80's Black Movies: Curated List of Nearly 40 Films

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The 80s was a breakthrough decade in Black Cinema

This era gave us films like "The Color Purple", a poignant drama that touched hearts worldwide, and "Coming to America", a comedy that has since become a classic. "Do the Right Thing" sparked important conversations about race, while "A Soldier's Story" and "Lean on Me" showcased powerful performances.

Learn more about these films, their cast, trailers, and where to watch them.

Watch The Trailer:
Eddie Murphy: Delirious Trailer
Black Cast
Eddie Murphy
Release Date
August 17, 1983
Synopsis

Taped live and in concert at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. in August, 1983, Eddie Murphy: Delirious captures Eddie Murphy's wild and outrageous stand-up comedy act, which he performed in New York and eighteen other cities across the U.S. to standing-room-only audiences. Eddie's comedy was groundbreaking, completely new, razor sharp and definitely funny.Eddie Murphy pontificates in his own vulgarly hilarious fashion on everything from bizarre sexual fantasies to reliving the family barbecue, and is peppered with Eddie's one-of-a-kind wit. Laugh along as Eddie reminiscences of hot childhood days and the ice cream man intermixed with classic vocal parodies of top American entertainers.Experience Eddie Murphy at his best, live and red hot! Delirious! Uncensored and Uncut!

Eddie Murphy: Delirious

Some Kind of Hero

Comedy, Drama
Watch The Trailer:
Some Kind of Hero Trailer
Black Cast
Olivia Cole, Paul Benjamin, Richard Pryor
Release Date
April 02, 1982
Synopsis

A Vietnam vet returns home from a prisoner of war camp and is greeted as a hero, but is quickly forgotten and soon discovers how tough survival is in his own country.

Some Kind of Hero

Bustin' Loose

Comedy, Adventure
Watch The Trailer:
Bustin' Loose Trailer
Black Cast
Cicely Tyson, Oz Scott, Richard Pryor
Release Date
May 22, 1981
Synopsis

After ex-con Joe Braxton violates his probation he is given a second chance, all he has to do is drive a group of special kids across the country.

Bustin' Loose

The Golden Child

Comedy, Mystery, Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Watch The Trailer:
The Golden Child Trailer
Black Cast
Eddie Murphy
Release Date
December 12, 1986
Synopsis

After a Tibetan boy, the mystical Golden Child, is kidnapped by the evil Sardo Numspa, humankind's fate hangs in the balance. On the other side of the world in Los Angeles, the priestess Kee Nang seeks the Chosen One, who will save the boy from death. When Nang sees social worker Chandler Jarrell on television discussing his ability to find missing children, she solicits his expertise, despite his skepticism over being "chosen."

The Golden Child
Watch The Trailer:
Jumpin' Jack Flash Trailer
Black Cast
Jeffrey Joseph, Whoopi Goldberg
Release Date
October 10, 1986
Synopsis

Terry works for a bank, and uses computers to communicate with clients all over the world. One day she gets a strange message from an unknown source. The message is coded. After decoding the message, Terry becomes embroiled in an espionage ring. People are killed, and Terry is chased. Throughout she remains in contact with this unknown person, who needs Terry to help save his life.

Jumpin' Jack Flash

She's Gotta Have It

Comedy, Romance
Watch The Trailer:
She's Gotta Have It Trailer
Black Cast
John Canada Terrell, Joie Lee, Raye Dowell, S. Epatha Merkerson, Spike Lee, Tommy Redmond Hicks, Tracy Camilla Johns
Directed By Black
Spike Lee
Written By Black
Spike Lee
Release Date
August 08, 1986
Synopsis

The story of Nola Darling's simultaneous sexual relationships with three different men is told by her and by her partners and other friends. All three men wanted her to commit solely to them; Nola resists being "owned" by a single partner.

She's Gotta Have It

Krush Groove

Drama, Romance, Music
Black Cast
Blair Underwood, Damon Wimbley, Darren Robinson, Darryl McDaniels, LL Cool J, Michael Schultz, Sheila E.
Release Date
October 25, 1985
Synopsis

Russell Walker is a young, successful manager of rap performers, handling acts for the Krush Groove label, including Run-DMC and The Fat Boys. When Run-D.M.C. has a hit record and Russell needs more money to press more copies, he borrows it from a street hustler and soon regrets his decision.

Krush Groove

The Last Dragon

Comedy, Action, Adventure
Watch The Trailer:
The Last Dragon Trailer
Black Cast
Jim Moody, Leo O'Brien, Michael Schultz, Taimak, Vanity
Release Date
March 22, 1985
Synopsis

A young man searches for the "master" to obtain the final level of martial arts mastery known as the glow. Along the way he must fight an evil martial arts expert and rescue a beautiful singer from an obsessed music promoter.

The Last Dragon
Black Cast
Adolfo Quinones, Harry Caesar, Michael Chambers
Release Date
December 21, 1984
Synopsis

The dance crew from "Breakin'" bands together to save a community center from a greedy developer bent on building a shopping center in its place.

Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo

A Soldier's Story

Drama, Mystery, Crime, War
Watch The Trailer:
A Soldier's Story Trailer
Release Date
September 14, 1984
Synopsis

In a rural town in Louisiana, a black Master Sergeant is found shot to death just outside the local Army Base. A military lawyer, also a black man, is sent from Washington to conduct an investigation. Facing an uncooperative chain of command and fearful black troops, Captain Davenport must battle with deceit and prejudice in order to find out exactly who really did kill Sergeant Waters.

A Soldier's Story

The Brother from Another Planet

Comedy, Drama, Science Fiction
Black Cast
Bill Cobbs, Daryl Edwards, Joe Morton, Leonard Jackson, Rosanna Carter
Release Date
September 07, 1984
Synopsis

An alien slave crash-lands in New York City while being pursued by two Men in Black bounty hunters. His attempt to find a place for himself on Earth parallels that of the immigrant experience.

The Brother from Another Planet

Purple Rain

Drama, Romance, Music
Watch The Trailer:
Purple Rain Trailer
Black Cast
Clarence Williams III, Jerome Benton, Morris Day, Prince
Release Date
July 27, 1984
Synopsis

A victim of his own anger, the Kid is a Minneapolis musician on the rise with his band, the Revolution, escaping a tumultuous home life through music. While trying to avoid making the same mistakes as his truculent father, the Kid navigates the club scene and a rocky relationship with a captivating singer, Apollonia. But another musician, Morris, looks to steal the Kid's spotlight -- and his girl.

Purple Rain

Beat Street

Drama, Music
Watch The Trailer:
Beat Street Trailer
Black Cast
Doug E. Fresh, Duane Jones, Guy Davis, Kadeem Hardison, Mary Alice, Rae Dawn Chong, Stan Lathan
Release Date
June 08, 1984
Synopsis

An aspiring DJ, from the South Bronx, and his best friend, a promoter, try to get into show business by exposing people to hip-hop music and culture.

Beat Street

Beverly Hills Cop

Comedy, Action, Crime
Watch The Trailer:
Beverly Hills Cop Trailer
Black Cast
Eddie Murphy, Gilbert R. Hill
Release Date
January 25, 1984
Synopsis

Tough-talking Detroit cop Axel Foley heads to the rarified world of Beverly Hills in his beat-up Chevy Nova to investigate a friend's murder, but soon realizes he's stumbled onto something much more complicated. Bungling rookie detective, Billy Rosewood joins the fish-out-of-water Axel and shows him the West Los Angeles ropes.

Beverly Hills Cop
Watch The Trailer:
Breakin' Trailer
Black Cast
Adolfo Quinones, Ice-T, Michael Chambers, Phineas Newborn III
Release Date
January 10, 1984
Synopsis

A struggling young dancer joins forces with two breakdancers and together they become a street sensation.

Breakin'

Coming to America

Comedy, Romance
Watch The Trailer:
Coming to America Trailer
Black Cast
Arsenio Hall, Eddie Murphy, Eriq La Salle, Frankie Faison, James Earl Jones, John Amos, Madge Sinclair, Shari Headley, Allison Dean
Release Date
June 29, 1988
Synopsis

Prince Akeem, heir to the throne of Zamunda, leaves the tropical paradise kingdom in search of his queen. What better place than Queens, New York, to find his bride? Joined by his loyal servant and friend, Semmi, Akeem attempts to blend in as an ordinary American and begin his search.

Coming to America

For Queen & Country

Drama, Action, Thriller
Black Cast
Denzel Washington
Release Date
May 17, 1988
Synopsis

A retired British soldier struggles to adjust to everyday life, with increasing difficulty.

For Queen & Country

Moving

Comedy
Watch The Trailer:
Moving Trailer
Black Cast
Don Franklin, John Wesley, Richard Pryor, Stacey Dash
Release Date
March 04, 1988
Synopsis

Arlo accepts what seems to him to be a dream promotion to Idaho. He soon discovers, however, that moving has its own share of problems.

Moving

School Daze

Comedy, Drama
Watch The Trailer:
School Daze Trailer
Black Cast
Art Evans, Bill Nunn, Giancarlo Esposito, Laurence Fishburne, Ossie Davis, Samuel L. Jackson, Spike Lee, James Bond III
Directed By Black
Spike Lee
Written By Black
Spike Lee
Release Date
February 12, 1988
Synopsis

Fraternity and sorority members clash with other students at a historically black college during homecoming weekend.

School Daze

Action Jackson

Comedy, Drama, Action, Adventure, Crime
Watch The Trailer:
Action Jackson Trailer
Black Cast
Bill Duke, Carl Weathers, Roger Aaron Brown, Stan Foster, Vanity
Release Date
February 12, 1988
Synopsis

Vengence drives a tough Detroit cop to stay on the trail of a power hungry auto magnate who's systematically eliminating his competition.

Action Jackson

About the Author

Gil Santos

With over 20 years of experience in various narrative mediums, Gil Santos is the singular mind behind Culture Bay. His journey began as a lyricist and web developer, later expanding into crafting dynamic conference presentations and engaging YouTube sketches. This diverse background has allowed him to hone his storytelling skills across different fields. Santos' lifelong passion for sci-fi and fantasy, combined with his knack for interactive storytelling, culminate in Culture Bay - a fusion of innovative ideas and engaging narratives intended for all to enjoy.

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