The glazed ham was cut, the eggnog sipped and the first official NBA game of the season is over but everyone’s still up and wants to watch a good family movie to cap off the night. If “Soul Food” was the first film to pop in your head, you’re wrong. Clearly you forgot about the scene where Miles lifts his wife’s cousin up onto the window seal and sexes her down—in other words, not kid friendly.
We were thinking a loveable, clean family movie that you, the grandparents, the kids, the fun cousins, the sketchy cousins and everyone else in the fam’ can watch together. Oh, and not cringe during the sex scenes or be completely bored by the kiddie sing-a-long portions.
From the hilarious Eddie Murphy to the sentimental Loretta Devine, we’ve got a mix of holiday and everyday black family films you all can enjoy this Christmas.
1. The Perfect Holiday
For once, Gabrielle Union doesn’t play a hard-to-get obsessed working woman. This time around she’s a workingwoman, with a rapper ex-husband and mall Santa Claus fighting for her heart, sounds like a win-win to us!
2. This Christmas
God, we miss Chris Brown pre-Rihanna drama. And what are the holidays without a little Loretta Devine motherly wisdom?
3.The Great Debaters
A mix of history, triumph in the midst of adversity and Denzel—your Christmas gift has been granted.
4. Akeelah and the Bee
In a time where rappers like T.I. are making up words, it’s good for the kids to see real education at work.
(speaking of bees..)
5. The Secret Life of Bees
With a cast of talented actresses and a phenomenal script, this movie is the perfect treat, post dinner.
6. A Diva’s Christmas
Ok, it’s not an all, or even majority, black cast but what’s a Christmas movie list without this Vanessa Williams masterpiece. And on the upside you won’t have to Netflix a copy, more than likely, ABC Family will be showing it all day.
7. Roll Bounce
Yes, it’s cheesy as hell. But to be fair, there are a lot of hilarious moments in the film and you know you want to reminisce about your skating champion days.
8. A Dream for Christmas
The movie is an oldie but goodie set in the 1950s but broadcast on the Christmas Eve of 1973. The plotline involves a preacher who moves to the Watts section of Los Angeles and missions himself to save souls and his church from being demolished. Heart-wrenching.
9. Crooklyn
An all-time favorite, every season of the year is a good time to watch Spike Lee’s take on a family film.
10. Last Holiday
Any excuse to watch L.L. Cool J and his Hot lips, in a kid-appropriate setting, take it.
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