The Best 90’s Black Films
The 90’s were a booming time for Black film. This is the decade that Black movies began to reach their peak and get more recognition. Black women as well as men began to reach beyond the stereotypical roles and began owning the scene. Even young aspiring actors were given the chance to shine and make it big on the big screen. Here is a list of the best 90’s Black films of all time.
House Party (1990)
This classic film takes the audience back to their teenage years when they might have considered sneaking out of the house. Kid N’ Play are two outrageously funny high school students who are planning the super party of the year at Play’s house. The only problem is that on the day of the party Kid gets in trouble for fighting at school and his father (Robin Harris) grounds him and says that he can’t go to the party. Once his father is sound asleep, Kid makes his escape for the ultimate party experience. This is definitely a hip-hop classic.
House Party 2 (1991)
House Party 2 is the sequel to the classic House Party. Kid N’ Play are at it again. Kid is about to start college with the money that his church has raised to send him there. He is doing well in school when all of a sudden Play steals the check. Kid has only a few days to get the tuition money back and the only way that they can think of is throwing the ultimate college party. This movie is guaranteed to make you laugh.
Boyz in the Hood (1991)
This is truly a riveting and compelling movie about boys growing up in the hood. John Singleton’s portrays the social problems in inner city Los Angeles. This is the compelling story of three friends growing up together ‘in the ‘hood.’ Half-brothers Doughboy and Ricky Baker are the complete opposites of each other’s personality, presenting very different approaches to the tough lives they face. Ricky is the ‘All-American’ high school football player, looking to attain a football scholarship to USC and make his mother proud, while ‘Dough’ centers his life on the violence, alcohol, and crime surrounding him in his environment, but maintains a strong sense of pride. Between these two is their friend Tre, who is the only one, blessed enough to have a father, ‘Furious’ Styles (Lawrence Fishburne), in his life to teach him to the strength and courage of being a man. He shows him how to do what is right and to always take responsibility for his actions. This is one of my all time favorite movies. This movie never gets old and it always sends off a good message to children growing up in the ghetto.
New Jack City (1991)
The drug world is a lavish world�well at least it is for these organized criminals. They work hard to put the drugs on the street and build up their money supply, but when the cops try to stop them, things begin to get deadly.
Malcolm X (1992)
This Spike Lee film is one of the most dynamic dramatic biographies of the great national leader Malcolm X. Denzel Washington does a wonderful job portraying the Muslim figure. This movie goes through the life and death of Malcolm X. This is definitely a must see or a must see again.
Juice (1992)
Q, Bishop, Raheem, and Steel are four Harlem teens who decided to skip school one day and they find out that one of their friends was killed in a shoot out. After hearing this news, Bishop (Tupac Shakur) tells his friends that they have to get juice (respect). They decide to go to extreme limits in order to get respect by robbing a local corner grocery store, but in a fit of rage Bishop intentionally shoots and kills the clerk for no apparent reason. They run into an alley to hide and this is where Raheem tells Bishop to give him the gun, they fight, and Raheem gets shot and killed by his friend. Only the other 3 know what happened, and Bishop wants to get rid of them too.
Mo’ Money (1992)
If you love the Waynes’ family then you will absolutely love this movie. Damion Waynes plays a con artist who is trying to get his life together by leaving the conning world and enter the work force. He gets a job at a credit card company and ends up meeting the girl of his dreams (Stacy Dash). He begins to steal credit cards from the company in order to buy his girlfriend expensive gifts and live a lavish lifestyle. But not soon after he ends up being pulled into the big league of white-collar crime by his boss. This is definitely a funny and entertaining film.
Boomerang (1992)
Marcus (Eddie Murphy) is a successful advertising executive who is definitely a bachelor. He has a wonderful career, a lavish home, and he can get just about any woman that he desires. After a company merger he finds that his new boss, the gorgeous Jacqueline (Robin Givens), is treating him in exactly the same way as he treats all of his women. He begins to grow feelings for Jacquelin but she seems to only be playing him. He begins to feel hurt and humiliated by this, and his work production begins to decline. Marcus starts to get over Jacquelin when his best friend’s girlfriend and Jacquelin’s assistant Angela (Halle Berry) starts spend time with him. This movie is an eye-opener that true love can enter into a playa’s heart.
