Celebrating Black Artists in the Film Industry | Part 4 of 4

In honor of Black History Month, we continue with the last of our four-part series that remembers the legends who paved the way for today’s performers and highlights breakout stars of the last decade who continue their legacies and represent the rich diversity of Black culture and history. Part four looks at the talent of Black filmmakers and performers that helped to make the Marvel films one of the most popular and profitable in history. We also talk about some of the most successful comedies of the last five years that featured predominantly Black casts.

Awards are just one measurement of success in the film industry. Over the last decade, Marvel has been by far the most successful film studio in terms of overall popularity and profitability, and that is thanks to the talent of many Black filmmakers and performers. Marvel has churned out 27 films since 2008 and has three more coming this year. Marvel films have grossed over $25.4 billion worldwide. The Marvel franchise graced our soundstages with the production of several TV series including The Defenders, Jessica Jones, The Punisher, Luke Cage and Daredevil.

“Black Panther,” directed by Ryan Coogler, shattered box office records when it was released in February 2018. It topped the domestic box office for five weeks straight and is one of the highest grossing films of all time. Critics also loved it. “Black Panther” was nominated for seven Oscars (including Best Picture), winning three. It holds the record at the Black Reel Awards, with 10 wins out of 17 nominations. Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Daniel Kaluuya, and Forest Whitaker star alongside Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira, Angela Bassett, Sterling K. Brown, and Winston Duke. The entire cast was honored at the 25th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards with the big prize – Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

Marvel’s highest-grossing film, “Avengers: End Game,” features a star-studded cast including Samuel L. Jackson as former Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and founder of the Avengers Nick Fury, Don Cheadle as James “Rhodey” Rhodes/War Machine from “Iron Man,” Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Falcon from “Captain America,” Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie from “Thor,” Zoe Saldaña as Gamora from “Guardians of the Galaxy,” and Michael James Shaw as Corvus Glaive from “The Avengers.” Jackson has portrayed Nick Fury in 11 different Marvel films and is the all-time domestic box office champ, with films earning more than $5.7 billion at the box office. His most recent appearance in the franchise was in 2019’s “Spider-Man: Far From Home.”

Speaking of Spider-Man, Zendaya has played Peter Parker’s love interest MJ in all three reboots of the immensely popular franchise. She also starred in last year’s remake of “Dune,” which topped the box office for two weeks and won over critics too. The 25-year-old actress has won numerous awards, including a Primetime Emmy for her leading role in HBO’s “Euphoria,” three People’s Choice Awards, and seven Teen Choice Awards. Marvel’s next release will be the highly anticipated “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” coming in May. British-Nigerian actor Chiwetel Ejiofor will reprise his role as the sorcerer Karl Mordo.

If you prefer to laugh when watching movies, some of the most successful comedies of the last five years have featured predominantly Black casts, including 2017’s NAACP Image Award winner “Girls Trip,” starring Tiffany Haddish, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Regina Hall; 2020’s action comedy “Bad Boys for Life,” featuring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence; 2019’s action comedy “Hobbs & Shaw,” starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Idris Elba; 2019’s “Dolemite is my Name,” starring Eddie Murphy and Wesley Snipes alongside Keegan-Michael Key, Chris Rock, Snoop Dogg, and Luenell; and 2021’s “Coming 2 America” also starring Eddie Murphy and Wesley Snipes, alongside Arsenio Hall, Leslie Jones, Jermaine Fowler, Tracy Morgan, the iconic James Earl Jones, and the aforementioned Morgan Freeman (playing his legendary self).

If you have not seen any of the films mentioned above, be sure to add them to your watchlist. We hope you enjoyed our series celebrating Black contributions to the film industry. It is an honor to promote the accomplishments, talents and culture of Black artists, and to celebrate the experiences, and diversity within the film and television industry.