Lifting Black Voices: 22 Black History Movies and Documentaries on Hulu
February 5, 2025
February is Black History Month, and Hulu is proud to continue bringing Black stories to the forefront with a curated collection of movies, TV shows, historical biopics, and documentaries — not just this month, but all year round.
Learn more about the Black icons who changed the course of history with biopic series like Hidden Figures (2016) and The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021), and celebrate Black culture with documentaries like The Summer of Soul and Freaknik.
Check out these essential Black history movies, documentaries, and more streaming now on Hulu.
Black History Movies and Documentaries on Hulu
Black Girls Play: The Story of Handgames (2023)
The ESPN 30 for 30 documentary, Black Girls Play, explores the rich cultural history of hand games — tracing their influence on music, style, and social trends from early jazz to modern-day TikTok.
Through expert voices and powerful storytelling, this documentary highlights the overlooked contributions of young Black girls to popular culture.
Watch: Black Girls Play: The Story of Handgames*
*Black Girls Play: The Story of Handgames is available with the Disney+, Hulu Bundle Basic/Premium. Access content from each service separately.
Hidden Figures (2016)
Hidden Figures recounts the true story of Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) — three brilliant, Black NASA mathematicians who became the unsung heroes of the Space Race in the early 1960s.
Watch: Hidden Figures*
*Live TV plan required to watch live content on Hulu. Regional restrictions, blackouts, and additional terms apply.
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1974)
Based on the 1971 novel of the same name by author Ernest J. Gaines and inspired by true events, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman chronicles the fictional story of Jane Pittman (Cicely Tyson), who was born into slavery during the Civil War.
Discover more movies and shows based on books streaming now on Hulu.
Watch: The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman*
*Live TV plan required to watch live content on Hulu. Regional restrictions, blackouts, and additional terms apply.
The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021)
Discover the story of Billie Holiday, a jazz icon and civil rights activist who was targeted by the federal government as part of its efforts to escalate and racialize the war on drugs.
The Hulu Original film, led by Oscar®-nominated director, Lee Daniels, and starring Grammy®-nominated singer-songwriter, Andra Day, captures the essence of Holiday and her life, legacy, and voice that wouldn’t be silenced.
Watch: The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Women of the Movement
Based on a true story, Women of the Movement follows Mamie Till-Mobley and her fight for justice after the brutal murder of her son in 1955. Rather than suffer in silence, Mamie put herself in the spotlight and sparked a civil rights movement that changed history.
Watch: The Women of the Movement
The 1619 Project
This six-part Hulu Original docuseries covers democracy, race, music, capitalism, fear, and justice. In conjunction with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Nikole Hannah-Jones, and The New York Times, The 1619 Project highlights the undeniable contributions of Black Americans to rightfully reframe America’s story.
Watch: The 1619 Project
Summer of Soul (2021)
Just 100 miles south of the infamous Woodstock location lies Mount Morris Park — the birthplace of the Harlem Cultural Festival. Unlike any other, this festival was an annual celebration of Black culture and was full of music, dancing, food, and unity.
This documentary film explores never-before-seen footage from the biggest Harlem Cultural Festival in 1969, spotlighting the men and women of the movement.
Watch: Summer of Soul
Freedom on My Mind (1994)
The Mississippi Voter Registration Project — aka Freedom Summer — was a grassroots effort to increase the number of Black registered voters in the state of Mississippi in the 1960s. Freedom on My Mind takes an emotional look at that specific moment in time, using real archived footage to show how far we’ve come and how far we’ve yet to go.
Watch: Freedom on My Mind*
*Live TV plan required to watch live content on Hulu. Regional restrictions, blackouts, and additional terms apply.
The League (2023)
Although most Negro League teams disbanded by 1960, racism in professional sports is still prevalent today. Discover the stories of the Negro League through remarkable archived footage and interviews with legendary players in the documentary, The League.
Watch: The League
Black Ice (2022)
Executive producers LeBron James and Drake bring us Black Ice — a sports documentary chronicling racism in hockey. Starting from the formation of the Colored Hockey League in 1895 to the first Black athlete to play in the NHL in 1958, discover the untold stories of Black hockey players, past and present, navigating a predominantly white sport.