White Men Can’t Jump (1992)
Sydney (Wesley Snipes) and Billy (Woody Harralson) think that they are the best basketball hustlers in the city. They end up joining together to engage in the biggest hustling schemes around. However, tables turn when one of them hustles the other. This is a very funny movie.
Poetic Justice (1993)
Who could forget this love story between Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur? After Justice witnesses the murder of her boyfriend, she decides to not to fall in love again and focus on her South Central Los Angeles hairdressing career. The only way for her to cope with her depression is by writing beautiful poetry. On her way to a hair convention in Oakland, Justice’s friend Aiesha talks her into riding with her boyfriend and his friend in their mail truck. Justice takes the trip that will change her life.
Menace II Society (1993)
Caine is a young hustler who attempts to leave the ghetto life in Watts, CA before its too late. This is definitely a suspenseful movie.
Crooklyn (1994)
This is another Spike Lee Joint. This is the story of a little girl growing up in Brooklyn with her four older brothers and her mom and dad in the 70’s. This is a wonderful movie. A must see or must see again.
Jason’s Lyric (1994)
Jason is a T.V. salesman who is dealing with problems from his childhood. One day he meets the beautiful Lyric and he falls in love with her. He faces many struggles trying to leave the past and start a new life with Lyric. This is a dramatic love story.
Waiting to Exhale (1995)
This story is based on Terry McMillan’s novel Waiting to Exhale. This is the story of four African-American women struggling to find love. The friendship of theses four women keeps them strong as they deal with the many frustrations of their daily lives. Whitney Houston is one of the main characters in this movie.
Friday (1995)
This is one of the best comedies of all time. Craig (Ice Cube) just got fired from his job and still living with his parents. His friend Smokey (Chris Tucker) comes to cheer him up by providing Craig with his first joint. However, Craig doesn’t realize that Smokey has just smoked up all of Big Worm’s, an angry drug dealers, product and now Craig finds himself in the middle of a life-threatening situation. Besides the crazy drug dealer, Craig and Smokey have to deal with other odd neighbors throughout the day. This is definitely a Friday that they will not forget.
Losing Isaiah (1995)
This is the touching story of a mother (Halle Berry) who is addicted to drugs and throws her newborn into a dumpster. After years of rehab she finds out that her child is not dead and has been adopted by a white social work and her family. His mother struggles to get him back despite her corrupt past. This movie touches the viewer’s heart.
Dead Presidents (1995)
A Vietnam vet is back home after the war and he has to face postpartum depression and not finding a decent paying job. He and other affiliates decide to make their life better by robbing a bank. This movie is definitely a must see or must see again.
Tales From the Hood (1995)
Three young drug dealers have to go to a funeral parlor in order to pick u a huge drug shipment. When they get there they meet a funeral director who tells them four horrific tales about some of his clients that leaves them scared to death. This movie is funny and scary.
A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996)
Who can forget this black version of Fatal Attraction? Darnell (Martin Lawrence) is fast-talking party man who loves women. One day he meets the woman of his dreams (Lynn Whitfield). She is rich, beautiful, and available. But he doesn’t realize that she is crazy until she sends him on the thrill of his life. Definitely a must see or must see again.
Money Talks (1997)
An innocent convict (Chris Tucker) happens to escape prison when another convict escapes and blows up a prison bus. The same convict tries to kill (Chris) and he escapes. The only way that he can clear up his name is to get local news reporter help. This movie is incredibly funny. Chris Tucker does an excellent job.
Gridlock’d (1997)
Two friends decide to kick their drug habit after their other friend overdoses. The only problem that they have is finding a way to get into a government detox program. They have to go through so many loopholes that it becomes virtually impossible for them to shake the habit. Tupac Shakur did a wonderful job in this movie. This is one of his best films before his death.
Dorothy Dandridge (1999)
Halle Berry plays the beautiful and talented Dorothy Dandridge. This is a biography of Dandridge’s early career days. This is definitely a wonderful film and Halle Berry does an excellent job. This is a must see or must see again.
