The Best Video Streaming Services for Celebrating Black Art

Recent troubles aside, Netflix is still a dominant force in streaming. The service doesn't just spend some money on Black talent; it invests billions, producing original Spike Lee movies and shows, partnering with mega-producers like Ava DuVernay, Kenya Barris, Shonda Rhimes, and Justin Simien, and airing specials from every Black comedian not named Bill Cosby. There’s literally an official Twitter account and podcast series highlighting Netflix’s Black movies and shows called Strong Black Lead.

If you, like me, once went to a Nigerian “Nollywood” film fest and left wanting more, KweliTV is the sleeper hit service for you. Watch hundreds of shows and movies from across the African diaspora, a curated collection of culture available on a variety of media streaming devices. It has flexible pricing options, too.

Formerly known as the Urban Movie Channel, Allbk features a varied library of Black films and TV shows meant to take on mainstream Black entertainment channels like BET. After all, it was created by BET co-founder Robert L. Johnson. Featuring Viola Davis movies, Jackson family documentaries, and original thrillers, you'll find something Black to love.

Nothing beats the gritty action, killer soundtracks, and overwhelming 1970s atmosphere of a good Blaxploitation flick. No other era could give us movies about mournful African vampires or antihero pimps looking to clean up the streets. Brown Sugar’s library lovingly preserves this ridiculous era of African-American film history.

Whether or not BET features positive representation of Black people is a debate worth having, but Black Entertainment Television is certainly a big enough player to have its own standalone streaming service. Speaking of mixed legacies, BET+ is now the home for Tyler Perry’s new originals after the prolific African-American auteur ended his deal with Oprah.

Blacktag is a slick, mobile-only video streaming app dedicated to Black art. It still needs to fill out its library, beef up its storefront, and fix a few technical issues. However, few services on this list promise a Black streaming future as exciting and progressive as this. Where else are you going to watch queer astrology shows?

A top choice for streaming shows and movies, as well as live TV, Hulu’s library includes some top Black talent. There’s some nice variety, too, from the pleasant sitcom Black-ish to the harrowing historical drama Roots to Donald Glover’s experimental Atlanta to the High Fidelity remix starring Zoë Kravitz. Hulu also has documentaries on topics like Black Twitter and the infamous Freaknik festival.

The idea of watching a late-night talk show on a streaming service sounds a bit anachronistic. Still, I'll watch charming, witty, and oh-so-Black hosts like Amber Ruffin and Larry Wilmore break down the news of the day any time on NBC's Peacock. The service also has the gritty Fresh Prince reboot Bel-Air, starring a deliciously evil Carlton. Watch the entire Best Man saga. Unfortunately, the free plan is no longer available, but the affordably priced premium tiers offer lots of entertainment value.

Although its original shows may not reach the heights of its rivals, Amazon Prime Video has an unmatched library of shows and movies to buy or rent on demand. That includes pretty much any Black movie or TV show you can think of. Some are even available for free with a Prime membership, from films like I Am Not Your Negro to shows like the masterful The Underground Railroad adaptation. One of Amazon’s channel add-ons is focused on Black content, although it has the cringe-worthy name Urban Movie Channel.

We should be careful to never let a company like Disney make us associate loving our identity with loving their brand. That said, having A Wrinkle in Time, Marvel’s Black Panther, Doc McStuffins, both versions of The Lion King, The Princess and the Frog, The Proud Family, and That’s So Raven on one service is a pretty easy sell for Black families. If you want to see America’s founding fathers reimagined as rhythmic people of color, now you can watch Hamilton without shelling out thousands of dollars for Broadway tickets. Older cartoons have disclaimers for potentially insensitive depictions of race, but nobody mention Song of the South. 

Friends isn’t the only beloved 1990s sitcom scooped up by Max. You can watch Will Smith’s life get turned upside down in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. You also have access to HBO’s wealth of premium Black shows and movies including I May Destroy You, Insecure, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Random Acts of Flyness, and Watchmen. Many of these were free to watch for a limited time. The hilarious comedy South Side has also been reborn as a Max original.

Angelika Anywhere isn't a streaming subscription service. You individually buy or rent each film to watch it online, so prices can add up. However, with this service, the theater chain has curated an art collection that cinephiles will find irresistible. The impressive catalog is divided into unique categories, including sections for certain filmmaker and film moments. Black film lovers will find a spotlight on Spike Lee, a celebration of Black cinema at large, and exclusive interviews with emerging Black talent.

The Criterion Channel’s mission is to preserve and celebrate classic art films from around the globe. Since Black filmmakers have been around since the beginning of the medium (though their work is often undervalued, as in the case of Oscar Micheaux), there’s plenty for Criterion to celebrate. Recently, Criterion made many of its Black movies available to watch for free, including Julie Dash’s Daughters of Dust, Maya Angelou’s Down in the Delta, and Kathleen Collins’ Losing Ground.

MGM+ has a fantastic film library that leverages the strength of its iconic brand. This includes classic and modern Black cinema such as Fences, In the Heat of the Night, and Waiting to Exhale. MGM+ also has original shows, and its flagship series is the acclaimed crime drama Godfather of Harlem starring Forest Whitaker.

Like Criterion, Mubi’s mission is to champion film’s artistic history. Mubi’s robust community features also let cinephiles create and collaborate over lists to help users find new potential films to love. We found plenty of Mubi lists highlighting excellent Black movies, from comedy classics to indie dramas, even if all those movies aren’t necessarily available to stream on Mubi itself.

Formerly known as CBS All Access, Paramount+ hasn't yet built up a large library of exciting original shows. Still, it earns a spot on this list with the one-two punch of Star Trek: Discovery (featuring Sonequa Martin-Green in the lead role of Michael Burnham) and a Twilight Zone reboot (hosted by Jordan Peele, writer/director of Get Out and Us). Now bundled with Showtime, you also get The Chi, Dreaming Whilst Black, and The First Lady.

PBS has always used TV to serve the public good; it’s right in the name. PBS Video brings those benefits to a free streaming service. For Black History Month, PBS curates a wide array of excellent programming highlighting Black pioneers and important social issues. Watch everything from Chuck Berry and Marian Anderson to army vets fighting for more inclusive hair standards.   

The actual reality of what has happened to Black people throughout history is so horrifying that it only takes a few tweaks to make those stories straight-up horror movies. Not only is Shudder an excellent streaming service for frightening flicks, but its original documentary Horror Noire also takes a fascinating look at how Black narratives have always been at the forefront of the horror genre. 

Initially, the crime drama Power sounded like a strange vanity project for Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson. Not only does the rapper/Vitamin Water mogul executive produce the series, but he plays a main role. What is this, Get Rich or Die Tryin'? However, Power has grown into a sprawling premium television universe with sequels, prequels, and spin-offs. You can catch them all on Starz.