Movies offer an incredible opportunity to enter another world for a brief period of time. At the same time, they can also offer very intense experiences, or offer content that some may find objectionable. With that said, I believe each of the movies listed below offer valuable insight into many topics. With the desire to acknowledge that not all content is suitable for all people, I have done my best to categorize these movies by topic, and to offer rating and genre information. More information can be found by clicking the links, which will bring you to the IMDB page for each movie.
While the goal is for this list to become extensive, it should not be considered exhaustive. This list will continue to be updated as more resources become available. To make a suggestion, email biblicaljusticeresources+suggestion@gmail.com.
Appearance of a resource on this list does not imply full endorsement of ideas. The goal is to provide a range of thought for consideration.
Immigration/Refugee
An American Tail - Animation, Adventure, Comedy. Rated: G
Flee - Documentary, Animation, Drama. Rated: PG-13
Under the Same Moon - Adventure, Drama. Rated: PG-13
Monsieur Lazhar - Comedy, Drama. Rated: PG-13
Yellow Rose - Drama, Music. Rated: PG-13
Brooklyn - Drama, Romance. Rated: PG-13
The Kite Runner - Drama. Rated: PG-13
Minari - Drama. Rated: PG-13
Blue Bayou - Drama. Rated: R
Policing/prison/criminal justice
13th - Documentary, Crime, History. Rated: TV-MA
Ken Burns: The Central Park Five - Documentary, Crime, History. Not Rated
The Hate U Give - Crime, Drama. Rated: PG-13
Blindspotting - Comedy, Crime, Drama. Rated: R
Queen & Slim - Crime, Drama, Romance. Rated: R
Cut Throat City - Action, Crime, Drama. Rated: R
Fruitvale Station - Biography, Crime, Drama. Rated: R
Death Penalty
Just Mercy - Biography, Crime, Drama. Rated: PG-13
True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality - Documentary. Rated: TV-MA
Clemency - Drama. Rated: R
Dead Man Walking - Crime, Drama. Rated: R
History/Based on a True Story
The Farewell - Comedy, Drama. Rated: PG
Hidden Figures - Biography, Drama, History. Rated: PG
Dakota 38 - Documentary. Not Rated: recommended ages 13+
Selma - Biography, Drama, History. Rated: PG-13
I Am Not Your Negro - Documentary, History. Rated: PG-13
Hotel Rwanda - Biography, Drama, History. Rated: PG-13
Green Book - Biography, Comedy, Drama. Rated: PG-13
Freedom Writers - Biography, Crime, Drama. Rated: PG-13
Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America - Documentary. Rated: PG-13
One Night in Miami… - Drama. Rated: R
Glory - Biography, Drama, History. Rated: R
Judas and the Black Messiah - Biography, Drama, History. Rated: R
The Trial of the Chicago 7 - Drama, History, Thriller. Rated: R
12 Years A Slave - Biography, Drama, History. Rated: R
BlacKKKlansman - Biography, Comedy, Crime. Rated: R
Biopics/Biographical Documentaries
Lee Daniels’ The Butler - Biography, Drama. Rated: PG-13
Malcolm X - Biography, Drama, History. Rated: PG-13
Ray - Biography, Drama, Music. Rated: PG-13
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It - Documentary, Biography. Rated: PG-13
Respect - Biography, Drama, Music. Rated: PG-13
Rustin - Biography, Drama, History. Rated: PG-13
The Pursuit of Happyness - Biography, Drama. Rated: PG-13
Harriet - Action, Biography, Drama. Rated: PG-13
Romero - Biography, Crime, Drama. Rated: PG-13
King in the Wilderness - Documentary. Rated: TV-14
The One and Only Dick Gregory - Documentary.
Ali - Biography, Drama, Sport. Rated: R
Goodbye Bafana - Biography, Drama, History. Rated: R
Sports
Remember the Titans - Rated: PG
Radio - Biography, Drama, Sport. Rated: PG
King Richard - Biography, Drama, Sport. Rated: PG-13
Coach Carter - Biography, Drama, Sport. Rated: PG-13
Invictus - Biography, Drama, History. Pated: PG-13
Creed - Action, Drama, Sport. Rated: PG-13
Salute - Documentary, Sport. Rated: TV-14
Race: Bubba Wallace - Documentary, Sport. Rated: TV-MA
Music/Musicals
West Side Story (1961) - Crime, Drama, Musical. Released prior to the current rating system.
Hairspray - Comedy, Drama, Musical. Rated: PG
West Side Story (2021) - Crime, Drama, Musical. Rated: PG-13
In The Heights - Drama, Musical, Romance. Rated: PG-13
Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) - Documentary, Music. Rated: PG-13
Straight Outta Compton - Biography, Drama, History. Rated: R
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom - Drama, Music. Rated: R
Animated
Coco - Animation, Adventure, Comedy. Rated: PG
Encanto - Animation, Comedy, Family. Rated: PG
Turning Red - Animation, Adventure, Comedy. Rated: PG
Zootopia - Animation, Adventure, Comedy. Rated: PG
Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse - Animation, Action, Adventure. Rated: PG
Comedy
My Big Fat Greek Wedding - Comedy, Drama, Romance. Rated: PG
Hunt for the Wilderpeople - Adventure, Comedy, Drama. Rated: PG-13
Crazy Rich Asians - Comedy, Drama, Romance. Rated: PG-13
American Fiction - Comedy, Drama. Rated: R
The Big Sick - Comedy, Drama, Romance. Rated: R
Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Black Panther - Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi. Rated: PG-13
The Shape of Water - Drama, Fantasy, Romance. Rated: R
District 9 - Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller. Rated: R
Sorry to Bother You - Comedy, Drama, Fantasy. Rated: R
Horror
Get Out - Horror, Mystery, Thriller. Rated: R
Us - Horror, Mystery, Thriller. Rated: R
Drama
Black or White - Drama. Rated: PG-13
The Help - Drama. Rated: PG-13
Fences - Drama. Rated: PG-13
Crash - Crime, Drama, Thriller. Rated: R
Moonlight - Drama. Rated: R
Parasite - Comedy, Drama, Thriller. Rated: R
Hostiles - Drama, Western. Rated: R
The Last Black Man in San Francisco - Drama. Rated: R
Waves - Drama, Romance, Sport. Rated: R
To Kill a Mockingbird - Crime, Drama. Released prior to the current rating system.
If Beale Street Could Talk - Drama, Romance. Rated: R
Precious - Drama. Rated: R
The Florida Project - Drama. Rated: R
Boyz n the Hood - Crime, Drama. Rated: R
Dear White People - Comedy, Drama, Romance. Rated: R