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Writer's pictureLeShelle A. Smith

Black Fathers on Film: 13 Movies to Enjoy for Father's Day

Happy Father’s Day - one of the few days dads get to say, “Today is about ME!” If you are in doubt that Black Fathers are worthy of adoration, follow @TheBlackManCan on IG. It's hands down one of my favorite pages to follow for extraordinary content featuring Black men at their best when the world only focuses on our men at their worst.


Along with social media content, there are some entertaining movies telling the complexities of parenting Black men experience. I compiled this list of drama, comedy, action, and autobiographical films to stream right now. If you are spending time with your children, or just want to take some time for yourself, here are 13 movies that show that being a father can change anyone’s world.

 

Fatherhood, 2021

Streaming on Netflix

A father brings up his baby girl as a single dad after his wife's unexpected death, who died a day after their daughter's birth.

Photo Credit: Black Film and TV


Guess Who, 2005

Free to watch on cable TV (TBS, TNT), Streaming Free on Roku

Theresa (Zoe Saldana) is a young woman who is about to introduce her fiancé Simon Green (Ashton Kutcher) to her father, Percy Jones (Bernie Mac). Percy is eager to meet his African-American daughter's businessman beau, but is shocked to learn that he's a white man.


Photo Credit: IMDb


Black Panther, 2018

Watch now with your Disney+ Subscription

After his father's death, T'Challa returns home to the African nation of Wakanda to take his rightful place as king. Confronted with secrets and treachery, T'Challa must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to secure his rightful position on the throne of Wakanda and save his people.

Photo Credit: Disney+



King Richard, 2021

Watch now with your Hulu and HBO Max Subscriptions

Will Smith plays the father of tennis greats Venus and Serena Williams. From the streets of Compton and determined to turn his daughters into professional tennis players, Richard Williams guides his daughters to excel; Venus goes on to win Wimbledon five times and becomes the first African American woman to be ranked number one in the world during the Open Era. Serena followed Venus as a professional to become a 23-time Grand Slam champion and is considered by many to be the greatest female player in tennis history.

Photo Credit: IMDb


Big Momma's House: Like Father, Like Son, 2011

Streaming Free on Tubi

FBI agent Malcolm Turner (Martin Lawrence) brings back Big Momma, his plus-size alter ego, to solve the crime at all-girls performing art school with the help of his stepson Trent (Brandon T. Jackson).

Photo Credit: Amazon



Never Heard, 2018

Streaming Free on Roku, Pluto TV, and Vudu

While his father spends his life in prison, Jalen, played by Romeo Miller, is lured into the Los Angeles drug world. All that stands against Jalen following his father's footsteps is the power of prayer, as a girl he meets in church shows him that life offers other ways.

Photo Credit: Pure Flix


Daddy Day Care

Free to watch on cable TV (TBS, TNT)

Watch now with your Amazon Prime, Hulu, and HBO Max Subscriptions

When two advertising executives become unemployed with few prospects, they open a day care center. Starring Eddie Murphy, Daddy Day Care is a hilarious movie about the competitive babysitting business.

Photo Credit: Flixable


John Q, 2002

Watch now with your Netflix Subscription

John Q. Archibald (Denzel Washington) takes a hospital emergency room hostage in a last-ditch attempt to save his child when he discovers that his medical insurance won't cover the costs of the surgery.

Photo Credit: Rotten Tomatoes


Annie, 2014

Streaming Free on Roku

Based on the musical of the same name, this 2014 remake of the 1982 original stars Jamie Foxx and Quvenzhané Willis. Will Stacks (Foxx) is a billionaire who is running for mayor and needs to boost his popularity to win - taking in the orphan Annie to help his efforts only to have his life changed forever.

Photo Credit: IMBd


Pursuit of Happyness, 2006

Streaming Free on Peacock

This 2006 American biographical film centers on struggling single father Chris Gardner and his journey to becoming a stockbroker while navigating homelessness with his son.

Photo Credit: Common Sense Media



Imagine That, 2009

Watch now with your Hulu and Amazon Prime Subscriptions

Career-driven Evan Danielson (Eddie Murphy) doesn't prioritize time with his young daughter, Olivia (Yara Shahidi) until little Olivia introduces him to the inhabitants of her imaginary land where Evan rediscovers his inner child and the solution to his ambitious goals.


He Got Game, 1998

Streaming Free on Tubi and Amazon Prime

Photo Credit: Hollywood Reporter


Spike Lee's sports drama starring Denzel Washington and Ray Allen. With promises of a reduced sentence, Jake Shuttlesworth (Washington) is granted temporary release from state prison in order to persuade his estranged son (Allen), the nation's top basketball recruit, to play ball for the governor's alma mater.


Daddy's Little Girls, 2007

Watch now with your Hulu and HBO Max Subscriptions

Romance unexpectedly blossoms when a successful single attorney played by Gabriel Union helps a hardworking down-on-his-luck mechanic with a criminal past played by Idris Elba get custody of his 3 daughters.

 

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