The civil rights movement took center stage during the '50s and '60s, but the fight for better equality and equity is continued by many today. While most people tend to wait for Black History Month and Martin Luther King Jr. Day to reflect on this time, it is something that should truly be considered every day of the year. The fight is still far from over, as there are still many injustices done to Black Americans and unfair practices. Now is the time to reflect on the civil rights movement, how the United States has changed, what it still needs to be accomplished, and how it might look in the future.

Cinematic mediums offer a chance to see history from a new or different perspective and relate to characters from the past in a way that can't be experienced in a textbook. A film can add new layers and truly put audiences in the era and the mindset. Here are fifteen great films that advocate for civil rights.

Update February 15, 2024: In honor of Black History Month, this article has been updated with more great films about the fight for Civil Rights and where you can stream each title.

15 Harriet (2019)

Abolitionist and social activist Harriet Tubman is a one-woman army who made her way into national history through her stubborn fight for the freedom of her fellow African Americans and their right to a dignified life. The historical drama Harriet stars actress Cynthia Erivo in the role of her life (Harriet) and features her thrilling escape from the horrors of slavery. The heroic slave turned into a brave abolitionist when she made it her mission to save not just herself but her entire family via underground railroads, helping more than 300 African Americans to escape through 19 trips.

A Thrilling Look at Tubman's Legacy

While not part of the Civil Right's movement, Tubman is an important historical figure that is worth mentioning. The movie skillfully reflects Harriet's bravado and strong belief in the value of conserving civil rights despite the strong and dangerous opposition from the South and the looming threat of being caught by a slave hunter. It's almost impossible to watch some scenes without having the impression of one's heart almost collapsing in fear that Harriet's noble mission would somehow come to an abrupt and unfortunate end. Director Kasi Lemmons painted a vivid picture of this historical hero who's been, for so long, confined within the limits of a passing high school history lesson. Stream on Netflix

14 Lee Daniel's The Butler (2013)

The Butler is a historical drama based on the true story of an Oval Office butler called Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker) who witnesses the tenures of more than six presidents, the assassinations of Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., the Bloody Sunday, and other major moments in the history of African Americans' struggle for civil rights. The movie casts an eye on the butler's relationship with his young boys, especially Louis (David Oyelowo), who is very politically active. Louis' participation in peaceful movements to put a stop to segregation usually resulted in his arrest. This puts a strain on his relationship with his father, who works in proximity to the people in power who are reluctant to end racist laws. Cecil's optimism about the president's agenda to help make things better is not shared by his rebellious, committed, and proud young son.

Devotion that Spans Decades

With a cast made of Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz, Colman Domingo, Yaya DaCosta, and Cuba Gooding Jr., the story came to life and graced the audience with many moments of sorrow, confusion, happiness, and relief, especially particularly with the film ending as Barak Obama, the first African American man to occupy the presidential seat, is sworn in. While some were naive enough to mean that Obama winning the presidency meant that racism and bigotry in America were solved, it serves a fitting end to a movie that shows the trials and tribulations of the American civil rights era to a moment millions of Americans had been waiting for, and many thought they would never get to see. Stream on Prime Video

13 The Long Walk Home (1990)

Whoopi Goldberg and Sissy Spacek helped bring the events surrounding the Montgomery bus boycott to the silver screen when they starred in The Long Walk Home, a powerful social and political protest that was sparked by Civil Rights activist and icon Rosa Parks' refusal to surrender her seat on a bus to a white person in 1955. The year-long operation eventually led to the Supreme Court declaring that Alabama's segregated buses were unconstitutional, with the compelling drama providing a look at the campaign from the eyes of one of its many participants.

