romance with a supportive colleague and brings about a Christmas miracle for a lonely street musician.
Nine Days

Nine Days (July 15, 2021)

A reclusive man conducts a series of interviews with human souls for a chance to be born.
Summer of Soul (...or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
During the same summer as Woodstock, over 300,000 people attended the Harlem Cultural Festival, celebrating African American music and culture, and promoting Black pride and unity. The footage from the festival sat in a basement, unseen for over 50 years, keeping this incredible event in America's history lost—until now.
Escape Room: Tournament of Champions
Six people unwittingly find themselves locked in another series of escape rooms, slowly uncovering what they have in common to survive… and discovering they’ve all played the game before.
No Sudden Move

No Sudden Move (July 01, 2021)

In 1954 Detroit, a group of small-time criminals is hired to steal what they think is a simple document. When their plan goes horribly wrong, their search for who hired them – and for what ultimate purpose – weaves them through all echelons of the race-torn, rapidly changing city.
Werewolves Within
When a proposed pipeline creates hostilities between residents of a small town, a newly-arrived forest ranger must keep the peace after a snowstorm confines the townspeople to an old lodge. But when a mysterious creature begins terrorizing the group, their worst tendencies and prejudices rise to the surface, and it is up to the ranger to keep the residents alive, both from each other and the monster which plagues them.
Zola

Zola (June 30, 2021)

A waitress agrees to accompany an exotic dancer, her put-upon boyfriend, and her mysterious and domineering roommate on a road trip to Florida to seek their fortune at a high-end strip club.
Sisters On Track

Sisters On Track (June 24, 2021)

Three track star sisters face obstacles in life and in competition as they pursue Junior Olympic dreams in this extraordinary coming of age journey.
Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard
The world’s most lethal odd couple – bodyguard Michael Bryce and hitman Darius Kincaid – are back on another life-threatening mission. Still unlicensed and under scrutiny, Bryce is forced into action by Darius's even more volatile wife, the infamous international con artist Sonia Kincaid. As Bryce is driven over the edge by his two most dangerous protectees, the trio get in over their heads in a global plot and soon find that they are all that stand between Europe and a vengeful and powerful madman.
Rogue Hostage

Rogue Hostage (June 11, 2021)

Rogue Hostage follows single father and former Marine Kyle Snowden (Tyrese Gibson), who is struggling to adjust to life with PTSD. On a routine stop for his job in Child Protective Services, Kyle finds himself and a group of innocent customers trapped inside his stepfather’s store during a hostile take-over by militant maniac Eagan Raize. Disturbing details emerge about Eagan’s violent vendetta against Kyle’s stepfather, Congressman Sam Nelson (John Malkovich), threatening the lives of everyone inside, including the Congressman and Kyle’s young daughter. In a race against time, Kyle must battle against the terrorists as well as his personal demons to secure the store and save everyone.
The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2
When best selling author Carl Black moves his family back to his childhood home, he must team up with oddball neighbors to do battle with a pimp, who may or may not be an actual vampire.
Fatherhood

Fatherhood (June 05, 2021)

A widowed new dad copes with doubts, fears, heartache and dirty diapers as he sets out to raise his daughter on his own.
Spiral: From The Book of Saw
Working in the shadow of an esteemed police veteran, brash Detective Ezekiel “Zeke” Banks and his rookie partner take charge of a grisly investigation into murders that are eerily reminiscent of the city’s gruesome past. Unwittingly entrapped in a deepening mystery, Zeke finds himself at the center of the killer’s morbid game.
Monster

Monster (May 07, 2021)

The story of Steve Harmon, a 17-year-old honor student whose world comes crashing down around him when he is charged with felony murder.
The Water Man

The Water Man (May 07, 2021)

Gunner and his mother share a special bond. She supports his daydreaming and artistic pursuits, while his frequently-on-the-road father, Amos, with whom Gunner shares a strained relationship, has other ideas about where his son’s interests should lie. Gunner and his dad attempt to smooth over their differences for the sake of the family, but when his mom’s sickness worsens, Gunner disappears into stacks of books on both science and the supernatural in search of possible cures. When Gunner and his rebellious friend Jo go missing during their quest into the Water Man’s mysterious forest, Amos must immerse himself in his son’s world to find them and put his family back together.
Without Remorse

Without Remorse (April 30, 2021)

A former Navy SEAL turned CIA operative seeks revenge after his girlfriend is killed by a Baltimore drug lord.
The Outside Story

