Black History Month is coming to a close, but before it does, there is still time to go over the best films to watch during the month of February. 

The Trial of the Chicago Seven (2020)

Aaron Sorkin’s directorial debut is hardly a film that centers around civil rights, but many racial prejudices are portrayed through the story of Bobby Seale, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. Bobby Seale was the chairman of the Black Panthers, a civil rights group. The majority of the film takes place in court proceedings, and the urgency and emotion of the film makes you sympathetic to all of the characters. The acting in this movie is incredible, and Sorkin’s script shines through in a roster of outstanding scripts in movies like The Social Network. Trial of the Chicago Seven also received five Oscar nominations. 

Judas and the Black Messiah (2021) 

Judas and the Black Messiah is quite possibly the most intense movie on this list. The film follows FBI Informant William O’Neal, played by Lakeith Stanfield, and his infiltration into the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party. Without spoiling the film, saying that it’s a heartbreaking experience is quite the understatement. Each trial and tribulation of the Black Panthers are vividly outlined, and Lakeith Stanfield’s performance along with Daniel Kaluuya is frankly stunning.

BlacKkKlansman (2018) 

John David Washington and Adam Driver play policemen Ron Stallworth and Flip Zimmerman, who are sent to bring down a chapter of the Ku Klux Klan. While this film does have an overall serious tone, there are a few darkly comedic moments which make this movie a lot more of an easy watch than Judas and the Black Messiah. BlacKkKlansman is expertly directed and acted, and is my personal favorite movie on this list.

Hidden Figures (2016) 

Hidden Figures is the true story of three black women who worked at NASA at the time of the space race, and their collective rises to importance in their various positions: Katherine Johnson as a mathematician, Mary Jackson as a scientist, and Dorothy Vaughn as a supervisor. This film is a much lighter take on many of the civil rights issues of the time, and also sheds light on issues regarding women’s rights.

Green Book (2018) 

Mahershala Ali plays Don Shirley, an African American jazz pianist on tour. He is put under  the protection of Frank Vallelonga due to the unrest of the racial climate of the time. This film is excellent at evolving its characters, is entertaining to the last minute, and it’s possibly the most critically acclaimed movie on this list.

12 Years a Slave (2013) 

12 Years a Slave is the real-life depiction of Solomon Northup, an African-American educated freeman who is captured and once again enslaved. The gruesome movie is not for the faint of heart.

Soul (2020) 

Soul is not necessarily a film that focuses on slavery or civil rights, but its depiction of the city, its jazz influences, and cast of characters are certainly a turning point for a Pixar universe that is trying to be more diverse.

Black Panther (2018) 

Black Panther again was not a movie that focused on the Civil Rights movement or slavery, but it does raise very relevant questions regarding what richer countries should do in regards to the relief efforts of more underprivileged countries. Black Panther is an essential staple for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

So there you have it, eight of the most essential movies to watch during Black History Month. Even though these stories can be intense, and at times even gruesome, they are a great way to help us understand some of the atrocities and victories of the past.