African-American Directors
Movie Recommendations
For those interested in African-Americans in the film industry, staff at Skokie Public Library have compiled this selected list of African-American directors. Click on the names of the directors to view a list of movies that they have directed, acted in, produced, or written.
- Debbie Allen
- The Old Settler. Not rated. 2001. DVD 791.4572 OLD TV
- Maya Angelou
- Down in the Delta. PG-13. 1998. DVD Drama
- Orlando Bagwell
- Africans in America: America's Journey Through Slavery. Not rated. 2000.
DVD 973.0496 A
Eyes on the Prize: America's Civil Rights Movement. Not rated. 1986.
DVD 323.40973 W - Bryan Barber
- Idlewild. R. 2006. DVD Musical
- Neema Barnette.
- All You've Got. PG-13. 2006. DVD Drama
Heaven Ain't Hard to Find. PG-13. 2010. DVD Drama
Miracle's Boys. Not rated. 2004. DVD 791.4572 MIR TV
Zora is My Name! Not rated. 1989. DVD 791.4572 ZOR TV - Reggie Rock Blythewood.
- Biker Boyz. PG-13. 2003. DVD Action/Adventure
- Charles Burnett
- Finding Buck McHenry. Not rated. 2000. Youth DVD
Killer of Sheep. Not rated. 1977. DVD Drama
Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: A Musical Journey. Not rated. 2003.
DVD 781.64309 M
My Brother's Wedding (included on Killer of Sheep: The Charles Burnett Collection). Not rated. 1983. DVD Drama
NightJohn. PG-13. 1996. DVD 791.4572 NIG TV
Selma, Lord, Selma. PG. 1999. Youth DVD
To Sleep with Anger. PG. 1990. VHS Drama - LeVar Burton
- Miracle's Boys. Not rated. 2004. DVD 791.4572 MIR TV
Soul Food: The Series. Not rated. 2000-01. DVD 791.4572 SOU TV - Thomas Carter
- Coach Carter. PG-13. 2005. DVD Drama
Gifted Hands. Not rated. 2009. DVD 791.4572 GIF TV
Save the Last Dance. PG-13. 2000. DVD Drama
Swing Kids. PG-13. 1993. DVD Drama - Christopher Scott Cherot.
- G. R. 2002. DVD Drama
- Vondie Curtis-Hall
- Glitter. PG-13. 2001. DVD Musical
Redemption. Not rated. 2004. DVD 791.4572 RED TV
Waist Deep. R. 2006. DVD Action/Adventure - Lee Daniels
- Precious. R. 2009. DVD Drama and Blu-ray Drama
Shadowboxer. R. 2005. DVD Drama - Julie Dash
- Daughters of the Dust. PG. 1991. DVD Drama
The Rosa Parks Story. Not rated. 2002. DVD 791.4572 ROS TV - Ernest Dickerson
- Bones. R. 2001. DVD Horror
Miracle's Boys. Not rated. 2004. DVD 791.4572 MIR TV
Monday Night Mayhem. Not rated. 2002. DVD 791.4572 MON TV
Never Die Alone. R. 2004. DVD Drama - Bill Duke
- The Cemetery Club. PG-13. 1993. DVD Comedy
Deep Cover. R. 1992. DVD Action/Adventure
Hoodlum. R. 1997. DVD Drama
Miracle's Boys. Not rated. 2004. DVD 791.4572 MIR TV
Not Easily Broken. PG-13. 2009. DVD Drama
A Rage in Harlem. R. 1991. DVD Drama
A Raisin in the Sun. Not rated. 1989. VHS Drama - Cheryl Dunye
- My Baby's Daddy. PG-13. 2004. DVD Comedy
- Charles S. Dutton
- Against the Ropes. PG-13. 2004. DVD Drama
The Corner. Not rated. 2000. DVD 791.4572 COR TV - Rick Famuyiwa
- Brown Sugar. PG-13. 2002. DVD Drama
Our Family Wedding. PG-13. 2010. DVD Comedy
The Wood. R. 1999. DVD Comedy - Carl Franklin
- Devil in a Blue Dress. R. 1995. DVD Drama
High Crimes. PG-13. 2002. DVD Drama
One True Thing. R. 1998. DVD Drama
Out of Time. PG-13. 2003. DVD Drama - Morgan Freeman
- Bopha! PG-13. 1993. DVD Drama
- Antoine Fuqua
- Brooklyn's Finest. R. 2009. DVD Drama and Blu-ray Drama
King Arthur. PG-13. 2004. DVD Action/Adventure
The Replacement Killers. R. 1998. DVD Action/Adventure
Shooter. R. 2007. DVD Action/Adventure
Tears of the Sun. R. 2003. DVD Action/Adventure
Training Day. R. 2001. DVD Drama - Darren Grant
- Diary of a Mad Black Woman. PG-13. 2005. DVD Comedy
- F. Gary Gray