An Emotionally Moving Friendship

Goldberg brilliantly portrayed African-American nanny Odessa Cotter, who engaged in the boycott in Montgomery and refused to take the bus, instead being shown kindness by her white employer Miriam Thompson (Spacek), who offered to drive her to and from work despite pushback from her community. The Long Walk Home is an affecting film that demonstrates the protestors' valiant fight against oppression during the movement and highlights the unlikely friendship that formed between the two women as they faced their own respective adversities. Stream on Fubo

12 Mississippi Burning (1988)

Hollywood greats Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe joined forces to help tell the devastating true story of three activists from Philadelphia, Mississippi, who were brutally abducted and murdered in June 1964, with the dynamic actors portraying the FBI agents tasked with investigating the heinous crimes. In Mississippi Burning, agents Rupert Anderson (Hackman) and Alan Ward (Dafoe) make it their mission to catch those responsible for the murders of the activists, facing both the KKK and hostile local police in the process. Both Anderson and Ward refused to be intimidated by the antagonistic citizens, and the FBI agents remained steadfast in their investigation as they set out to expose the corruption in the small town's law enforcement while revealing their ties to the KKK.

An Eye-Opening Thriller

Though it took some artistic liberties, Mississippi Burning shines a light on the stormy period in history and shocking crime that sparked a national outrage. When the state's government refused to prosecute, the federal government stepped in to target the KKK members responsible for the murders of the activists, and the massive outcry throughout the country helped the Civil Rights Act of 1964 gain passage. Mississippi Burning featured impressive performances by Hackman and Dafoe and also was named the Best Film of the year by the National Board of Review. Rent/Buy on Apptle TV+

11 Till (2022)

Chronicling Mamie Till-Bradley's courageous mission to seek justice for the death of her 14-year-old son Emmett after he was horrifically tortured and lynched in August 1955, the poignant drama Till stars Danielle Deadwyler as the relentless Mamie and details the grieving mother's efforts to raise national awareness over the shocking atrocity. Mamie became a prominent voice and activist during the Civil Rights Movement, and she refused to allow the murder of Emmett to be ignored, fighting tooth and nail for change. Mamie notably insisted that her son's casket be left open during his highly-publicized funeral, having expressed at the time, "I wanted the world to see what they did to my baby."

A Mother's Enduring Crusade

Emmett Till became a leading symbol within the Civil Rights Movement and Mamie's unwavering devotion to see justice for her son endeared her to the masses. She would go on to be hired by the NAACP and travel the country sharing Emmett's story, gaining support for racial injustice. The movie Till was an underrated 2022 release that sadly saw Danielle Deadwyler snubbed for Best Actress, but is a powerful drama that is worth a watch. Stream on Prime Video

10 Loving (2016)

Loving is an epic romance drama biography about a marriage worth fighting for. The movie tells the true story of Richard Loving (a white man) and Mildred Loving (a black woman), who fell in love and got married in 1958 in Virginia. Unfortunately, in the state of Virginia, interracial marriage was forbidden by law, hence the couple's early and abusive arrest. At the police station, they were given the ultimatum of either spending time in jail or leaving the state. The couple moved to Washington, D.C., where they lived for over ten years. However, every time they try to go back home, they are faced with the same hostility and legal threat. After going through a great ordeal in Washington, Mildred Loving decided to write to Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, asking for help.

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Love Will Conquer All

After several court appeals, it was decided that laws prohibiting interracial marriage were unconstitutional. Richard and Mildred Loving were announced, legally and publically, husband and wife and parents to their three legal children who were considered bastards. They finally moved back to Virginia to build their dream house.

This movie brilliantly highlights the power of personal relationships and the inability of any legal system to stand against the freeing and undiscriminating power of love. The couple's private fight for marriage became a matter of public and national civil rights resistance. The case of Loving v. Virginia was cited as a precedent in U.S. federal court decisions holding restrictions on same-sex marriage in the United States unconstitutional. This movie is both an intimate love story that also happens to have major ramifications for generations of people to this day. Rent/Buy on Prime Video

9 Remember the Titans (2000)

To some people, there is nothing more American than American football. At least that was true of Alexandria, Virginia, during the early '70s. In Remember the Titans, Herman Boone (Denzel Washington) becomes head coach of one of Virginia's first integrated high school football teams. Because of the local political climate, if Boone ever loses a game, the school board will fire him. With these high stakes, Boone must teach his team to work together and overcome their racial prejudices.