Watch: Black Ice
Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story (2022)
Forever known as the Queen of Gospel, Mahalia Jackson’s story is impactful and inspiring. Learn more about Jackson and gospel music in this biopic film about her life and legacy.
Watch: Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story
The Loving Story (2012)
It’s true when they say “love conquers all,” especially when it comes to the history-changing relationship between Richard and Mildred Loving — an interracial couple living in 1960s Virginia whose supreme court case struck down interracial marriage laws across the U.S.
Learn more about Loving vs. Virginia in the documentary, The Loving Story, streaming now on Hulu with the Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle or the MAXⓇ add-on.
Watch: The Loving Story*
*The Loving Story requires the Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle or the Max Add-on. Access content from each service separately. Content, feature, and device compatibility vary by service. ©2024 Disney and its related entities. Max ©2024 Home Box Office, Inc.
12 Years a Slave (2013)
Based on the 1853 autobiography by Solomon Northup, 12 Years a Slave is the film adaptation of Northup’s life as he recounts being kidnapped as a free man in New York and sold into slavery. This emotionally powerful story serves as an important narrative on the history of racial injustice, encouraging viewers to reflect on the effects of racism in the present day.
Watch: 12 Years a Slave*
*Live TV plan required to watch live content on Hulu. Regional restrictions, blackouts, and additional terms apply.
More Black Stories on Hulu
Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told
At its peak in the ’80s and ’90s, the iconic (yet unofficial) Atlanta street party known as Freaknik wasn’t just a celebration — it was a cultural phenomenon.
What started as a small HBCU picnic grew into one of the largest and most infamous festivals in the country, shaping hip-hop, Southern party culture, and Black youth expression. Discover — or relive — the wildest party never told in this Hulu Original documentary, exploring its legacy, controversy, and lasting impact on Black history.
Watch: Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told
Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color
Hosted by Idris Elba, Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color sheds light on the contributions of Black soldiers who bravely served during WWII despite facing discrimination — at home and overseas — uncovering untold stories and honoring their sacrifices.
Watch: Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color
Black Love
From household names to everyday couples, Black Love is a docuseries that showcases love stories within the Black community with one question in mind: What does it take to make a marriage work?
Watch: Black Love
Aftershock (2022)
This is the story of two Black mothers who died preventable deaths during childbirth. Their families have set out to shed light on the maternal health crisis in the U.S. and advocate for healthcare equality for Black women.
Watch: Aftershock
The Hair Tales
From executive producers Oprah Winfrey, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Michaela Angela Davis comes The Hair Tales — a six-part docuseries celebrating identity, beauty, and culture through the raw, emotional, and personal stories of Black women.
Watch: The Hair Tales
The Conversations Project
No topic is off limits on The Conversations Project. From wokeness and masculinity to discussing what it means to be a leader versus an influencer, sit down with incredible athletes, artists, entertainers, and philosophers to discuss important life topics through the lens of the Black experience.
Watch: The Conversations Project
Unexpected
Activists and heroes, Masonia Traylor and Ciarra “Ci Ci” Covin lead an underground network of women helping women cope, survive, and thrive after an HIV diagnosis. This is their story.
Watch: Unexpected
Crime + Punishment (2018)
The arrest quotas New York City police are pressured to abide by are doing more harm than good, especially for the minority community. A group of whistleblower NYC cops coined the “NYPD 12” is standing up for what’s right in the Hulu Original documentary, Crime + Punishment.
Watch: Crime + Punishment
Your Attention Please
Interested in learning about Black innovators and creators who are working to leave the world better than they found it? Join actor and comedian Craig Robinson on a “journey of epic Blackness,” and discover the inspiring stories of today’s Black leaders who are taking charge and making a difference.
All three seasons of Your Attention Please are streaming now on Hulu.
Watch: Your Attention Please
We’re all about elevating and amplifying Black voices — and we’re always adding great content to the Black Stories Hub. Check it out for more titles to stream now.