- Be Cool. PG-13. 2005. DVD Comedy
Friday. R. 1995. DVD Comedy
The Italian Job. PG-13. 2003. DVD Action/Adventure
Law Abiding Citizen. R. 2009. DVD Drama
A Man Apart. R. 2003. DVD Action/Adventure
The Negotiator. R. 1998. DVD Action/Adventure
Set it Off. R. 1996. DVD Action/Adventure - Sanaa Hamri
- Just Wright. PG. 2010. DVD Comedy
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. PG-13. 2008. DVD Drama
Something New. PG-13. 2005. DVD Comedy - Gary Hardwick
- The Brothers. R. 2001. DVD Comedy
Deliver Us From Eva. R. 2003. DVD Comedy - Rob Hardy
- The Gospel. PG. 2005. DVD Drama
Stomp the Yard. PG-13. 2006. DVD Drama - Kevin Hooks
- Passenger 57. R. 1992. DVD Action/Adventure
Sounder. PG. 2003. Youth DVD - Reginald Hudlin
- The Great White Hype. R. 1996. DVD Comedy
House Party. R. 1990. DVD Comedy
Serving Sara. PG-13. 2002. DVD Comedy - Albert and Allen Hughes
- The Book of Eli. R. 2010. DVD Action/Adventure and Blu-ray Action/Adventure
Dead Presidents. R. 1995. DVD Drama
From Hell. R. 2001. DVD Horror
New York I Love You. R. 2009. DVD Drama and Blu-ray Drama - Terry Jervis
- Raising Tennis Aces: The Williams Story. Not rated. 2001. DVD 796.342092 R
- Stan Lathan
- Almos’ a Man. Not rated. 1976. DVD 813 A
Go Tell It On The Mountain. Not rated. 1984. DVD 791.4572 GO TV
Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Not rated. 1987. VHS 791.4572 UNC TV - Malcolm Lee
- The Best Man. R. 2000. DVD Drama
Roll Bounce. PG-13. 2005. DVD Comedy
Soul Men. R. 2007. DVD Comedy
Undercover Brother. PG-13. 2002. DVD Comedy
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins. PG-13. 2008. DVD Comedy
Witless Protection. PG-13. 2008. DVD Comedy - Spike Lee
- Bamboozled. R. 2000. DVD Comedy
Clockers. R. 1995. DVD Drama
Crooklyn. PG-13. 1994. DVD Drama
Do the Right Thing. R. 1989. DVD Drama
4 Little Girls. Not rated. 1997. DVD 364.1523 F and VHS 364.1523 F
Get on the Bus. R. 1996. DVD Drama
Girl 6. R. 1996. DVD Comedy
He Got Game. R. 1998. DVD Drama
If God is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise. Not rated. 2010. DVD 976.335 I
Inside Man. R. 2006. DVD Drama
Jungle Fever. R. 1991. DVD Drama
Malcolm X. PG-13. 1992. DVD Drama
Miracle at St. Anna. R. 2008. DVD Drama
Miracle's Boys. Not rated. 2004. DVD 791.4572 MIR TV
Mo’ Better Blues. R. 1990. DVD Drama
The Original Kings of Comedy. R. 2000. DVD 792.23 O
Passing Strange. Not rated. 2009. DVD 792.642 P
School Daze. R. 1988. DVD Comedy
She Hate Me. R. 2004. DVD Comedy
She’s Gotta Have It. R. 1986. DVD Comedy
Sucker Free City. R. 2004. DVD 791.4572 SUC TV
Summer of Sam. R. 1999. DVD Drama
25th Hour. R. 2002. DVD Drama
When the Levees Broke. Not rated. 2006. DVD 363.34922 W - Kasi Lemmons
- The Caveman’s Valentine. R. 2000. DVD Drama
Eve’s Bayou. R. 1997. DVD Drama
Talk to Me. R. 2007. DVD Drama - Nnegest Likke
- Phat Girlz. PG-13. 2006. DVD Comedy
- Darnell Martin
- Cadillac Records. R. 2008. DVD Drama
I Like it Like That. R. 1994. DVD Drama
The Lost Valentine. Not rated. 2011. DVD 791.4572 LOS TV
Their Eyes Were Watching God. Not rated. 2005. DVD 791.4572 THE TV - Oscar Micheaux
- Within Our Gates. Not rated. 1919. VHS 791.4375
- Gilbert Moses
- Roots. Not rated. 1977. (co-director) DVD 791.4572 ROO TV
- Stanley Nelson
- Freedom Riders. Not rated. 2010. DVD
323.1196073
F
The Murder of Emmet Till. Not rated. 2003. DVD 364.1523 M
We Shall Remain. Not rated. 2009. DVD 970.00497 W - Gordon Parks
- The Learning Tree. PG. 1969. DVD Drama
Shaft. R. 1971. DVD Action/Adventure - Tyler Perry
- Daddy's Little Girls. PG-13. 2007. DVD Drama
The Family That Preys. PG-13. 2008. DVD Drama
