Almost every lover of good movies and TV shows has heard of Django Unchained and Roots. These are some of the best Slave moves and shows that you will get the chance to see. Apart from those, many more great productions will give you a different view of slavery and the plight of enslaved men.
Slave movies are broad covering everything from historical reenactment to fiction, and sometimes a mix of the two. If you are feeling drawn to movies about slavery and have little understanding of the years of slavery, here are some movies you can watch.
Top Slave Movies To Watch
1. 12 Years a Slave (2013)
Director: Steve McQueen
This movie is based on the true story of Solomon Northup, a free Black man who is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South.
The biographical drama film was based on Solomon Northup’s memoir of the same name. It features stars such as Chiwetel Ejiofor, who played Solomon Northup / Platt, Michael Fassbinder as Edwin Epps, and Benedict Cumberbatch as William Ford.
The movie won over a hundred awards including the Academy Awards, the American Black Film Festival, and the Golden Globes.
2. Django Unchained (2012)
- Director: Quentin Tarantino
Set in 1858 Texas, the movie tells the story of a freed slave, Django, who teams up with a bounty hunter to rescue his wife from a cruel plantation owner.
Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, the movie also featured some great actors including Jamie Foxx as Django, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, and Samuel L. Jackson.
With a budget of $100 million and a Box Office gross of 426 million, it won many awards including the Academy Award, Golden Globe Awards, and BAFTA.
3. Amistad (1997)
- Director: Steven Spielberg
This American historical drama film is based on the 1839 La Amistad mutiny, in which a group of enslaved Africans aboard a Spanish slave ship revolt and fight for their freedom in a U.S. court.
The movie features stars Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins, Matthew McConaughey, and Djimon Hounsou. It took home several awards, including the NAACP Image Award and Satellite Award.
4. The Birth of a Nation (2016)
- Director: Nate Parker
This movie revolves around the story of Nat Turner, an enslaved preacher who led a rebellion in Virginia in 1831.
The movie marked the debut of Nate Parker as a director. He also featured in it alongside other great actors including Armie Hammer, Mark Boone Jr., Colman Domingo, and Aunjanue Ellis.
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5. Beloved (1998)
- Director: Jonathan Demme
Unlike many other slave movies that take the form of historical dramas, this is a gothic psychological horror drama film that is based on Toni Morrison’s novel of the same name.
The film follows Sethe, a former enslaved woman who is haunted by the ghost of her dead daughter. The film delves into the trauma and legacy of slavery.
Some of the stars of the film are Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, Thandiwe Newton, Kimberly Elise, and Beah Richards.
6. Roots (1977, Miniseries)
- Director: David L. Wolper
Roots is one of the most significant and most followed productions on slavery. While it is a miniseries and not a movie, it still earns its place on the list.
It is based on Alex Haley’s novel, Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The iconic miniseries traces the life of Kunta Kinte, an African man who was enslaved and brought to America, as well as his descendants’ journey to freedom. Because of how popular the production became, many have come to see Kunta Kinte as a historical individual rather than a fiction.
The miniseries featured actors including John Amos, Ben Vereen, LeVar Burton, and Louis Gossett Jr.
7. The Butler (2013)
- Director: Lee Daniels
The complete title of this historical drama film is Lee Daniels’ The Butler. Directed and co-produced by Lee Daniels, it is centered mostly on the life of the African American man, Eugene Allen, who worked in the White House for many years as a butler.
Although the historical accuracy of the film has been questioned, it captures the story of a boy who flees the plantation and rises to gain employment in a hotel in D.C. and later takes a job in the White House.
The film stars some popular actors including Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, John Cusack, Jane Fonda, and Cuba Gooding Jr.
8. Amazing Grace (2006)
- Director: Michael Apted
This 2006 biographical drama film tells the story of William Wilberforce, a British politician and slave abolitionist who fought against the system in the British Empire.
Written by Steven Knight and directed by Michael Apted, it features many actors including Ioan Gruffudd, Romola Garai, Ciaran Hinds, Rufus Sewell, Youssou N’Dour, and Michael Gambon.
9. Sankofa (1993)
- Director: Haile Gerima
This 1993 film which was written and directed by Haile Gerima tells the story of a contemporary African-American woman who is transported back in time to witness and experience slavery on a plantation.
Focusing on the horrors of slavery and the importance of reclaiming one’s roots, it features actors including Kofi Ghanaba, Oyafunmike Ogunlano, Alexander Duah, and Nick Medley.
