Read The Scripts Top 5 List: Five Films You Should Watch for Black History Month 2025

Number 5

Dreamgirls is a 2006 Musical Drama based on the 1981 Broadway musical, and it takes inspiration from the Motown record label and the music group The Supremes. The film focuses on different characters like Deena Jones, Effie White, Lorrell Robinson, James Thunder Early, Curtis Taylor Jr, and other characters throughout the film. The Dreams' rise in the music business had its good moments, and they were able to make a name for themselves, but things started to change for them, and some relationships/friendships ended up not lasting. Eventually, The Dreams got back together, Curtis Taylor Jr got caught doing shady business tactics, and James Early didn't make it, but most of the characters had a happy ending.

Number 4

The United States vs. Billie Holiday is a 2021 Biographical Drama about the life of Billie Holiday and the things she had to face being a jazz singer. The story focuses on the controversy surrounding Billie Holiday and her hit song Strange Fruit which gained the attention of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and Harry J. Anslinger. We see the ups and downs Billie Holiday had to deal with throughout her career, her relationships with Jimmy Fletcher, and the friendships/business relationships she had with her bandmates. Towards the end of the film, we see that Billie ends up with Jimmy, but she tells him that she is dying from her alcohol abuse. In the hospital scene, Billie and Anslinger have one last conversation about clearing her criminal record. Billie doesn't give him anything and tells Anslinger his grandkids will sing Strange Fruit one day, and we see that Billie has passed away. Rest in Peace to Billie Holiday

Number 3

Roxanne Roxanne is a 2017 Musical Drama about the life and career of Roxanne Shante and what she went through as a young rising artist. We see a young Roxanne growing up in Queens, New York, battle rapping people, helping her mom raise her sisters, and going to school. Things didn't go as planned when Roxanne's mother had money stolen from them, and her mother is not taking it well. So, Roxanne started battle rapping for money and doing other things so she could help out, but her mother did not like some of Roxanne's decisions, so Roxanne left home. Roxanne's music started to gain steam, and she went on the road to do some shows, but some things didn't go as planned. Roxanne ended up with Cross, and their relationship wasn't good. Roxanne made up with her mother and moved back home to be with her family. Roxanne ended up leaving Cross, and we see her have a good ending.

Number 2

The Five Heartbeats is a 1991 Musical Drama which is loosely based on different artists, groups and Motown records. We see The Heartbeats competing in contests and getting some good reception from the crowd, and this got the attention of Jimmy Potter, who becomes The Heartbeats manager. After some hard work and finally winning a contest, The Heartbeats gain the momentum they needed, they also gain the attention of Big Red Davis. Big Red wants to sign the group to a deal, but Jimmy and his wife, Eleanor, don't want to do business with Big Red. Throughout The Heartbeats career, they had to deal with racism, betrayal, shady business, losing someone close to them, and other things that caused some original members to leave the group. After a couple of years, we see the group come back together, and they had a good ending.

Number 1

What's Love Got to Do with It is a 1993 Biographical Drama about the life of Tina Turner and the things she went through as a singer and when she was married to Ike Turner. We see how Anna Mae's childhood was for her and how she ended up with her grandmother after her mother abandoned her. Years later, we see teenage Anna Mae reunite with her mother and her older sister Alline to live with them. One night, Anna Mae and Alline went to a club, and that's when Anna Mae met Ike Turner for the first time. Anna Mae and Ike started to work together, and they eventually fell in love with each other. We see Anna Mae and Ike get married, how her name was changed to Tina Turner, and how they became big music stars. Throughout the rest of the film, we see how very abusive Ike was towards Tina and how their marriage was deteriorating. When things weren't changing and the abuse kept continuing, Tina was finally able to leave Ike and keep her stage name. We see Tina rebuild her career, and Ike tries to get back together with Tina, but she doesn't fall for it, and we see her have a very successful career. Rest in Peace to Tina Turner.