The Best Movies By Black Directors You Should Watch

In 2013, British director Steve McQueen put himself on the scene in a big way with 12 Years a Slave, an adaptation of the memoir of Solomon Northup. Born in New York State, Northup was kidnapped in 1841 in Washington, D.C. and sold into slavery despite his status as a free man, and was ultimately trapped on a plantation for 12 years before finally regaining his freedom. Chiwetel Ejiofor, who earned an Academy Award nomination for the role, played Northup, leading a cast that included producer Brad Pitt, Sarah Paulson, fellow nominee Michael Fassbender, and Supporting Actress winner Lupita Nyong'o (in her film debut). The film won Best Picture at the 2014 Oscars, making McQueen the first Black director to direct a Best Picture winner.

Five years later, McQueen returned with Widows, a crime drama he wrote and directed starring Viola Davis, Liam Neeson, Brian Tyree Henry, and Daniel Kaluuya, along with a group of other incredibly talented performers. Widows didn't enjoy the same awards recognition as 12 Years a Slave, but it's still an outstanding film in its own right, so make sure you include it in your McQueen retrospective.