The Outside Story (April 30, 2021)

An introverted editor living a vertical life in his 2nd-floor apartment, always on deadline and in a rut. When Charles locks himself out of his building, he's forced to go horizontal and confront the world he's been avoiding in search of a way back inside.
We Broke Up

We Broke Up (April 23, 2021)

Lori and Doug, a longtime couple who break up just days before Lori's little sister Bea's wedding to Jayson. In order to not disrupt the fun, the couple decides to pretend they're still together until the weekend is over.
Wildcat

Wildcat (April 23, 2021)

An ambitious reporter stationed in the Middle East who is taken captive after her convoy is ambushed. She is confronted by the trauma of her past and must find a way to bring down the militants who incarcerated her.
Thunder Force

Thunder Force (April 09, 2021)

In a world where supervillains are commonplace, two estranged childhood best friends reunite after one devises a treatment that gives them powers to protect their city.
Concrete Cowboy

Concrete Cowboy (April 02, 2021)

While spending the summer in North Philadelphia, a troubled teen is caught between a life of crime and his estranged father’s vibrant urban-cowboy subculture.
I’m Fine (Thanks For Asking)
When a recently widowed mother becomes houseless, she convinces her 8-year-old daughter that they are only camping for fun while working to get them off the streets.
Coming 2 America

Coming 2 America (March 05, 2021)

Prince Akeem Joffer is set to become King of Zamunda when he discovers he has a son he never knew about in America – a street savvy Queens native named Lavelle. Honoring his royal father's dying wish to groom this son as the crown prince, Akeem and Semmi set off to America once again.
Locked Down

Locked Down (March 05, 2021)

Set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 lockdown, sparring couple Linda and Paxton call a truce to attempt a high-risk jewellery heist at one of the world’s most exclusive department stores, Harrods.
Night of the Kings

Night of the Kings (February 26, 2021)

Set in Abidjan’s MACA prison, the aging Black Beard, in attempt to maintain control over his fellow inmates, resorts to a “story” ritual, wherein one prisoner is forced, Scheherazade-style, to tell stories for an entire night. The young pickpocket he chooses relays the haunting tale of the Zama King.
The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Follows Holiday during her career as she is targeted by the Federal Department of Narcotics with an undercover sting operation led by black Federal Agent Jimmy Fletcher, with whom she had a tumultuous affair.
Judas and the Black Messiah

Judas and the Black Messiah (February 12, 2021)

The story of Fred Hampton, deputy chairman of the national Black Panther Party, who was assassinated in 1969 by a Cook County tactical unit on the orders of the FBI and Chicago Police Department.
The Little Things

The Little Things (January 29, 2021)

Deke, a burnt-out Kern County, CA deputy sheriff teams with Baxter, a crack LASD detective, to nab a serial killer. Deke's nose for the "little things" proves eerily accurate, but his willingness to circumvent the rules embroils Baxter in a soul-shattering dilemma. Meanwhile, Deke must wrestle with a dark secret from his past.
Salt-N-Pepa

Salt-N-Pepa (January 28, 2021)

Salt-N-Pepa will tell the story of nursing students Cheryl "Salt" James and Sandra "Pepa" Denton, who fell into the world of rap and hip hop, after recording for a friend's school project.
Caged

Caged (January 26, 2021)

An African American male is imprisoned and placed in solitary confinement after being found guilty of murdering his wife, as he's haunted by internal demons and his dead wife, and pushed to the breaking point by an abusive female guard.
Malcolm & Marie

Malcolm & Marie (January 21, 2021)

A filmmaker and his girlfriend return home from his movie premiere, smoldering tensions and painful revelations push them toward a romantic reckoning.
American Skin

American Skin (January 18, 2021)

A Marine veteran working as a school janitor tries to mend his relationship with his son after a divorce. When his son is killed by a police officer found innocent without standing trial, he takes matters into his own hands.
Outside the Wire

Outside the Wire (January 15, 2021)

In the near future, a drone pilot is sent into a deadly militarized zone and must work with an android officer to locate a doomsday device.
Redemption Day

Redemption Day (January 08, 2021)

Having just returned home, decorated U.S. Marine Captain Brad Paxton's (Gary Dourdan) wife, Kate, is kidnapped by a terrorist group while working in Morocco. He is forced back into action for a daring and deadly operation to save the woman he loves.
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