10 Movies & Shows Like Fréwaka (2025)

Description: This adaptation of Alice Walker's novel follows the life of Celie, an African-American woman in the early 20th century, as she endures abuse and finds strength through sisterhood and self-empowerment.

Fact: The film marked Oprah Winfrey's acting debut and earned her an Academy Award nomination. It was later adapted into a Broadway musical, which also received critical acclaim.

Description: Set in the early 1970s, this film depicts the integration of a high school football team and the racial tensions they overcome, showcasing unity and teamwork in the face of adversity.

Fact: The movie is based on the true story of coach Herman Boone and the T.C. Williams High School football team. It was filmed at the actual high school in Alexandria, Virginia.

Description: Based on a true story, this film follows a struggling salesman and single father as he overcomes homelessness to achieve success, highlighting perseverance and the American Dream.

Fact: Will Smith's son, Jaden Smith, plays his on-screen son. The film's title is intentionally misspelled to reflect the spelling on the mural outside the daycare center in the story.

Description: Inspired by the life of Eugene Allen, this film chronicles the experiences of a Black butler who served eight U.S. presidents, offering a unique perspective on the civil rights movement and American history.

Fact: The movie features a star-studded cast and was inspired by a Washington Post article about Allen. It spans several decades, from the 1950s to the 2000s.

Description: Set in the 1960s, this movie explores the lives of African-American maids working in white households in Mississippi, addressing themes of racial inequality and the power of storytelling to inspire change.

Fact: The film is based on Kathryn Stockett's 2009 novel of the same name. It received four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.

Description: A harrowing depiction of slavery in the United States, this film follows the true story of Solomon Northup, a free Black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery, emphasizing themes of endurance and the fight for freedom.

Fact: The film won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, making it the first film from a Black director to receive this honor. It is based on Northup's 1853 memoir.

Description: This film dramatizes the last day of Oscar Grant III, a young Black man fatally shot by police, highlighting issues of police brutality and systemic racism in contemporary America.

Fact: The movie won both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award for U.S. dramatic film at the Sundance Film Festival. It is based on real events that occurred in

Description: This biographical film tells the story of Harriet Tubman, an iconic abolitionist who escaped slavery and led hundreds to freedom via the Underground Railroad, emphasizing courage and liberation.

Fact: Cynthia Erivo, who portrays Tubman, performed her own singing in the film. The movie was released on the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Virginia.

Description: This film highlights the untold story of African-American women mathematicians who played a crucial role in NASA's space missions, showcasing resilience and brilliance in the face of racial and gender discrimination.

Fact: The movie is based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly. It was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Description: A coming-of-age story that follows a young Black man grappling with his identity and sexuality in a rough Miami neighborhood, exploring themes of self-discovery and vulnerability.

Fact: Moonlight made history by being the first LGBTQ+ film and the first film with an all-Black cast to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. It is based on Tarell Alvin McCraney's unpublished semi-autobiographical play.