Black History Month is a time to reflect, celebrate, and honor the contributions of Black Americans who have shaped history and culture – and film remains one of the most powerful ways to do that. Visionary creators and top-notch performers bring us stories rooted in truth and imagination for movies that educate, inspire, and spark conversation long after the credits roll.
This guide highlights five movies to watch during Black History Month, which runs through February. Our recommendations include historical dramas and comedy, and showcase the work of Denzel Washington, Eddie Murphy, Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Jordan Peele, David Oyelowo, and more. Each selection reflects a different facet of Black storytelling. All the movies are streaming now on Paramount+. You can find them by following the links below, searching by title, or browsing the Black Voices Collection.
Whether you’re revisiting classics or discovering these films for the first time, this watchlist makes it easy to find meaningful, must-watch movies.
Must-watch movies for Black History Month
1. Selma
What it’s about: Directed by the Oscar®-nominated Ava DuVernay, Selma brings the voting-rights marches of the early 1960s to life. Rather than offering a sweeping historical overview, the film focuses on the strategy, tension, and emotional toll behind the movement, centering on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) as he navigates political resistance, personal doubt, and the urgency of justice. From the brutality that occurred in 1965 on the Edmund Pettus Bridge on what would become known as “Bloody Sunday,” to the quiet conversations that went on behind closed doors, Selma captures how change is fought for moment by moment and at great cost.
Why it matters: Selma centers Black leadership and resilience, reminding us how collective action helped shape civil rights progress. What shines most in this film are the behind-the-revolution moments between King, his wife Coretta Scott King (played by Carmen Ejogo), and his closest advisors. Oyelowo received a Golden Globe® nomination for his moving performance of King at what became the climactic moment of the civil-rights leader’s life.
WATCH NOW: Selma
2. Us
What it’s about: Minister of Horror Jordan Peele’s Us begins as a family-vacation thriller, and quickly transforms into something even more unsettling. When a family comes face to face with their violent doubles, the film unravels into a layered meditation on identity and privilege. Through stirring imagery and characters, symbolism is woven into suspense and dark humor as Us uses horror to raise uncomfortable questions.
Why it matters: Us, much like Peele’s other films, including his Oscar®-winning Get Out, showcases how Black storytelling can reinvigorate the horror genre while delivering deeper cultural meaning. Viewers who press play for an adrenaline rush will come to confront their own reality. This entertainment exercise can help audiences become open to change – within themselves and in their communities.
WATCH NOW: Us
3. Marshall
What it’s about: Marshall explores a defining chapter in the career of Thurgood Marshall (the late, great Chadwick Boseman) long before Marshall became the first Black Supreme Court justice. Set amid a racially charged court case in 1940s Connecticut, the film highlights Marshall’s legal brilliance, resilience, and ability to navigate a system stacked against him. Boseman accurately portrays not only Marshall’s courtroom victories but also the quiet determination required to challenge injustice, despite the odds.
Why it matters: Boseman’s performance of Marshall brings a storied civil rights leader out of the history books and to life on screen, making the importance of his contributions in and out of the courtroom that much clearer.
WATCH NOW: Marshall
4. Harlem Nights
What it’s about: Set in 1930s Harlem, Harlem Nights blends comedy, crime, and style into a story about loyalty, survival, and community. Written, directed by, and starring Eddie Murphy, alongside his comedy hero Richard Pryor, the film follows the operators of a Harlem nightclub as they fend off gangster schemes and crooked cops. Beyond the laughs, Harlem Nights offers an example of Black entrepreneurship and camaraderie during a vibrant cultural era – the Harlem Renaissance.
Why it matters: Released in 1989, Harlem Nights stands as a rare example of a major studio comedy made with Black creative control. It’s powered by an ensemble cast of comedy legends that includes Redd Foxx, Della Reese, and Lela Rochon.
WATCH NOW: Harlem Nights
5. Fences
What it’s about: Adapted from August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, and directed by Denzel Washington, who also stars, Fences is a portrait of familial relationships and regret. Set in 1950s Pittsburgh, the film centers on Troy Maxson (Washington), a former star baseball player grappling with lost opportunities, his children’s dreams, and the limitations placed on him by a racist society.
Why it matters: Anchored by powerful performances from Washington and Viola Davis, the latter of whom won the best actress Oscar® for her work, Fences unfolds almost entirely through conversation – conversation that reveals how unspoken pain and inherited trauma shape our relationships. Fences preserves the legacy of Black theater and storytelling.
WATCH NOW: Fences
Availability of titles is subject to change.
Keep watching and celebrating Black stories all year long
Experiencing movies like Selma and Fences during Black History Month offers us all a chance to engage with culturally impactful stories that honor creativity and resilience. But the relevance of their works extends far beyond February. These are films worth revisiting, sharing, and discussing year-round.
Paramount+ makes it easy to keep celebrating Black voices all year. The Black Voices Collection features movies, documentaries, and TV shows that highlight Black creators, performers, and stories across genres.
Explore the collection to discover more significant and memorable titles to continue watching meaningful storytelling long after the month ends.
Black Voices Collection
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