Medicine for Melancholy 2008

Since 1984, the Criterion Collection has been dedicated to publishing important classic and contemporary films from around the world in editions that offer the highest technical quality and award-winning, original supplements. No matter the medium—from laserdisc to DVD and Blu-ray to streaming—Criterion has maintained its pioneering commitment to presenting each film as its maker would want it seen, in state-of-the-art restorations with special features designed to encourage repeated watching and deepen the viewer’s appreciation of the art of film.

Films listed in order of spine numbers. Releases with multiple films are listed as individual items where appropiate.

Last Update: Releases up to July 2024 (Spine #1228)

Source: https://www.criterion.com/shop/browse/list?sort=spine_number

Source:
Years 1931-2018 come from:
The New York Times: Book of Movies
the essential 1,000 films to see
2019 ed

Years after 2018 come from NYT website.

work in progress
There are discrepancies between the website and the book, particular for years after 2003. Please leave a comment for any errors you find.

Essential movies covering people of the African diaspora.

Slate's Black Film Canon is two things: first, a reaction to #OscarsSoWhite and the exclusion of black filmmakers from most canonical film lists. Second, by challenging how film lovers think about which films matter in cinema history, the hope is Hollywood will encourage and honor black stories told by black filmmakers.

Slate asked "prominent filmmakers, critics, and scholars" (including Ava DuVernay, Robert Townsend, Charles Burnett, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Wesley Morris, and Henry Louis Gates Jr) and used their lists of favorite movies to develop a curated canon of fifty great films by black directors made in the Americas and Africa. The project excluded movies about black people but directed by non-blacks (A Raisin in the Sun, Coming to America). It is also not a poll: it’s an unranked list presented chronologically.

Source: http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/cover_story/2016/05/the_50_greatest_films_by_black_directors.html

HollyWood Movies based on Popularity

Tired of slave movies?

Know black history and cinema is WAYYYY more than being chained to a damn ship and picking cotton?

Than this is the list for you.

Coming of Age
Drama
Scifi
Comedy
Horror
Autobiographical

Movies I need to see

In order of viewing

12.21-1.20

This is the Black Film Canon created by Slate.com. Located here - http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/cover_story/2016/05/the_50_greatest_films_by_black_directors.html

*These movies appear in Alphabetical order.