Sci-Fi and Horror Movies I Love Featuring Fantastic Black Actors and Interesting Black Main Characters

Okay I guess my big secret is out: I love movies!
And today I’m sharing some of my picks for a celebration of Black talent in cinema!

Black Panther
(Sci-Fi, Action/Adventure, Blockbuster)

I’ll be the first to tell you that I’m sick of “comic book movies” and absolutely fatigued by Marvel specifically, but I would absolutely watch anything centered in the world of Wakanda. I cannot get enough of these characters or their cinematic treatment! The movie has an absolutely incredible soundtrack, and it was in heavy rotation in my music library for ages; I also have an incredible art piece of the women of Wakanda by illustrator Jen Bartel. I admit that I discovered Black Panther and Wakanda late in life, but thankfully with plenty of time left in life to still enjoy exploring the comics! But I certainly wish I’d read them sooner. I love that this movie blends Africanfuturism with comic book energy, and that even though it’s part of the MCU it truly feels like it lives in its own world. Like many others, I’m devastated that we will not see any more of Chadwick Boseman’s T’challa, but I am greatly looking forward to its subsequent installments. I can’t think of any reason someone would dislike this movie, but if they do I certainly don’t want to know ‘em hahaha! #WakandaForever

Sleight
(Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Drama, Crime)

This understated movie is the definition of slow-burn cinema, and functions more like a character vignette than a narrative movie, but it’s emotionally engrossing and very well done! The cast is incredibly empathetic and believable, and I found myself wanting to personally take these young folks away from their troubles and hug them forever. The lengths that loving older brother Bo goes through to care for his younger sister know no bounds; his love is boundless and he’s just trying to do right by her. I enjoyed the card magic scenes and it was an interesting idea to pair actual physical illusion magic along with the sci-fi elements such as augmentation and supernatural powers. I spotted influences from series like “The Wire” and “Heroes” as well as movies such as “Firestarter,” “Looper,” and “Chronicle” where each of the characters explore and harness their power(s), for better or worse. This might not hit well for all audiences but I enjoyed it as a nice quiet break from my usual fare. 

Black Box
(Sci-Fi, Drama, Horror)

This is one of the Blumhouse flicks streaming on Prime, and I probably wouldn’t have watched it otherwise! All of my raves for this go to the cast, who were all very strong and played their characters with great fervor. This one features an interesting plot: experimental medical treatments to restore a man’s memory after suffering a debilitating injury from a car accident. It’s got some elements of The Twilight Zone and more than a little Jacob’s Ladder (but thankfully not the remake version.) I don’t want to say too much because there’s really only one storyline here, and I could easily spoil it by accident! But it’s pretty compelling and well executed so onto my lovely list it goes!

A Wrinkle In Time
(Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Children’s Movie)

Okay so this is probably the only “questionable” entry on this list, because I didn’t necessarily like this movie as a whole, but I did, however, like a lot of particular elements about it. I am absolutely in love with Storm Reid as Meg!!! She’s just so charming and likeable and relatable. I also loved how this movie looked, and would like to give props to the costume designer and whoever did the sets and CGI. But having been such an avid fan of the book this was adapted from, including the continuing expanded universe of the series, this was a mess in regard to that. It took out anything emotionally devastating, dark, or scary, and replaced it with glittery things like bubbles and swirly stars. Hopefully Ava Duverney gets more opportunities to direct such sweeping fantasy films, because lord knows she did a great job with the visuals and talent here! I don’t fault the director or the cast here, more so the people tasked with adapting this to script. I fear that we will never get a good adaptation of this or Narnia, and that hurts my soul because I loved them both so much. This was also such a good opportunity to launch a series centering Black characters and representation, but the writers dropped the ball by making this confusing and hard to follow. Maybe later down the line someone gives these books the adaptation it deserves, perhaps in long form like a television series. Anyway, looks cool and little Storm Reid is great here and I’m glad it put her in the spotlight to get more roles!

Sorry to Bother You
(Satire, Dark Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi)

We watch a lot of movies at home and a lot of them are super weird, and a particularly entertaining reason for that includes my significant other playing a chaotic game of cinema roulette. I will ask to watch a movie, go get snacks while they’re choosing, and then walk into something completely mysterious. This one was one of the cinema roulette picks, and I can’t say I’ve enjoyed a round of that game more than this one. Lakeith Stanfield is a treasure. David Cross is forever ridiculous. And look we won’t even begin to open up the can of worms that is my undying love for Tessa Thompson. But I’m going to put this on the list for an incredibly witty and clever commentary on social dynamics and racism and corporate life, but also for….never mind I can’t include that other thing because it’s a major spoiler (I swear to God if you ruin the most fun part of this movie in a comment I will end you…I’m the site admin and I’ll ban you for life HAHAHA!) Anyway, not for young viewers at all, but fine for older teens and adults!

Attack the Block
(Sci-Fi, Action/Adventure, Comedy)

This movie is absolutely an all-time favorite of mine!! I love suggesting it to people who are looking to shake things up a bit from the overly preachy science fiction but want something with a little action and aliens. Look, give me a case of blu-rays or DVDs of this and I’ll throw them at anyone who comes near me and insist they watch it. I cannot get enough of this movie and its shenanigans. It’s funny, it’s goofy, it’s fast paced. The teenagers and kids in this are top notch, and I’m sure you’ll recognize a few faces like ohhh I don’t know the iconic John Boyega, Jodie Whitaker, and Nick Frost?! I’m also completely in love with the bonkers alien design (bless whoever invented black lights because it’s used so well here!!!) This is yet again a terrible review for a thing that I super duper love, so I guess just take my enthusiasm as endorsement? JUST WATCH IT BECAUSE I NO LONGER KNOW WHAT I AM SCREAMIN’ ABOUT!

Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse
(Animation, Comic Book, Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi)

This movie listicle has descended into chaos by now, which means it’s a perfect time to talk about one of my favorite chaotic animated movies of all time: Into the Spider-Verse! I cannot get enough of this movie. Pretty colours. Excellent Soundtrack. Talking Pigs. Incredible psychedelic visuals. It’s one of the movies that I like to suggest to people if they’d like to see the inside of my brain! Anyway, Miles Morales is so much cooler than any other Spider Dude. I won’t hear any counter arguments thanks bye.

Pacific Rim
(Sci-Fi, Action/Adventure, Kaiju)

Guillermo del Toro directing big giant Kaiju monsters and robots!!! Okay I guess if that is not enough for you, I’ll continue: I D R I S. E L B A. No? How about Idris Elba is the one fighting the big monsters from inside a big robot?! If you’re still not convinced there is exactly zero hope that we can be friends, sorry to tell you.

Annihilation
(Sci-Fi, Cosmic Horror)

Tessa Thompson.

And thus concludes the best list I’ve written in ages. I hope you watch all of these and feel the exact same way about them as I do so that we can be movie watching twinsies. I mean also I’ll forgive you if you don’t, because it’s okay to not like the same things. But also please do because my besties and my bf are really tired of hearing about movies I like and I’d love to chat with someone about them! Find me on Letterboxd so we can do that!

Note: Most movies I’ve seen from 2020, 2021, and 2022 are reviewed on Letterboxd, so you can click here for extended reviews or content warnings.

Listicle by Ellen Avigliano

Twitter: @imaginariumcs 

Instagram: @imaginariumarts 

Website:  www.imaginariumarts.com