726 Essential Urban Films

I, Robot

2004 • 115 min • Budget $120M • Box office $347M

Action, Science Fiction

In 2035, robots are everyday tools, programmed with strict rules. A police officer who distrusts technology investigates a possible suicide. He begins to suspect a robot was involved and comes to believe that humanity itself might be at risk.

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Animal

2005 • 93 min

Action, Drama

James "Animal" Allen is known for his ruthless reputation. After being imprisoned in a maximum-security facility, he encounters a revolutionary who transforms him. Released and seeking redemption, James discovers his son has become involved in crime. Haunted by his past,…

5.6

5.7

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Fire & Ice

2001 • 87 min

In this made-for-TV romantic drama, many celebrities assume fame brings romantic luck. However, Michael Williams, a successful talk show host, discovers his career is hindering his chances with the woman he loves. Holly Aimes (Lark Voorhies) is the daughter of…

8.0

7.2

Marley

2012 • 144 min • Box office $3M

Music, Documentary

Bob Marley's extraordinary influence on music, history, and social change is unlike anything seen before. Directed by Academy Award winner Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland), MARLEY is the complete story of the musician, revolutionary, and icon, following his…

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Talkin' Dirty After Dark

1991 • 89 min

Terry, an aspiring comedian, believes political humor is his ticket to stardom and more stage time at Dukie's Comedy Club. He's also having an affair with Ruby Lynn Sinclair, the wife of club owner Dukie Sinclair. The night unfolds with…

4.5

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Salute

2008 • 120 min

At the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, Tommie Smith and John Carlos's black power salute became a defining moment in the American civil rights movement. However, the role of Peter Norman, the white Australian athlete who finished second, is often overlooked.…

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Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling

1986 • 97 min

Jo Jo Dancer is a successful stand-up comedian, but he's unhappy. Following a serious accident involving drugs that left him with severe burns, Jo Jo is in a coma. While unconscious, he reflects on his life, drifting through memories of…

6.3

17+

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A Haunted House 2

2014 • 87 min • Budget $4M • Box office $25M

Comedy, Horror

Malcolm tries to start a new life with his girlfriend and her two children after a difficult breakup. When they move into their new home, strange and unsettling paranormal occurrences begin to happen, disrupting their fresh start.

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Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs

2002 • 91 min

Book of Love blends humor with the complexities of love and relationships in the 1990s Los Angeles. The film follows three men navigating dating and love while grappling with heartbreak and insecurity after failed relationships. Their stories are revealed through…

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5.6

Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas - The Play

2011 • 152 min

Comedy

A wealthy family gathers for Christmas at their luxurious Cape Cod home, but tensions quickly arise as old arguments and hidden secrets resurface. Only a no-nonsense family – exemplified by Aunt Bam and the formidable Madea – can restore peace…

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Moonlight

2016 • 111 min • Budget $4M • Box office $65M

Drama

This is a poignant story about a young man's journey to self-discovery, shown through three key periods in his life. It follows his experiences with love – the joy, heartbreak, and beauty – as he also comes to terms with…

7.4

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Othello

1995 • 123 min

In this adaptation of Shakespeare's classic, the villainous Iago cultivates a false friendship with Othello. His aim is to manipulate Othello for personal gain.

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Romeo Must Die

2000 • 115 min • Budget $25M • Box office $91M

Action, Crime, Thriller

In Oakland, California, two rival gangs – one African-American, the other Chinese – fight for control of the docks. When Hang Sing and Trish O'Day investigate, they uncover a deadly web of lies that leads to the demise of many…

6.3

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The Cookout

2004 • 97 min • Budget $16M • Box office $12M

Comedy

Todd Anderson's life changes instantly when he signs a lucrative $30 million contract with the New Jersey Nets. Determined to stay grounded, he hosts a barbecue at his home, reminiscent of his family's gatherings. However, the mix of new and…

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Breakin' All the Rules

2004 • 85 min • Budget $10M • Box office $12M

Comedy, Romance

Quincy Watson, a writer whose girlfriend leaves him, quits his job and decides to write the definitive guide on breaking up. The book becomes a huge success, and Quincy begins offering advice to his womanizing cousin, Evan, on how to…

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My Murder

2012 • 59 min

This gripping true drama tells the story of Shakilus Townsend, a 16-year-old boy drawn into a deadly situation after meeting a girl. What begins as a chance encounter spirals into a web of lies and murder, known as the honey…

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6.7

Crime After Crime

2011 • 95 min

This is the story of Debbie Peagler, a survivor of severe domestic abuse who has spent over 26 years in prison. Despite enduring immense injustice – first at the hands of a manipulative boyfriend who abused and trafficked her, and…

