Looking for some powerful masterpieces about Black history to make your next movie night more thought-provoking? You’ve come to the right place.

From smart modern classics to powerful documentaries, we’ve put together a list of nine Black queer films that are guaranteed to elevate your watching experience. You’ll find plenty of classics here, as well as some lesser-known movies that deserve to be on your radar. So grab the popcorn, get comfy and pop something good on.

The Color Purple
The film adaptation of Alice Munro’s ground-breaking 1982 novel was a box office triumph when it was released, and the coming-of-age story remains a classic to this day. Whoopi Goldberg earned an Oscar nomination for her turn as Celie, as she navigates abuse, poverty and loss in rural Georgia in the early 20th century.

Paris is Burning
Jennie Livingstone’s 1990 documentary offers an unfiltered look at the ballroom scene of New York City in the 1980s, and Black and Latinx houses are at the very heart of it. Paris is Burning documents legendary figures in the scene, including Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey and Venus Extravaganza. In addition to capturing this vibrant scene, the film also touches upon a number of other themes, including HIV, racism and transphobia.

The Watermelon Woman
Lesbian filmmaker Cheryl Dunye made history in 1996 when she became the first Black lesbian woman to direct a feature film: The Watermelon Woman. In the film, Dunye plays Cheryl, a young Black woman who balances her day job at the video store with her filmmaking passions, as she endeavours to make a movie about an actress who played offensive archetype roles in 1930s films.

The Aggressives
Filmed in New York City over the course of five years, The Aggressives is a documentary that follows a group of masculine-presenting and/or identifying people of colour who were assigned female at birth. This intimate documentary ignites powerful conversations about identity, masculinity and how Black culture can be both fetishised and weaponised.

Bessie
The iconic blues singer Bessie Smith is at the centre of this HBO biopic, starring Queen Latifah. Bessie chronicles the eponymous’ musician’s life, from her difficult childhood, filled with abuse and loss, to her early career on the vaudeville scene, to her success as a recording artist. In addition to her ups and downs in the industry, the film touches upon her life as a queer woman.

The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson
When it comes to queer liberation, it’s impossible to overstate the contribution of Marsha P. Johnson, who, alongside Sylvia Rivera and other LGBTQ+ activists, led the Stonewall uprising of 1969. This Netflix documentary explores Johnson’s trailblazing work through a mix of archival footage and new interviews.

Tongues United
This experimental documentary film from 1989 aimed to uplift the voices of queer Black men in the US. Tongues United weaves together personal accounts, archival footage and poetry to explore the marginalisation, racism and homophobia faced by the featured men.

Moonlight
During the 89th Academy Awards, Moonlight was victorious over La La Land when it was named Best Picture. The film explores the life of Chiron through three distinct stages of his life, as he navigates his identity as well as a great deal of emotional and physical abuse.

Tangerine
While he may be best known for his latest film, Anora, Sean Baker’s early work is just as engaging, albeit less well-known. Baker’s 2015 film, Tangerine, stars Kitana Kiki Rodriguez as Sin-Dee Rella, a trans sex worker who seeks revenge after learning her boyfriend has been disloyal. The film was shot using three iPhones, and has become a cult classic thanks to is witty script and distinct aesthetic.

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