Cancel your plans and grab a tub of popcorn because April is here, and it’s serving up piping-hot Black movies and TV shows!
From heart-wrenching dramas to laugh-out-loud comedies, this month’s lineup will have you glued to your screen.
So sit back, relax, and let’s dive into the delicious world of Black movies and TV shows this April.
The Crossover
Platform: Disney+
Release Date: April 4, 2023
Genre: Sports, Drama
Cast: Daveed Diggs, Jalyn Hall, Derek Luke
The Crossover follows Filthy and JB, basketball prodigy twins.
As the twins grow up, they learn about themselves and how they are more than their talents.
My Name Is Mo’Nique
Platform: Netflix
Release Date: April 4, 2023
Genre: Standup Comedy
Cast: Mo’Nique
In 2018, Oscar winner Mo’Nique asked Blacks to boycott Netflix for racism and sexism.
At the time, Hollywood avoided the comedian like the plague, and she didn’t mince words about them.
However, she agreed on a lucrative deal with the streaming giant and started work on My Name Is Mo’Nique.
The comedy special has Mo’Nique speaking about her life experiences, from school to her Hollywood controversies.
This special will have you in stitches as Mo’Nique pokes fun at herself and her experiences, and it’s among the best April Black movies and TV shows.
Celebrity Prank Wars
Platform: E!
Release Date: April 6, 2023
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Nick Cannon, Kevin Hart
Nick Cannon and Kevin Hart headline this hilarious competition series about celebrities playing pranks on each other.
Each episode shows different celebrities planning and actioning wild pranks on each other, as the hosts pick a winner.
Celebrity participants include:
- Anthony Anderson
- Nikki Bella
- Lil Duval
- Fantasia
- Tiffany Haddish
- Taraji P. Henson
- Lil Jon
- Ludacris
- Chance The Rapper
- T.I.
If you want a bingeable show, Celebrity Prank Wars is the most entertaining Black movies and TV shows.
Gangs of Lagos
Platform: Amazon Prime
Release Date: April 7, 2023
Genre: Crime
Cast: Demi Banwo, Adesua Etomi-Wellington
If you’re in the mood for a gritty crime thriller, Gangs of Lagos ticks all the boxes.
The movie follows two men who became criminals as kids in Nigeria.
They enter a gruesome power struggle and battle to realize their dreams.
Gangs of Lagos is among the most intense Black movies and TV shows you can watch this month.
Praise This
Platform: Peacock
Release Date: April 7, 2023
Genre: Music, Comedy
Cast: Chloe Bailey, Philip Fornah, Quavo
Praise This follows Sam, an aspiring musical star who joins her cousin’s struggling praise team.
The team has joined a national championship competition and is gunning for the top.
Sam plans to use the team as a platform to realize her dreams of stardom.
Praise This has a stellar cast including Quavo and Chloe Bailey, and it’s among the funniest Black movies and TV shows this April.
Sweetwater
Platform: Cinemas
Release Date: April 14, 2023
Genre: Biography, Sports
Cast: Everett Osborne, Cary Elwes
Nat Clifton was the first Black player in the NBA–Sweetwater follows his life and historical achievements.
Nat was the highlight of the Harlem Globetrotters exhibition basketball team.
The New York Knicks wanted to make their team diverse, so they approached Nat.
What follows is an inspirational and heartwarming drama.
Chevalier
Platform: Cinemas
Release Date: April 21, 2023
Genre: Biography, Drama
Cast: Kelvin Harrison Jr., Samara Weaving
De Saint-Georges was the illegitimate son of a French plantation owner and an African slave.
Despite the obvious challenges, Saint-Georges made a name in French society as a champion fencer, composer, and violinist.
However, a falling out with Marie Antionette led to complications threatening to destroy his career.
Chevalier follows one of history’s little-known figures and the internal and external challenges he faced.
Back on the Strip
Platform: Cinemas
Release Date: April 21, 2023
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Wesley Snipes, Kevin Hart, Faizon Love, Tiffany Haddish
Back on the Strip is my chief April highlight for the cast.
With industry giants like Wesley Snipes and modern stars like Tiffany Haddish, the cast is mouthwatering.
The story is also intriguing, following aspiring magician Merlin as he heads to Las Vegas to realize his dreams.
However, Merlin somehow becomes part of The Chocolate Chips, a group of Black male strippers.
If you’re looking for a laugh, Back on The Strip is among the best Black movies and TV shows releasing this April.
Big George Foreman
Platform: Cinemas
Release Date: April 28, 2023
Genre: Biography, Sports
Cast: Forest Whitaker, Khris Davis, Jasmine Mathews
George Foreman is a boxing legend–many know him for Rumble in the Jungle, the most popular boxing fight in history.
Big George Foreman follows his life, from a humble childhood to becoming the oldest World Heavyweight Champion.
The movie shows us the side we never saw of the legendary boxer.
Light Up Your April With These Black Movies And TV Shows
These Black movies and TV shows represent the best of Black entertainment.
Whether you watch them at the cinemas or at home, they guarantee hours of entertainment.