5.7

7.7

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Hot Boyz

2000 • 98 min

Driven to crime by injustice, Kool is a talented but struggling artist, skilled in karate, and deeply in love with LaShawna, a bright student with plans for college. One night, she witnesses a stabbing and tragically discovers the victim is…

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Code Name: The Cleaner

2007 • 84 min • Budget $20M • Box office $10M

Action, Comedy, Crime

Cedric the Entertainer stars as Jake, an ordinary man who suffers amnesia following a mysterious attack. As Jake struggles to piece together his identity, he unexpectedly becomes caught in a government conspiracy. Those pursuing him become convinced he's an undercover…

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Dear White People

2014 • 108 min • Budget $1M • Box office $5M

Comedy, Drama

Tensions between Black and white students at a mostly white Ivy League school escalate when the staff of the college newspaper throws a racially insensitive Halloween party.

6.1

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Gang Related

1997 • 111 min

Action, Crime, Thriller

Two corrupt police officers run a profitable scheme: stealing drugs from dealers and selling them on the black market, framing rival gangs for the crimes. Their carefully built world unravels when they accidentally kill an undercover DEA agent posing as…

6.4

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Tyler Perry's Madea on the Run - The Play

2017 • 141 min

Mabel Simmons, known as Madea, is being pursued by the police. Needing a safe haven, she seeks refuge with her friend Bam, who is recovering from surgery. Bam is unaware that Madea is only pretending to be a helpful friend…

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8 Mile

2002 • 111 min • Budget $41M • Box office $242M

Drama, Music

Jimmy Smith, Jr. Faces a constant struggle to maintain hope as he pursues his dreams in Detroit's thriving music scene. He fights for his unique voice and a place in a world defined by rhythm and legendary artists, where every…

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They Die by Dawn

2013 • 51 min

Four wanted criminals agree to a showdown in Langston, Oklahoma. The final survivor will collect the total reward. The event quickly escalates into a violent and chaotic gunfight.

2.7

5.0

Out of Time

2003 • 105 min • Budget $50M • Box office $55M

Thriller, Crime, Drama

In the quiet Florida Keys town of Banyan Key, Police Chief Matt Lee faces a daunting challenge: solving a brutal double murder while fighting to clear his own name. As the investigation unfolds, Matt must navigate suspicion from within his…

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Gangster's Paradise: Jerusalema

2008 • 120 min

Action, Crime, Drama

This South African film follows the ascent of a small-time criminal to power in the criminal world. Starting with hijackings and escalating to more serious crimes, an ambitious man faces a major obstacle when his gang suffers a devastating loss…

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Leslie Small's debut film, *Hood Rat*, stars Isaiah Washington as a seemingly gentle man who descends into vengeance, aided by a horde of rats. Living in a dilapidated, rat-infested apartment building, Max is driven to the breaking point when his…

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November Rule

2015 • 94 min

Grief-stricken after his father's death, ambitious shoe designer Steve enforces a strict "November rule": he breaks up with his girlfriend every November 1st. This year, his fabricated breakup with the lovely Leah has unforeseen consequences – he realizes he's lost…

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Comedy, Drama

Producer Pierre Delacroix, after being rejected by his network for his sitcom idea, deliberately pitches the worst concept imaginable: a 21st-century minstrel show, hoping to get fired. Instead, the network airs it and it unexpectedly becomes a huge success.

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Beverly Hills Cop

1984 • 105 min • Budget $14M • Box office $316M

Comedy, Crime, Action

Detroit police officer Axel Foley is known for bending the rules. However, when his close friend is killed, he travels to Beverly Hills to investigate, using his unique methods to solve the crime.

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Ride Along 2

2016 • 102 min • Budget $40M • Box office $124M

Action, Comedy

With his wedding day near, Ben travels to Miami with his future brother-in-law, James. Their mission: to take down a drug dealer who is supplying Atlanta dealers with drugs.

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5.9

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Strictly Business

1991 • 84 min • Box office $7M

Comedy, Romance

Waymon has a promising career in real estate, but his personal life is lacking. His relationship isn't fulfilling, and he desires more. He meets Natalie, a captivating woman who sparks his interest with her vibrant personality. Realizing he needs help…

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5.5

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Race

2016 • 134 min • Budget $5M • Box office $24M

Drama, History

This film tells the story of Jesse Owens, an athlete striving to become the best in track and field. His pursuit of greatness leads him to the 1936 Olympics, where he competes against Adolf Hitler's belief in the superiority of…

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The Skinny

2012 • 103 min

Five former Brown University classmates – four gay men and one lesbian – gather in New York City for a weekend filled with revelry, hidden truths, and complicated relationships.

