It’s the holiday season so we’ve put together a list of some of the best black Christmas movies you can watch with the fam. From family dramas, to family comidies to a musical starring the King of Pop, check out these 8 black holiday flicks that rep for The Culture.

 

Almost Christmas (2016)

One of the newer Black Christmas films, Almost Christmas starred Mo’Nique as the foul mouthed Aunt May, the sister of the late family matriarch. Surviving patriarch Walter (Danny Glover) hopes that his four children can get along for five days over the holidays, the first without their mother. But things aren’t looking good. Despite the somewhat serious premise, this film is heavy on the funny and light on the sappiness.

 

The Best Man Holiday (2013)

The sequel to one of the best black romantic dramaties of the 90’s that was 14 years in the making. The Best Man Holiday, follows the four couples from The Best Man as they reunite for the first time in more than 10 years at the request of one of their friends. The trip, which takes place over Christmas, opens old wounds and creates some news one for both the cast and viewers. Unlike Almost Christmas, this one is a tear-jerker. But it did well lead by it’s all-star class of creators for The Culture including Terrance Howard, Morris Chestnut and Nia Long as it grossed over $71 million worldwide.

 

Black Nativity (2013)

This is quite he interesting black Christmas movie. One, it’s a musical. Two, it’s based on the eponymous play by Langston Hughes. And three, it stars, Angela Bassett, Forrest Whitaker, Mary J. Blige and Nas. Need we say more?

 

A Diva’s Christmas Carol (2000)

Even though remakes of A Christmas Carol are played out, and Hallmark Channel movies are even more so, A Diva’s Christmas Carol is still a flick well worth checking out. Yeah it’s still cheesy, but Vanessa Williams as Ebony Scrooge, a pop superstar with a nasty attitude and no Christmas spirit visited by three ghost (Kathy Griffin as the Ghost of Christmas Past and John Taylor from Duran Duran plays the Ghost of Christmas Present) has just enough of The Culture in it that it makes our list.

 

Friday After Next (2002)

The third (and so far last) film in the #CultureClassic Friday film franchise has rapper Ice Cube returning as Craig along side his cousin Die Die (Mike Epps) in a last minute attempt to make rent after being robbed by someone dressed as Santa Claus. Together they work a security job during the day and then throw a party at night. A perfect movies? No. The best Friday movie? No. But it is funny and full of hilarious and memorable scenes and lines.

 

Preacher’s Wife (1996)

In this classic, Denzel Washington plays an angel coming to the aid of Henry (Courtney B. Vance), a reverend struggling to keep the doors of his church open. Dudley uses his powers to fight colonizers/gentrifiers trying to shutter the church’s doors. So far so good…but he also falls for Henry’s wife Julia (played by the one and only Whitney Houston). The movie culminates in a midnight Christmas service at the church that reminds everyone that doing what’s right is sometimes more important than your own personal interests.

This Christmas (2007)

The film is based on the 1970 Donny Hathaway song of the same name, which is covered by Chris Brown in the film and is a Christmas time story that centers on the Whitfield family, whose eldest has come home for the first time in four years. And of course the family proceeds to overcome many trials and obstacles during the Christmas season. It’s a bit standard but the music is great and it’s overall positive portrayal of a black family and you can never have too many of those.

 

The Wiz (1978)

The Wiz is Barry Gordy’s black spin-off of The Wizard of Oz starring two true icons of The Culture Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, and black Christmas movie or not, it’s one of the most important black films to ever exist. In this version of the story, Dorothy (Ross) gets transported to the Land of Oz during an eerie snowstorm that sweeps down her Harlem block on the evening of Christmas. From the music to the twist on the original story, The Wiz is a must-watch.

 

 

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Written by @TalentedMrFord

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