Overcoming Racial Tensions

As the movie changes back and forth between the coaches' perspectives and the players' points of view, audiences get to see racial tension across generations and the unique challenges each group faces across the divide of history. The inspiring journey of this football team tugs at the heartstrings of all audiences, regardless of previous interest in football (or lack thereof). Washington knocks it out of the park as the steadfast coach Boone, and he is joined by a dazzling ensemble cast including stars like Will Patton, Ryan Gosling, and Kate Bosworth. Remember the Titans is widely regarded as one of the greatest football films of all time and is acclaimed for its heartfelt message and admirable depiction of tenacity and acceptance. Stream on Disney+

8 One Night in Miami... (2020)

Directed by Regina King in her feature film debut, One Night in Miami... fictionalized account of a meeting on February 25, 1964 between Civil rights leader Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), legendary boxer Cassius Clay before he named himself Muhammad Ali (Eli Goree), legendary football player Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge), and popular singer and songwriter Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.) in a room at the Hampton House, celebrating Ali's surprise title win over Sonny Liston. The movie is based on Kemp Powers's 2013 play of the same name, and Powers wrote the film screenplay.

Topical Release

One Night in Miami... is very different than a lot of these historical films as it pulls back the curtain to allow the audience to see these legendary figures as people. They debate and have different opinions on how to handle how America is changing during the Civil Rights movement. It is a powerful film about how these historic icons thought to do with power and privilege when many like them did not, and its release in 2020 following the tragic murder of George Floyd and a widespread conversation about police brutality and black lives matter made it much more timely. Combined with its all-star cast that all give standout performances, One Night in Miami... was one of the best films to be released in 2020. Stream on Prime Video

7 12 Years a Slave (2013)

12 Years a Slave takes viewers back to 1841, when slavery was still legal in the United States, and is based on the biography of Solomon Northup. Northup lived freely in New York but was kidnapped away from his wife and children and sold into Southern slavery. Audiences follow him on a journey to fight against oppression, maintain dignity, attempt escape, and return to a life of freedom.

A Gut-Wrenching Biographical Drama

The poignant drama shows extreme racism at its absolute worst, embodied in earth-shattering and disgustingly accurate performances from people like Michael Fassbender and Sarah Paulson. As Northup makes multiple escape attempts, audiences get to see different plantations and a wide range of attitudes and abuse toward slaves.12 Years a Slave is a sobering picture from the brilliant Steve McQueen, who made history when he became the first Black director to win the Oscar for Best Picture, with eye-opening scenes about slavery. The heart-wrenching story, made even more impactful by its basis on real-life events, is a historical piece everyone in America should watch at least once. Stream on Hulu

6 Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)

Daniel Kaluuya delivered a phenomenal performance and took home the Academy Award when he starred in the riveting crime drama Judas and the Black Messiah, which focuses on FBI informant William O'Neal (LaKeith Stanfield) as he goes undercover to infiltrate the Black Panther Party and gain the trust of its passionate leader Fred Hampton (Kaluuya). As O'Neal grows closer to the charismatic Hampton, he finds himself torn with where his true allegiance lies.

A Revered Cinematic Triumph

O'Neal's actions ultimately played a major role in the assassination of Hampton, who was drugged and gunned down during a raid by a tactical unit on December 4, 1981. The engrossing film delves into the Black Panther Party's plea to African Americans while showcasing the mounting racial tensions within the country and also brings to light the controversial efforts carried out by law enforcement to upend the Civil Rights Movement. Judas and the Black Messiah earned numerous accolades like two Oscars, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy. Stream on Max

5 Hidden Figures (2016)

Hidden Figures highlights three black women working for NASA in the early 1940s. They work as essentially human calculators on the ground-breaking team working to launch astronaut John Glenn into orbit. Although each one of these women is brilliant, they face racial prejudice and gender discrimination from both their coworkers and their neighbors. The movie shines a spotlight on Katherine Johnson, Dorthy Vaughn, and Marty Jackson, three influential women who were vital to NASA's history that went underappreciated and underseen for far too long but were finally given the spotlight with this blockbuster film.