For Colored Girls. R. 2010. DVD Drama and Blu-ray Drama
I Can Do Bad All By Myself. Not rated. 2002. DVD Comedy
Madea's Big Happy Family. PG-13. 2011. DVD Comedy and Blu-ray Comedy
Madea's Big Happy Family: The Play. Not rated. 2010. DVD Comedy
Madea Goes to Jail. PG-13. 2008. DVD Comedy
Madea's Class Reunion. Not rated. 2003. DVD Comedy
Madea's Family Reunion. Not rated. 2002. DVD Comedy
Meet the Browns. PG-13. 2008. DVD Comedy
Precious. R. 2009. DVD Drama and Blu-ray Drama
What's Done in the Dark. Not rated. 2007. DVD Comedy
Why Did I Get Married? PG-13. 2007. DVD Comedy
Why Did I Get Married Too? PG-13. 2002. DVD Comedy - Sidney Poitier
- Ghost Dad. PG 1990. DVD Comedy
- Gina Prince-Blythewood
- Love & Basketball. PG-13. 2000. DVD Drama
The Secret Life of Bees. PG-13. 2008. DVD Drama - Tim Reid
- Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored. PG. 1995. DVD Drama
- Lance Rivera
- The Cookout. PG-13. 2004. DVD Comedy
The Perfect Holiday. PG. 2007. DVD Comedy - Lloyd Richards
- The Piano Lesson. PG. 1995. DVD 791.4572 PIA TV
- Chris Robinson
- ATL. PG-13. 2006. DVD Drama
- Michael Schultz
- The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Hollywood Follies.
Not rated. 1994.
DVD 791.4572 ADV v.3 TV
Krush Groove. R. 1985. DVD Drama
Cooley High. PG. 1975. DVD Comedy
Woman Thou Art Loosed. R. 2004. DVD Drama - John Singleton
- Abduction. PG-13. 2011. DVD Action/Adventure and Blu-ray Action/Adventure
Boyz ‘n the Hood. R. 1991. DVD Drama
Four Brothers. R. 2005. DVD Action/Adventure
Rosewood. R. 1997. DVD Drama
Shaft. R. 2000. DVD Action/Adventure
2 Fast 2 Furious. PG-13. 2003. DVD Action/Adventure - Jada Pinkett Smith
- The Human Contract. R. 2008. DVD Drama
- Christopher B. Stokes
- You Got Served. PG-13. 2003. DVD Drama
- Charles Stone
- Drumline. PG-13. 2002. DVD Drama
Mr. 3000. PG-13. 2004. DVD Comedy - Tim Story
- Barbershop. PG-13. 2002. DVD Comedy
Fantastic Four. PG-13. 2005. DVD Action/Adventure
Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer. PG. 2007. DVD SF/Fantasy
Taxi. PG-13. 2004. DVD Comedy - Kevin Rodney Sullivan
- Barbershop 2: Back in Business. PG-13. 2004. DVD Comedy
Guess Who. PG-13. 2005. DVD Comedy
How Stella Got Her Groove Back. R. 1998. DVD Comedy - George Tillman
- Faster. R. 2010. DVD Action/Adventure and Blu-ray Action/Adventure
Men of Honor. R. 2000. DVD Drama
Notorious. R. 2008. DVD Drama
Soul Food. R. 1997. DVD Drama - Robert Townsend
- Carmen: A Hip Hopera. PG-13. 2001. DVD 791.4572 CAR TV
Eddie Murphy: Raw. R. 1987. DVD 792.23 M9783ed
The Five Heartbeats. R. 1991. DVD Drama
Livin’ For Love: The Natalie Cole Story. Not rated. 2000. VHS 791.4572 LIV TV - Mario Van Peebles
- Baadasssss! R. 2003. DVD Drama
Hard Luck. R. 2006. DVD Action/Adventure
New Jack City. R. 1991. DVD Action/Adventure - Denzel Washington
- Antwone Fisher. PG-13. 2002. DVD Drama
The Great Debaters. PG-13. 2007. DVD Drama - Keenan Ivory Wayans
- Little Man. PG-13. 2006. DVD Comedy
Scary Movie. R. 2000. DVD Comedy
Scary Movie 2. R. 2001. DVD Comedy
White Chicks. PG-13. 2004. DVD Comedy - Forest Whitaker
- First Daughter. PG. 2004. DVD Comedy
Hope Floats. PG-13. 1998. DVD Drama
Waiting to Exhale. R. 1995. DVD Drama - Preston A. Whitmore II
- Crossover. PG-13. 2006. DVD Drama
- Spencer Williams
- The Blood of Jesus. Not rated. 1941. DVD 791.4308996 B
Juke Joint. Not rated. 1947. DVD Drama - Theodore Witcher
- Love Jones. R. 1997. DVD Drama
- Bille Woodruff
- Beauty Shop. PG-13. 2005. DVD Comedy
Bring it On: Fight to the Finish. PG-13. 2009. DVD Comedy
Honey. PG-13. 2003. DVD Drama