Black Christmas movies have a magical touch in their plots that pull on heartstrings. The stories usually involve familial issues, most likely a sick grandmother or mother who wants her family together for the holidays.
Of course, her VERY much grown children aren’t as close as they used to be and having them under one roof again brings drama.
Ultimately, they work it out, figuring out the true meaning of forgiveness and the beauty of family time. However, the journey to get there is full of laughs, fights, and challenges—but that’s what makes them classic.
The holiday season is in full effect, and Santa is making his rounds worldwide. Watch these five Christmas movies while you countdown to see if you’ve been gifted an item on your wishlist.
5 Classic Black Christmas Movies to Watch
This Christmas (2007)
Now, THIS movie is a MUST-WATCH during the holiday season. You’ll be giggling throughout its entire run with a star-studded cast that includes Regina King, Idris Elba, Loretta Devine, and Chris Brown.
Plot: At holiday time, family matriarch Ma’Dere Whitfield (Devine) convinces her family to have their first reunion in four years. However, family ties show signs of strain when various secrets come to light, especially concerning Marine Claude’s (Columbus Short) true military status, Quentin’s (Elba) debts, and teenage Baby’s (Brown) secret plans to become a singer.
Last Holiday (2006)
Whenever Queen Latifah is in a movie, just know it will be good. Alongside Latifah are Morris Chestnut, Smokey Robinson, plus more.
Plot: The discovery that she has a terminal illness prompts introverted saleswoman Georgia Byrd (Latifah) to reflect on what she realizes has been an overly cautious life. So Georgia withdraws her life savings and jets off to Europe, where she lives like a millionaire. Upbeat and passionate, Georgia charms everybody she meets, including renowned Chef Didier (Gérard Depardieu). Her longtime crush, Sean Matthews, is the only one missing from her new life (LL Cool J).
The Best Man Holiday (2013)
The Best Man film series is a staple in the Black community. It stars Morris Chestnut, Nia Long, Terrence Howard, Regina Hall, Taye Diggs, Sanaa Lathan, Monica Calhoun, Melissa De Sousa, and Harold Perrineau.
Plot: Nearly 15 years after they were last together as a group, college friends Lance (Chestnut), Harper (Diggs), Candace (Hall), Quentin (Howard), Robyn (Lathan), Jordan (Long), Murch (Perrineau), and Mia (Calhoun) finally reunite over the Christmas holidays. Though much has changed in their lives, the friends discover just how easy it is for long-forgotten rivalries and passionate romances to be reignited.
Friday After Next (2002)
Wherever Craig goes, trouble follows. Ice Cube had a hit on his hands when he created the Friday film series, and the third installment sprinkled in some holiday cheer.
Plot: Craig (Cube) and Day-Day (Mike Epps) are back. It’s Christmas time, and a ghetto Santa Claus breaks into their run-down apartment, stealing all their presents, along with anything else he can stuff into his sack, including the rent money hidden in their stereo speakers. Their only hope to not get evicted before Christmas is to take jobs as security guards at a local mall, where they learn comical lessons about the true meaning of the holidays.
The Perfect Holiday (2007)
Would it really be a Christmas movie without Queen Latifah and Morris Chestnut? They appear again together in The Perfect Holiday with Gabrielle Union, Terrence Howard, and Katt Williams.
Plot: Nancy (Union), a divorced mother of three, feels especially lonely during the holidays. Sensing her sadness, Nancy’s youngest daughter, Emily (Khail Bryant), plans to make her mom happy again. She asks Benjamin (Chestnut), a department store Santa Claus, to compliment Nancy. And Benjamin, a struggling songwriter, knows exactly the right words to say.
Y’all hear those sleigh bells ringing?
Photo credit: New Line Cinema/Sony Pictures Releasing