A Trio of Powerhouse Performances

Hidden Figures tackles two pressing social issues for the price of one. It highlights the strength of women in a male-dominated field and the importance of racial diversity (especially in science and government). The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture in 2017. A killer soundtrack, witty dialogue, and stellar performances by Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monae all complete the inspiring narrative. This is a movie that knows when to be playful and when to be serious, and it does both successfully. Stream on Disney+

4 Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)

Sidney Potier may have passed, but he leaves an incredible legacy with films like this. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner tells one of the greatest love stories of all time, which also happens to be interracial. Johanna Drayton (Katharine Houghton), a white woman, brings her fiancé, a Black doctor named John (Poitier), to meet her parents. Matt Drayton (Spencer Tracy) and his wife Christina (Katherine Hepburn) are shocked by the daughter's news, but the liberal thinkers who raised their daughter without racial prejudice are more surprised to discover their own closed minds. When John announces that he will not marry Johanna without her parent's approval, Matt and Christina are forced to weigh their personal hesitations against their daughter's happiness.

An Undisputed Hollywood Classic

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner gives audiences a look at the everyday prejudices that can subtly creep in without people being fully aware of them. Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn's performances phenomenally embody the inner conflict their characters face. Not all civil rights battles end in large-scale protests in the streets; most of the time, they're waged at home. The movie gives an example of an everyday family that claims to be inclusive but has its values put to the test. It is a reminder of the impact each individual has in shaping society. In 2017 the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. Rent/Buy on Apple TV+

3 Selma (2014)

Martin Luther King Jr. is a household name for good reason. Few people did more for civil rights than this man who literally gave his life to the cause. Selma highlights one moment in history that helped define Martin Luther King Jr. and his tireless effort toward change for good. Although the South was legally desegregated, racial prejudices still made it difficult for Black people to vote in the early '60s. On March 7, 1965, MLK led a peaceful protest march, which was met with violence from local law enforcement.

Awe-Inspiring Accuracy

This historical drama depicts one of the most famous events during the civil rights movement. With a great performance from David Oyelowo and excellent direction from Ava DuVernay, the film is full of powerful emotion and fascinating historical details. According to a study done by Information is Beautiful, Selma is 100 percent accurate (to an almost painfully honest degree), making this film the most historically realistic on this list. Selma is one of the greatest films of the 21st century and put a spotlight on one of the most important figures in American history. Stream on Prime Video

Related: 15 Amazing Recent Performances from Black Actors

2 Malcolm X (1992)

A great companion piece to Selma is Spike Lee's Malcolm X. The movie is a modern epic showcasing the life and death of civil rights leader Malcolm X, with the amazing Denzel Washington in the lead role. The film focuses on key events in Malcolm X's life and what shaped him into being a powerful civil rights leader. While many of the films on this list focus on the eventual peaceful resolution, Malcolm X is important for highlighting the rightful anger many Black Americans felt.

An Honest & Enlightening Biopic

Malcolm X is, in some circles, a very controversial figure, but he said many things that needed to be said. He is an important figure in the Civil Rights era whose story is masterfully told in one of the best movies from the 1990s. The film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2010. Malcolm X might be one of Spike Lee and Denzel Washington's best movies, and it is a true American epic as it details the life and death of an important figure who helped shape the country in a film that is powerful both when seen in a theater or watched on television. Stream on Max

1 To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

Though To Kill a Mockingbird was first released in 1962 from an even earlier novel, the movie has withstood the test of time. Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck) is a lawyer who believes that everyone deserves equal representation. When he receives an assignment to defend a black man named Tom Robinson (Brock Peters) accused of raping a white girl, his family learns about racism up close and personally.

A Trailblazing Cinematic Spectacle

To Kill a Mockingbird was among the earliest movies to tackle racial prejudice, and it successfully set a high standard. The genius of the story is how it unfolds through the eyes of a child, Atticus' daughter Scout. It is meant to put the viewer in the mindset of a child who, if they can rightfully see that racism and bigotry don't make any sense, why do people do it? Atticus Finch still stands as one of the greatest cinematic characters. To Kill a Mockingbird is a powerful film that still speaks to audiences to this day and is a timeless classic. Rent/Buy on Prime Video