21 Black Romantic Comedies You Can’t Not Watch In 2024

Some days, you want to watch hard-hitting Oscar-winning movies. And other days you want to keep your headscarf on, grab a pint of Ben & Jerry’s and watch a funny movie about black love.

With so many incredible black romantic comedies out there, where should you start? We’ve got you covered with some of the best.

1. Think Like A Man (2012)

This movie tries to embody Steve Harvey’s popular, if questionable, book “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man.” Career woman Lauren (Taraji P. Henson) is juggling both a handsome businessman named James (Morris Chestnut) and a sexy valet (Michael Ealy).

Meanwhile, Candace (Regina Hall) is unamused with a mama’s boy (Terrence J), and lady’s man Zeke (Romany Malco) believes the woman he’s met, Mya (Meagan Good), is a prude. There are a lot of characters, but they’re all so entertaining that you’ll be hooked on every story.

2. Love And Basketball (2000)

Monica (Sanaa Lathan) knows how to keep her childhood sweetheart, Quincy (Omar Epps), in check. She’s just as good at him in basketball, if not better, and her dreams outrank his – she’s determined to go pro no matter what.

Love And Basketball proves that no matter how disappointing and confusing life is, love can triumph as long as you keep your partner’s dreams in mind and don’t let your own selfish ambition poison the relationship.

3. The Wood (1999)

In romantic comedies, weddings never go smoothly. Inevitably, someone always runs out in the middle in order to confess their true love, or someone gets cold feet and realizes that they’re marrying the wrong person.

People in romantic comedies waste a lot of time and money planning failed weddings. The Wood is no exception.

Roland (Taye Diggs) gets cold feet. To persuade him to go through with the wedding, his buddy Mike (Omar Epps) recounts the story of his childhood sweetheart, who happens to be at the wedding. It’s a love story within a love story.

4. The Best Man (1999)

The Best Man is a wild ride that gives Love, Actually a run for its money. Lance (Morris Chestnut) is planning his wedding to Mia (Monica Calhoun), who cheated on Lance with Harper (Taye Diggs), who is revealing the affair through his autobiography.

Harper is also wondering whether to be faithful to his girlfriend Robin (Sanaa Lathan), until his ex-flame Jordan (Nia Long) returns. Meanwhile, Julian (Harold Perrineau) falls in love with a stripper (Regina Hall). Did you get all that?

5. The Brothers (2001)

The Brothers is a romantic comedy for men. Did you know those even existed? I didn’t.

The Blot describes this as “Sex and the City with black men.” The basketball court is the brunch spot.

Derrick (D.L. Hughley), Terry (Shemar Moore), Brian (Bill Bellamy) and Jackson (Morris Chestnut) meet on the court to discuss their relationship ups and downs, get advice, and complain about the women they have loved and lost. Next time your boyfriend complains that he doesn’t want to watch a movie with you, press play on this one.

6. Beyond The Lights (2014)

From the director of Love and Basketball comes Beyond The Lights; a film about fame, depression and suicide. Noni (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is a Rihanna-like pop star who is incredibly depressed despite – or maybe because of – her fame.

Police officer Kaz (Nate Parker) walks in on her trying to commit suicide, and saves her life. They fall in love, but Noni realizes that the road to healing isn’t always a straight line.

This romantic comedy will resonate with anyone who’s ever struggled with mental health. The soundtrack alone is worth a spot on this list.

7. Love Jones (1997)

This offbeat, beat-poetry romantic comedy transcends generations – your parents loved it, you’ll love it and your children probably will too. Before a nerve-wracking poetry set, professional poet Darius Lovehall (Larenz Tate) runs into Nina (Nia Long).

The encounter inspires him to retitle his hit poem “A Blues for Nina,” which brings them both together. But despite their fairytale beginning, the love in Love Jones takes a complicated turn. Nina wants to run back to her ex and Darius is reluctant to admit his feelings for Nina.

How can two people be together when they’re not sure what they want?