I have a confession to make: I am a hopeless romantic. I love hearing people share the story of how they fell in love and I watch romantic movies more often than I’d like to admit. I love romance movies of all kinds but black romances hold a special place in my heart. It’s so important that there are positive representations of Black Love in the world. I love to see people who look like me portray the beauty and complexity of an emotion that filmmakers have attempted to capture for decades.
Love isn’t perfect and no love story skips past drama right to the happily ever after. Love is messy, complicated and downright savage at times. That’s why I love movies like Just Wright, Beyond the Lights and Boomerang which show love for the crazy, stupid, self-inflicted torture it can be at times.
Here are 12 of the most heartfelt, funny and thought-provoking Black films to remind you how good it is to love and be loved. And because Valentine’s Day is all about love in all its forms, there are a few non-romantic love movies for the single folks like myself. Happy watching!
Beyond the Lights
Beyond the Lights has earned its place among our Black romance cult favorites. The scene where Noni shows Kaz her natural hair- talk about all the feels!
Brown Sugar
Everyone who thinks that a man and woman can’t be best friends without falling in love, this movie proves you are right!
Girls Trip
Just in time for Galentine’s day, Girls Trip is the exactly what you need to remember that whether you are single or taken, the bond you have with your friends is just as special.
Love Jones
Love Jones is hands down my favorite movie of all time! It just delivers a whole bunch of 90s realness across your TV screens. By the way, don’t forget to thank me once you’ve had a glimpse of Larenz Tate shirtless.
Boomerang
If you don’t watch any other movie on this list, please watch this one. That is all!
Waiting to Exhale
Waiting to Exhale is both a testament to female friendship and a case study in love problems. Every woman has wanted to take a page from Bernadine’s book at some point.
Secret Life of Bees
Not your typical Valentine’s Day movie, the Secret Life of Bees explores love between children and their parents, interracial love and the love between family members. With all this love, it seems to qualify as a romance to me but I’ll let you decide.
Just Wright
To all my fellow eternally single people, this one’s for you. The queen let’s us know there’s still hope for us!
There you have it! 8 Valentine’s Day movies to watch other than Love and Basketball and The Wood. Honestly, haven’t we watched them enough lol?
What movies would you add to the list? Let me know in the comments!