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Beverly Hills Cop II

1987 • 103 min • Budget $28M • Box office $299M

Action, Comedy, Crime

Detective Axel Foley returns to California to investigate the shooting of Police Captain Andrew Bogomil. Joined by Sgt. Taggart and Det. Rosewood, Foley investigates a series of robberies called "alphabet heists," uncovering a larger criminal network led by a notorious…

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Crips and Bloods: Made in America

2009 • 93 min

Documentary

This film offers an intimate perspective on the Crips and Bloods gangs, exploring the circumstances behind decades of tragic violence affecting young African Americans in South Los Angeles.

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Eve's Bayou

1997 • 109 min • Budget $6M • Box office $14M

Drama

In 1962 Louisiana, the Batiste family in the small town of Eve's Bayou faces hidden truths and unexpected difficulties as summer progresses. Long-held secrets emerge, challenging their family's unity. The Batistes grapple with betrayal and sorrow while trying to hold…

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I Think I Love My Wife

2007 • 94 min • Budget $11M • Box office $13M

Comedy, Romance

Richard Cooper is a married father of two who feels deeply unfulfilled in his marriage. Dissatisfied with his sex life, he begins openly admiring women he sees on the street, even delaying lunch to do so. When a former flame,…

5.3

5.5

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Four Brothers

2005 • 109 min • Budget $45M • Box office $92M

Action, Crime

Four brothers, who were adopted and raised apart, go back to their Detroit hometown after their mother is killed. They decide to seek revenge on those responsible.

6.8

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+10

Poetic Justice

1993 • 109 min • Budget $14M • Box office $27M

Drama, Romance

"Justice" is a moving story about a young hairdresser dealing with grief and heartbreak as she deals with love and friendship. Following the murder of her boyfriend, Justice finds comfort in writing poetry to process her pain. When a car…

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Blood of a Champion

2005

Shadow, a former boxer with a bright future, struggles to adjust to life after a decade in prison. He is given an opportunity to compete in the ring once more.

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Holiday Heart

2000 • 96 min

Following the death of his police officer partner, Christian, who performs as Holiday Heart, connects with 12-year-old Niki and her mother, Wanda, who struggles with addiction. Heart finds solace and a new direction by becoming a father figure to Niki,…

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The Gabby Douglas Story

2014 • 90 min

TV Movie, Drama

This is the true story of Gabby Douglas, the first African American gymnast to win the Olympic Games' Individual All-Around title.

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6.9

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Black Mama, White Mama

1973 • 87 min • Budget $200K • Box office $1M

Action, Crime, Thriller

The film centers on two women, a revolutionary and a former harem girl, who are forced into a reluctant alliance. They journey through dangerous landscapes, facing physical challenges and confronting their own pasts as they struggle to coexist. Their uneasy…

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5.6

17+

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Puff, Puff, Pass

2006 • 94 min

Comedy

Danny Masterson of "That '70s Show" stars in a comedy about two unlucky drug users who hatch a plan to con a dangerous man known as Mr. Big after they drop out of rehab.

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Bad Dad Rehab

2016 • 90 min

Faced with difficult situations involving their mothers and ex-wives, four fathers decide to make a change. They enroll in Deadbeat Dad Rehab, seeking help to improve their lives.

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6.5

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Bullet

1996 • 100 min

Action, Drama, Thriller

A recently released Jewish ex-convict is pulled back into the dangerous world of organized crime. He unexpectedly encounters a ruthless drug lord and an old enemy from his past. As tensions escalate between them, he must navigate loyalty, deception, and…

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BlacKkKlansman

2018 • 136 min • Budget $15M • Box office $93M

Crime, Comedy, Drama

Colorado Springs, late 1970s. African American police officer Ron Stallworth and his Jewish colleague Flip Zimmerman undertake an undercover mission to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan.

