February is a time for both Black culture and love; let’s celebrate both

With 2026 being the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, it just feels right to dedicate another film list for the culture. My last list on Black Watches Good Enough for a Banned List was indeed very dark.

Below is a list of movies that highlight more light, and love, within Black culture. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, check out some of these movies highlighting Black love and romance.

Deliver Us from Eva (2003)

A classic rom-com that doesn’t get enough love in my opinion. Starring Gabrielle Union and LL Cool J; this is a feel good and hilarious film that is both light hearted and fun. Union plays a very stern and tough woman named Eva who scares the living hell out of all of her brother-in-laws with her presence alone.

This leads them to hunt for a man who can “crack her.” But unlike the rest of us ladies, Eva doesn’t initially love Cool James’s character of Ray ( who is just as magnetic in the film as he is in real life). It becomes a real challenge for Ray to win Eva over while he tries to keep a hold of his own emotions in the process.

This is a great watch for anyone who is looking for a Black romance that doesn’t include dark drama or struggle love. It’s all “feel good” vibes from beginning to end.

If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

You have to be careful with this one. The cinematography and love story in If Beale Street Could Talk is absolutely gorgeous (masterfully directed by Barry Jenkins of course), but the overall story is heartbreaking.

Set in the 70’s New York, this story surrounds the lives of two friends who grew up together and fell in love. While their love is still young, tragedy hits, and y forces their love to mature and face a reality of what it means to be young, poor, and black in 1970s America.

The lighting and camerawork in this film are so beautiful that you’ll fall in love with the cinematography itself, while watching the tragic love unfold between Tisha and Fonny (portrayed gracefully by KiKi Layne and Stephan James). There are many, many other great stars featured in this film including Colman Domingo, Teyonah Parris, Brian Tyree Henry, and of course Regina King (who won an Oscar for her role in the film as Tish’s mother).

Moonlight (2016)

Another Barry Jenkins masterpiece and technically not a romance, but more of a coming of age story. Moonlight is about the different stages of life between boyhood and adult for the main character Chiron.

I will not lie, this is a heavy watch. There is also much to explore here. There is parental relationships, bullying, racial identity, and homosexuality.

I place Moonlight on this list because Chiron finds complex love in unlikely places. He finds parental love with a local drug dealer and romantic love with a childhood friend; both of which are centered on other Black males.

We could have a Ted Talk session on how deeply layered those two relationships alone are. In addition, Moonlight includes one of my favorite romantic love scenes of all time. If you have seen this film already, you already know what I’m talking about…the diner scene.

The intensity and energy between both men pours through the screen. The scene honestly feels like a masterclass in perspective and visual storytelling through film. In addition, Jenkins's signature slow pans and eye-popping colors are profound throughout the entire scene and the overall film. This is an intimate watch that explores relationships that are often overlooked.

Entergalactic (2022)

Leave it to Kid Cudi to bring pure uniqueness to art in various forms. Like Cudi, Entergalactic is just different in the best way. This adult animated rom-com musical is a hidden gem on Netflix that completely caught me by surprise.

Cudi voices Jabari who is an artist searching for his next path in life. In the midst of figuring it all out, he falls in love with his new photographer neighbor Meadow (voiced by Jessica Williams). There are a slew of other star voices including Ty Dollar Sign, Keith David, Jaden Smith, and Teryana Taylor among others. Timothee Chalamet is also in here as a drug dealer…don’t ask, just watch.

Full warning, when I say this is an adult animation I mean it; do not watch this with your kids please. There is cursing, raunchy jokes, X-rated activities, but in the midst of all of it is such a sweet and cute love story.

The film evolved from Cudi’s album of the same name, which he created before they even started making the movie. The album is equally romantic and amazing, and I constantly have the songs on rotation. At the very least, you have to listen to Willing To Trust; this song hooked me from the moment I heard it. I even added the album to my vinyl collection; it truly is that good.

Southside with You (2016)

The Obamas as a couple are just a vibe. No relationship is perfect, but their public presence together has always been full of genuine affection, admiration, and love for one another. I still remember their first dance together during the 2009 inauguration. Watching them smile and dance together, as Beyonce sang in the background, felt like a fairytale moment.

Southside with You is a movie that takes us back to the couple’s very first date. Well, the movie really shows us how Barrack smoothed his way into spending the entire day with Michelle and ultimately turning it into a date. I can’t knock the hustle; good for you Barry.

Claudine (1974)

Claudine is about a single mother on welfare with six children who falls in love with a garbage man named Rupert. I promise this is not a Tubi or Tyler Perry movie.

This is indeed, a “struggle love” movie. Let’s be honest, it's pretty tough to avoid struggle love films in Black culture; especially with movies that were made during the blaxploitation era. With that being said, Claudine is such a good watch and a good story about finding love amongst economic hardships.

This film is also rich with classic Black stars. It stars Diahann Carroll as Claudine and James Earl Jones as Rupert. Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs (from Cooley High) also plays one of Claudine’s sons, and it includes music by Curtis Mayfield.

The film has received critical praise and recognition, including nominations from the Academy Awards and Golden Globes. It can be difficult to find the film, but I am happy to say that it is part of the Criterion Collection ( I will need to pick up a copy for myself).

he story has some tense moments, but there are also fun moments to create a good balance. It’s about making the best out of what you have and finding love, even through struggle.

Have you seen any of these movies? Do you know any that I should add to my bucket list? Let me know; we clearly need more of these.

-A.Monique

Films that Place Black Love at the Forefront