We love being movie buffs. For that 2+ hour length of comedic, romantic, dramatic, or horrific storytelling, we get engulfed in these fantasies that compel us to want to see more. Last year was a huge year for African American directors and actors all across the board in Hollywood. Whether it was a “black film” or just a film with a myriad of black actors, the bar for quality portrayals and story lines has been raised. This year, the list of movies have grown and we’re here for all the comedy and love scenes we can handle.
Flip the page to learn what movies are a must see this year.
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Black Coffee
Opens: 1.10.2014
Starring: Lamman Rucker, Erica Hubbard, Darrin DeWitt Henson, Gabrielle Dennis, and Christian Keyes
Storyline: Robert (Darrin Henson) is down on his luck,loses his girlfriend and gets fired from his father’s company on the same day. However, life gets better when he meets Morgan (Gabrielle Dennis) and the two are headed towards a loving relationship. If only they can keep both their exes from sabotaging their relationship.
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Ride Along
Opens: 1.17.2014
Starring: Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, and Tika Sumpter
Storyline: In order for Ben (Kevin Hart) to prove himself worthy enough to marry cop James’ (Ice Cube) sister Angela (Tika Sumpter), he joins his future brother in law for a 24-hour patrol around Atlanta.
//www.youtube.com/embed/bGJHY5DQeQE
Reasonable Doubt
Opens: 1.17.2014
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Dominic Cooper, Gloria Reuben, Erin Karpluk, Ryan Robbins, and Dylan Taylor
Storyline: After up-and-coming District Attorney Mitch Brockden (Dominic Cooper) is involved in a fatal hit-and-run, he helps acquit the man that took the blame for his crime. That’s until he realizes the man is a murderer and he’s on the hunt to stop him before more victims surface.
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That Awkward Moment
Opens: 1.31.2014
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Zac Efron, and Miles Teller
Storyline: This movie follows three guys whose lives are changed by their relationships with various women.
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About Last Night
Opens: 2.14.2014
Starring: Regina Hall, Kevin Hart, Joy Bryant, and Michael Ealy
Storyline: The story of two couples: one competitive and the other on a journey of love.
//www.youtube.com/embed/iwBgGZIzliw
Repentance
Opens: 2.28.2014
Starring: Forrest Whitaker, Anthony Mackie, Sanaa Lathan, Mike Epps, and Nicole Ari Parker
Storyline: When life-coach Thomas Carter (Anthony Mackie) agrees to help deranged Angel (Forest Whitaker) out, Carter against his is kidnapped and forced along with his wife–played by Sanaa Lathan–and brother (Mike Epps) to take a dark and twisted journey of forgiveness for their past sins.
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The Single Moms Club
Opens: 3.14.2014
Starring: Nia Long, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Amy Smart, Cocoa Brown, Tyler Perry, and Terry Crews
Storyline: A friendship is formed between 5 single moms who are forced to head their children’s school fundraiser after all their kids are caught vandalizing school property.
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A Haunted House 2
Opens: 3.28.2014
Starring: Marlon Wayans, Liana Mendoza, Dave Sheridan, and Iva La’Shawn
Storyline: After exorcising demons from his ex, Malcolm (Marlon Wayans) thinks he’s starting fresh with his new girlfriend and her children. However, the paranormal activity reoccurs again.
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Draft Day
Opens: 4.11.2014
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Kevin Costner, and Jennifer Garner
Storyline: General manager Sonny Weaver (Kevin Costner) of the Cleveland Browns must fight to get the number 1 draft pick to save football in Cleveland.
//www.youtube.com/embed/oDcaZ3StTfI
The Other Woman
Opens: 4.25.2014
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Nicki Minaj, Leslie Mann, Kate Upton, and Nikolaj Costar-Waldau
Storyline: After two women–a wife and girlfriend–find out they are both with the same man, they band together to get revenge. However, once they realize there is a third girl in the mix, they plan the ultimate revenge.
//www.youtube.com/embed/PiI8PNdvkhY
Belle
Opens: 5.2.2014
Starring: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tom Coulston, and Susan Brown
Storyline: Inspired by the true story of Belle (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), a illegtimate mixed race daughter of a Royal Navy Admiral is raised by her uncle Lord Mansfield. She’s given certain privileges based on her lineage but her color prevents her from full enjoying them. However once she falls in love with an idealistic young man, together they help change her uncle’s role to Lord Chief Justice to help end slavery in England.
Think Like a Man Too
Opens: 6.20.2014
Starring: Kevin Hart, Gabrielle Union, Romany Malco, Megan Good, Regina Hall, Michael Ealy, Lala Anthony, and Taraji P Henson.
Storyline: The coupled up cast takes a trip to Vegas for a wedding. However, after their romantic weekend plans go a-wall, their minor mishaps threaten to ruin the impending nuptials.
Get On Up
Opens: 8.1.2014
Starring: Chad Boseman, Tika Sumpter, Taraji P Henson, Octavia Spencer, Viola Davis, and Jill Scott
Storyline: The biopic of James Brown–played by Chadwick Boseman–from his poverty-stricken upbringing to his rise to stardom.
Addicted
Opens: 9.5.2014
Starring: Sharon Leal, Kat Graham, Boris Kodjoe, William Levy, Tasha Smith, and Tyson Beckford
Storyline: A woman’s addiction to sex threatens her family. Based on Zane’s bestseller.
Opens: 9.12.2014
Starring: Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson
Storyline: A woman’s (Taraji P Henson) life gets rocked when an unexpected guest claiming car trouble enters her house, leaving her fighting for her life.
Photo Credit: Getty
The Equalizer
Opens: 9.26.2014
Starring: Denzel Washington, Chloe Grace Moretz, Melissa Leo, Marton Csokas
Storyline: After quitting a CIA-like agency, a former covert operativer puts an ad in the classified section that reads “Got a problem? Odds against you? Call the Equalizer”
Photo Credit: Getty
Annie
Opens: 12.19.2014
Starring: Quevanzhane Wallis, Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Tracie Thoms, Dorian Missick, and Rose Byrne
Storyline: The remake of the child’s story starring Quevanzhane as Annie.