7.5

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Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit

1993 • 107 min • Budget $38M • Box office $57M

Music, Comedy

Deloris Van Cartier, a talented performer, is asked to help save a failing Catholic school by Mother Superior. Deloris must adjust to the school's disciplined environment and connect with the students, while also fighting to prevent its closure due to…

6.4

5.8

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Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

2010 • 108 min

Vince and Shonda are at a breaking point in their relationship. Against the backdrop of the 2008 Presidential Election in Atlanta, *Breaking Up Is Hard To Do* is a poignant story about two people who feel they've exhausted everything they…

4.1

3.5

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Alex Cross

2012 • 101 min • Budget $45M • Box office $30M

Action, Thriller, Crime

Alex Cross, a brilliant homicide detective and psychologist, battles crime in Detroit while protecting his family. As he considers a new position with the FBI, he learns a friend has been murdered, prompting him to hunt down the killer. He…

5.1

5.2

13+

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The Hurricane

1999 • 146 min • Budget $50M • Box office $73M

Drama

"Hurricane" is the inspiring true story of Rubin Carter, a successful middleweight boxer whose life changed dramatically when he was wrongly accused of murder in Paterson, New Jersey. Framed for a crime he didn't commit and given a triple life…

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This film tells the story of two childhood best friends with a deep and complicated connection. One is poised for a successful career in the NFL, the other is a gifted art student with a full scholarship. But a web…

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4.0

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Tap

1989 • 111 min

Fresh out of prison after a burglary conviction, Max Washington returns to the hoofer club where he used to hang out. His ex-girlfriend, Amy, who still works there as a tap instructor, is unhappy about his return. However, her father,…

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6.6

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The Wrecking Crew

2000 • 80 min

Action, Thriller, Drama

A highly trained government team is deployed for a dangerous assignment in urban environments.

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2.2

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Drum

1976 • 100 min

In mid-19th century America, a mulatto man finds himself caught between the brutal world of pit fighting, where he thrives, and the deep-seated prejudice of white society. He struggles with the conflicting demands of survival and dignity.

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Jackie Brown

1997 • 154 min

Jackie Brown, a flight attendant, becomes involved in smuggling money for her gunrunner boss. When the police try to use her to find him, she devises a plan – with the assistance of a bail bondsman – to steal the…

7.4

7.5

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Friday After Next

2002 • 85 min • Budget $20M • Box office $33M

Comedy, Drama

Craig and his cousin Day-Day have moved into their first home and are working security at a mall at night. On Christmas Eve, their house is broken into, and they decide to find the person responsible.

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One Down, Two to Go

1982 • 84 min

Two hardened detectives pursue the criminal organization responsible for sabotaging a martial arts competition and seriously injuring one of their colleagues.

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4.5

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How High

2001 • 93 min • Budget $12M • Box office $31M

Comedy

Jamal and Silas, two average guys who smoke a special substance, ace their college entrance exams and get accepted to Harvard. They adjust to the unfamiliar world of the Ivy League – until their supply of the substance they smoke…

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6.2

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Deep Cover

1992 • 108 min • Budget $8M • Box office $16M

Action, Thriller, Crime

This thriller follows Russell Stevens, a dedicated Black police officer determined to bring criminals to justice. He joins a special anti-drug squad to infiltrate a major criminal network led by a powerful Colombian drug lord, who is also the foreign…

6.8

7.0

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Blankman

1994 • 96 min

Adventure, Comedy, Family

Darryl is a quiet man with a playful imagination. He's a brilliant inventor who builds amazing things from junk. When he accidentally creates a formula for bulletproof clothing, Darryl decides to use his skills for something more. He sets out…

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Blast

2004 • 92 min

Lamont Dixon, a former Navy SEAL now working as a tugboat captain towing an offshore oil rig, thought he'd left his past behind. However, his peaceful life is disrupted when an offshore drilling protest escalates into a terrorist hijacking. As…

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Gridlock'd

1997 • 91 min • Budget $5M • Box office $5M

Comedy, Crime, Drama

Two friends, Spoon and Stretch, are forced to confront their drug habits after witnessing a friend's overdose. They desperately try to get help through a government detox program, but face endless delays and bureaucratic obstacles. Pursued by drug dealers and…

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Crazy Sexy Cool: The TLC Story

2013 • 104 min

Starting in Atlanta, TLC rapidly gained international recognition in the 1990s, becoming one of the best-selling and most acclaimed female groups ever. Their highly publicized journey included both triumphs and hardships, but TLC profoundly impacted the music industry with their…

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7.5

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Concussion

2015 • 123 min • Budget $35M • Box office $50M

Drama

This dramatic thriller follows the true story of Dr. Bennet Omalu, an American immigrant and brilliant forensic neuropathologist. He made the groundbreaking discovery of CTE, a brain disease linked to football, in a professional player and then bravely fought to…

7.1

13+

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Hotel Rwanda

2004 • 122 min • Budget $17M • Box office $38M

Drama, History, War

Based on true events, the film is set in Rwanda during the 1990s, a time when over a million Tutsis were murdered in a genocide largely ignored internationally. Hotel owner Paul Rusesabagina uses his hotel to shelter over a thousand…

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The Man in 3B

2015 • 93 min

Daryl Graham's arrival at his new Jamaica, Queens apartment building sparks a neighborhood buzz. Everyone notices him – his looks and confidence make him the object of desire for both men and women. Connie, a dissatisfied wife, seeks Daryl's help…

6.1

5.4

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Roll Bounce

2005 • 112 min • Budget $10

Comedy, Drama, Family

Summer 1978. A group of teenage friends navigate typical adolescent hurdles when their local roller-skating rink shuts down, requiring them to find a new place to hang out.

