What’s more “Christmassy” than a slew of good down-home black holiday movies? A diverse array of actors, writers, and directors are telling the stories that will fill your heart with joy this holiday season.
If you’re like me, you love watching holiday movies during the Christmas season. While there are a lot of classic white holiday movies to choose from, there are also some tremendous black holiday movies that you should add to your watch list.
The following list of Black Christmas movies is incomplete, and there’s still a long way to go when genuinely attaining equal representation. But in recent years, black holiday movies have been making their mark on the holiday movie landscape, and the writers and I are here for it.
1.
The Preacher’s Wife
Starring: Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, Courtney B. Vance
This classic black Christmas movie tells the modern retelling of “The Bishop’s Wife,” following a pastor whose faith is tested when an angel arrives to help him save his church and marriage. “The Preacher’s Wife” is a heartwarming black holiday film about love, faith, and self-discovery.
2.
The Holiday Calendar
Starring: Kat Graham and Quincy Brown
This Netflix original follows a struggling photographer who receives an antique holiday advent calendar that seems to predict her future. The Holiday Calendar” is a black Christmas movie filled with magic, romance, and self-discovery that you will enjoy with your loved ones this season.
3.
Almost Christmas
Starring: Kimberly Elisse, Omar Epps, Gabrielle Union, Danny Glover, Mo’Nique
This black Christmas family comedy will give you all of the giggles and more. This hilarious film follows a dysfunctional family coming together for their first Christmas since the death of their matriarch. Almost Christmas” is a hilarious and heartwarming black holiday movie that covers drama, comedy, and romance.
4.
Merry Liddle Christmas
Starring: Kelly Rowland, Thomas Cadrot, Bresha Webb
This black holiday romantic comedy follows a successful businesswoman who unexpectedly falls in love with her neighbor while her family is visiting during the holidays. I can relate to wanting everything to be perfect for the holidays, and Kelly Rowland’s character reminded me of that while watching this film.
If you’re looking for a new black Christmas movie to watch with your family, get invested in this holiday film because they have since created a franchise, with the third installment released in 2021.
5.
Black Nativity
Starring: Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, and Jennifer Hudson
This modern adaptation of Langston Hughes’ play follows the story of a teenage boy who is sent to spend Christmas with his estranged grandparents in Harlem. With an all-star cast, Black Nativity” is a beautiful holiday tale about family, faith, and forgiveness.
6.
Jingle Jangle
Starring: Forest Whitaker, Phylicia Rashad, Keegan Michael-Key
This Netflix original follows a once-successful toy maker who must overcome personal betrayal and professional failure to regain his identity as a brilliant inventor in order to save his struggling shop, all before the holiday season.
Jingle Jangle” is one of those Christmas movies with black people that combines magic, music, and family beautifully.
7.
Twas the Chaos Before Christmas
Starring: Sherri Shepherd, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams, Afion Crockett
In this black holiday comedy, Twas the chaos before Christmas is about two families booking the same vacation home for Christmas, and hilarity ensues as they try to navigate sharing the space during the holidays.
I discovered this movie last year, and the thought that came to mind was, ‘if this ever happened to me, I wouldn’t know what to do!’ It’s a fun and light-hearted black holiday movie to watch with your loved ones during the holiday.
8.
Miracle in Motor City
Starring: Tia Mowry, Mark Taylor
Have you ever agreed to something you knew would be a vast undertaking? In this holiday spirit film, Amber decides to take on the church’s Christmas pageant and makes a promise to the congregation that Smokey Robinson will perform. Along with her friends, Amber recruits the help of her former flame to make it happen, and in the process, they both rediscover their love for each other.
9.
A Family Reunion Christmas
Starring: Tia Mowry, Loretta Devine
In this festive holiday movie, M’Dear and her sisters struggle to keep their singing group together before a noteworthy church Christmas pageant. Meanwhile, Grandpa teaches the kids an important lesson about family and the true meaning of Christmas.
10.
Holiday Rush
Starring: Romany Malco, Sonequa Martin-Green
In “A Holiday Rush,” a widowed radio DJ is fired and must move in with his aunt, bringing along his four spoiled children. As they adjust to their new lives away from luxury, the family learns valuable lessons about love, forgiveness, and the true meaning of Christmas during the holiday season. Don’t miss out on this heartwarming holiday movie with your family!
11.
The Best Man Holiday
Starring: Nia Long, Terrence Howard, Omar Epps, Sanaa Lathan, Regina Hall, Taye Diggs
This sequel to the 1999 black holiday classic “The Best Man” follows a group of college friends who come together for a Christmas reunion, where old friendships are tested, and new relationships blossom.
Although this is a Rated-R film, my favorite scene in the entire movie is when the fellas in the movie do a memorable dance and sing a cover of the R & B classic “Can You Stand The Rain.“
12.
This Christmas
Starring: Loretta Devine, Regina King, Lauren London, Chris Brown, Idris Elba
This black holiday film follows a family coming together for their first Christmas in years, and the secrets and drama revealed during their time together. I remember when this film came out and thought how a few of the characters were so relatable – the black sheep of the family, the overachiever, and the baby of the family. This Christmas” is a black holiday movie filled with love, laughter, and drama.
13.
Our Christmas Journey
Starring: Holly Robinson Pete, Lyriq Bent, Nik Sanchez
As they navigate a crossroad during the holiday season, a single mother must learn to let go and loosen the grip on her teenage son with autism. While also letting go of her son, she unexpectedly finds her own heart healing. “Our Christmas Journey” is a touching black holiday movie about growth, love, and finding acceptance within oneself and others.
As someone who has worked in the special needs field for so long, I sympathize with many special needs moms and their struggles during the holiday season. Our Christmas Journey accurately portrays those emotions and difficulties while highlighting the love and growth that can happen during this time. I recommend adding “Our Christmas Journey” to your watch list now.
Best black christmas movies
Hope this list of holiday movies gets you in the Christmas spirit and provides plenty of laughs and cheer! And don’t forget to add these black holiday movies to your watch list now. It was so fun creating a list of movies featuring African American actors representing many black families on-screen during the holiday season.
Here’s to enjoying black holiday movies that make us laugh, cry, express gratitude, and feel warm fuzzies during this magical time of year. Keep an eye out for these black holiday gems on streaming platforms.
Happy viewing and Happy Holidays!
