12 Must-Watch Movies By Black Filmmakers Coming to the Big Screen in 2023

From 'Creed III' to 'The Marvels,' our list includes something for everyone.

It's no secret that Hollywood has struggled with diversity. Over the years, we've seen Black stories on the big screen with an ensemble of Black actors but that doesn't mean these stories were created or directed by Black filmmakers. Strides have been made in recent years, but there's still room for more improvement.

It’s been over 100 years since Oscar Micheaux became the first African American to produce a feature-length film. Since then, we’ve seen filmmakers such as Spike Lee break into the industry with She’s Gotta Have It in 1986 and the late John Singleton make history as the youngest person (at 24) and first African American to be nominated for best director at the Academy Awards in 1991 for his debut film, Boyz n the Hood. More recent additions include Ava DuVernay becoming the first Black woman to be nominated for a Golden Globe for both best director and best picture for Selma in 2014. We can't forget Ryan Coogler for breathing life into Marvel’s Black Panther and its sequel, or Jordan Peele's Oscar-winning thriller Get Out.

These esteemed filmmakers have contributed to breaking down barriers and promoting diversity in the industry, while also becoming popular household names. The much-needed recognition of Black cinema is highlighted every year on National Black Movie Day—Saturday, Feb. 18.

To honor and celebrate Black cinema, we've compiled a list of new and upcoming movies by Black filmmakers so you can celebrate their unforgettable talent all year long. Here are 12 must-see movies by Black filmmakers.

Movies by Black filmmakers

Creed III

Directed by Michael B. Jordan
Release date: June 16, 2023
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures

Following the events of Creed and Creed II, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) squares off against one of his childhood friends, former boxing prodigy Damian (Jonathan Majors). Jordan makes his directorial debut in Creed III, which is based on a plot co-written by Keenan Coogler, Ryan Coogler and Zach Baylin. Despite the fact that this is the ninth installment in the Rocky franchise, Sylvester Stallone, who played Rocky Balboa, will not appear in it. Tessa Thompson, Florian Munteanu, Phylicia Rashad and Spence Moore II join Jordan and Majors in the movie.

House Party

Directed by Calmatic
Release date: January 13, 2023
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures

New Line Cinema puts a new spin on the fan-favorite '90s classic House Party. When two house cleaners are granted the opportunity to clean LeBron James' mansion while he is away, they decide to throw a house party. But when one of LeBron's championship rings disappears, everything goes awry. Calmatic (in his feature directorial debut) directs the LeBron James-produced comedy movie, which stars Jacob Latimore, Tosin Cole, D.C. Young Fly, Karen Obilom, Melvin Gregg and Rotimi.

You People

Directed by Kenya Barris
Release date: January 27, 2023
Distributed by Netflix

Directed by Black-ish creator Kenya Barris, You People follows a newly engaged couple, Ezra (Jonah Hill) and Amira (Lauren London), and their families as they navigate their "clashing cultures, societal expectations, and generational differences." The rom-com features a star-studded cast that includes Eddie Murphy, Nia Long, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, David Duchovny, Deon Cole and Mike Epps.

The Blackening

Directed by Tim Story
Release date: June 16, 2023
Distributed by Lionsgate

The comedy slasher film, which had its official debut at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, tells the tale of seven black friends who go away for the weekend only to find themselves trapped in a cabin with a killer with a grudge. To survive, they must rely on street smarts as well as their knowledge of horror film cliches. The cast includes Antoinette Robertson, Dewayne Perkins, Sinqua Walls, Grace Byers, X Mayo, Melvin Gregg, Yvonne Orji and Jay Pharoah.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

Directed by Steven Caple Jr.
Release date: June 9, 2023
Distributed by Paramount Pictures

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is the seventh movie in the Transformers franchise. Set in 1994, Noah (Anthony Ramos), an ex-military electronics expert, and Elena (Dominique Fishback), an artifact researcher at a museum, are drawn into the fight as Optimus Prime and the Autobots face the new character, Scourge, a fearsome adversary bent on their destruction. Michelle Yeoh, Ron Perlman, Pete Davidson, Michaela Jaé (MJ) Rodriguez, Liza Koshy, Peter Dinklage, Peter Cullen and many others star in the film.

The Marvels 

Directed by Nia DaCosta
Release date: November 10th, 2023
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios

The Marvels is a sequel to the 2019 film Captain Marvel that takes place after the events of the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel. Brie Larson, Iman Vellani, Teyonah Parris and Samuel L. Jackson appear in the MCU film. Saagar Shaikh, Zenobia Shroff and Mohan Kapur reprise their roles from Ms. Marvel.

Haunted Mansion

Directed by Justin Simien
Release date: August 11, 2023
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios

Gabbie (Rosario Dawson), a single mother, and her 9-year-old son move into their newly purchased home only to learn that it is haunted by ghosts. The cast includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Jared Leto, Winona Ryder, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, LaKeith Stanfield, Dan Levy and many others.

Chevalier

Directed by Stephen Williams
Release date: April 7, 2023
Distributed by Searchlight Pictures

Chevalier is based on the true life story of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a French-Caribbean violinist and composer who rose to prominence as a musical prodigy. Kelvin Harris Jr., Samara Weaving, Lucy Boynton, Marton Csokas, Alex Fitzalan and Minnie Driver feature in the biopic.

Lift

Directed by F. Gary Gray
Release date: August 25, 2023
Distributed by Netflix

The Netflix action-drama film starring Kevin Hart, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sam Worthington and Vincent D'Onofrio depicts a female master thief and her ex-boyfriend as they work together to steal $100 million in gold bullion that is being transported on a 777 passenger flight.

The Color Purple

Directed by Blitz Bazawule
Release date: December 20, 2023
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures

The Color Purple, a remake of Steven Spielberg's 1985 film, is a musical adaption of Alice Walker's novel about the life-long difficulties of an African American woman growing up in the South in the early 1900s. Taraji P. Henson, Halle Bailey, Danielle Brooks, H.E.R., Ciara, Fantasia Barrino, Elizabeth Marvel, Colman Domingo and others star.

They Cloned Tyrone

Directed by Juel Taylor
Release date: July 21, 2023
Distributed by Netflix

They Cloned Tyrone follows an unexpected trio as they explore a sequence of strange events that point to a sinister conspiracy lurking directly beneath their hood. The sci-fi mystery film stars John Boyega, Teyonah Parris and Jamie Foxx.

Shirley

Directed by John Ridley
Release date: 2023
Distributed by Netflix

Shirley is the biopic of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black Congresswoman and the first Black woman to run for president of the United States. The story of Chisholm's remarkable and historic presidential campaign will be told in this film. The lead role is played by Regina King, while the cast also features Lance Reddick, Terrence Howard, Christina Jackson and W. Earl Brown.