With news that Waiting To Exhale, the 1995 woman-bonding classic is heading to the small screen, many people have been talking about other Black movies that deserve their own television show.
There are plenty of candidates, some of which may actually speak to the issues of today than they did when the films were first released. Take Do The Right Thing, the 1989 Spike Lee classic that spoke major volumes about race relations in America. With many of these same issues festering in American society still/again, one could see these films having a major impact on the small screen.
Boyz N The Hood
![Waiting To Exhale & 9 Other Black Movie Classics That Should Have Their Own TV Series](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Black-Films-Boyz-In-The-Hood.jpg)
Early 90s Los Angeles was fertile ground for groundbreaking Black films that told gritty stories about life in some of the city’s roughest neighborhoods. One such film that should be adapted for the small screen is Boyz n the Hood, the late John Singleton masterpiece about kids growing up in South Central L.A.
With the current climate of today, a showrunner could come in and create a television series surrounding this same premise, this time showcasing the growing diversity of the neighborhood.
Do The Right Thing
![Mookie collects a pizza from Sal’s Pizzeria in Do The Right Thing](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Black-Films-Do-The-Right-Thing.jpg)
Spike Lee’s gritty, classic tale about how different types of people interact with each other on a scorching summer day in Brooklyn is still a cultural landmark in cinema.
Much like Boyz In The Hood (which came out two years after this film), a television series surrounding Do The Right Thing could focus on the race relations in the Brooklyn neighborhood in a time when, like L.A.’s South Central, has changed throughout the years.
Friday
![Black Films Friday](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Black-Films-Friday.jpg)
Mainstream movie critics didn’t think too much of Friday when it was released in 1995, but it’s since become one of the best comedies ever made.
Many have thought over the years how the Friday universe could be adapted into a television show, and it would be practical, given the slice of life vibe that the film gave off. If Friday was made as a sitcom, it would certainly be among television’s most-watched comedies.
BlacKkKlansman
![Black Films BlacKKKlansman](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Black-Films-BlacKKKlansman.jpg)
Although this film was recently released, one could easily see BlacKkKlansman being made as a mini-series for a streaming service such as Netflix.
The film’s storyline, which tells the true story of a Black law enforcement officer who infiltrated the KKK, could be broken down into episodes that would make for a great weekend of binge-watching. The film is a riveting look at the absurdity of racism and how it can be a major blot on the fabric of society.
Bad Boys
![Marcus and Mike wear police vests in Bad Boys](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Black-Films-Bad-Boys.jpg)
This high-octane action film was made for the 90s. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence shined as the dysfunctional cop team solving drug crimes in Miami.
While Smith and Lawrence may be a bit too old to reprise their roles as Mike Lowry and Marcus Burnette for a television adaptation, there are many more-than-worthy actors who could play their iconic roles and serve as a great series for a streaming service like Netflix.
The Wiz
![Black FIlms The Wiz](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Black-FIlms-The-Wiz.jpg)
Nearly 42-years after its release, The Wiz still holds cultural weight. A retelling of The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz would be a great addition to Netflix as a mini-series that focuses on Dorothy as she navigates through a distorted world filled with wicked witches and great, powerful Oz.
There are many talented actors and actresses who could play the iconic roles, not to mention dancers who could recreate the dance scenes in the City of Oz, which will always be iconic.
Black Panther
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Released in 2018, Black Panther became a landmark in the legendary MCU series. As a tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, Marvel could adapt this superhero sci-fi film into a television series on a service like Netflix.
Granted, no one can replace Boseman as the Black Panther, but some worthy actors could bring the spirit of the superhero to the small screen. With Black Panther 2 set to be released in 2022, a television series based on the hero would act as the perfect bridge to the film’s release.
The Hate U Give
![Black Films The Hate U GIve](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Black-Films-The-Hate-U-GIve.jpg)
This 2018 movie hit audiences like a ton of bricks, and perfectly illustrated the revived civil rights movement that has been revolving around how police treat people of color.
Amandla Stenberg gave an Oscar-worthy performance, and while the subject matter may have been avoided in previous years, this may be the right time to adapt this powerful story into a television series, especially on a streaming service like Netflix, where it would be given the latitude to tell its story unvarnished.
The Last Black Man In San Francisco
![Jimmy and Montgomery sitting in The Last Black Man In SF](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Black-Films-The-Last-Black-Man-In-SF.jpg)
Another recent film that beautifully showcases modern times for Black Americans, The Last Black Man In San Francisco tells the story of a man who tries to save his home from demolition to make room for the gentrification of his old neighborhood.
The film’s plot could easily be broken down into a series format, and the film’s stars could reprise their roles to recreate the heartfelt story of fighting back against gentrification.
Waiting To Exhale
![Black Films Waiting To Exhale](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Black-Films-Waiting-To-Exhale.jpg)
Surprise! This series is actually getting a television adaptation and it is well-deserved. The 1995 film remains a powerful tale of Black sisterhood and the storyline could easily be converted into a captivating television drama.
Not only that, but there is no shortage of actresses who can reprise the iconic roles of the film and put a new, modern spin on the magic of the story. With Lee Daniels in the driver’s seat and the Locke sisters (When They See Us, Never Have I Ever) as writers and executive producers, the original film is sure to be given its fair dues.