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Carter's Army

1975 • 70 min

A prejudiced officer is assigned to lead an all-Black unit on a critical mission: destroy a vital hydroelectric dam in Nazi Germany. Failure to do so will significantly slow the Allied advance and extend the war.

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I'm Bout It

1997 • 110 min

"I'm Bout It" is a 1997 film by rapper Master P. The movie details his life growing up in an uptown ghetto of New Orleans. Master P wrote, directed, and starred in the film.

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Pariah

2011 • 86 min • Budget $500K • Box office $769K

Drama

A Brooklyn teenager struggles with who they are while navigating friendships, love, and family expectations as they explore their sexuality.

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7.2

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A Knight in Camelot

1998 • 90 min

Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy

A modern scientist is unexpectedly transported to King Arthur's medieval England after a computer malfunction. She arrives with her laptop, which she uses to amaze the court with her advanced knowledge and skills, appearing like magic to those in this…

5.5

4.8

Cry Freedom

1987 • 157 min • Budget $29M • Box office $25M

Drama

"Freedom's Requiem" tells the powerful true story of an unexpected friendship that develops during the difficult apartheid era in South Africa during the 1970s. The film offers a direct look at the life-changing connection between Donald Woods, a white journalist…

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7.4

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2016 • 139 min • Budget $24M • Box office $64M

Drama

Set in 1950s Pittsburgh, the film follows a Black father grappling with the challenges of poverty and racism while striving to provide for his family. He also battles personal struggles as he navigates life.

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7.2

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Class Act

1992 • 98 min

Comedy, Drama

This comedy-drama follows Duncan and Blade, two very different students whose lives are upended by a school record mix-up. The academically gifted Duncan is mistakenly identified as a delinquent and unexpectedly gains notoriety. He initially enjoys the attention, but it…

6.1

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Dead Homiez

1993 • 113 min

The film dramatizes a true story: the 1988 murder of Darryl "Poo Bear" Young, a member of the Bloods gang and the cousin of director Billy Wright. The film features commentary from members of various Los Angeles street gangs, including…

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6.1

Ghost Dad

1990 • 84 min • Budget $30M • Box office $25M

Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Elliot Hopper is a devoted father trying to provide for his children after his wife dies. He’s on the verge of a business deal that could solve their financial problems, but he’s killed in a taxi accident before it can…

5.1

4.4

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'Til Death Do Us Part

2017 • 99 min

Thriller

Michael and Madison Roland had a future planned, but Michael’s controlling behavior transforms their seemingly perfect marriage into an abusive situation. To escape, Madison fakes her death with the help of her best friend and tries to begin a new…

6.0

4.7

13+

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+16

Senseless

1998 • 93 min • Box office $13M

Comedy, Romance

A curious college student gets a chance to explore how people perceive the world when he participates in a new drug experiment. The drug dramatically sharpens his senses – colors become more vivid, sounds louder, and touch more intense. As…

6.2

6.0

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Leonard Part 6

1987 • 85 min

Following his divorce, Leonard Parker left espionage to open a restaurant. His estranged wife won't communicate with him, and his daughter is dating a man significantly older than him – a pattern of rapidly changing partners. Now, the government needs…

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13th

2016 • 100 min

Documentary

This film examines the American prison system, revealing how it reflects the country's ongoing history of racial inequality.

7.9

8.2

17+

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Annie

2014 • 118 min • Budget $65M • Box office $136M

Comedy, Drama, Family

Annie is a spirited foster child who has learned to survive on the streets of New York City in 2014. Abandoned as a baby with a promise of return, she has endured a difficult life with her cruel foster mother,…

6.2

5.4

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100

Cheaper to Keep Her

2011 • 121 min

Raymond Mays intends to improve his life by getting a divorce from his wife, but his plan goes wrong when the judge awards her all of his assets. Suddenly, Raymond must find new ways to end the marriage without losing…

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