Blaxploitation!
Motivated by the box office gold wrought by the independent film Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, Hollywood rushed to create films that it felt would appeal to a broad-based Black audience.
While the hits Shaft and Superfly were produced by major studios, many of the ensuing films, including those listed here, were created and distributed by small independent companies specialized in “exploitation” films (films made to turn a quick profit), resulting in the term “Blaxploitation.”
Though ‘70s Blaxploitation was heavy on camp and stereotypes, most critics agree that this genre influenced many of today’s African American filmmakers.
Rudy Ray Moore, Lady Reed, Jerry Jones
The legendary classic…the pillar of the ‘blaxploitation’ genre….Rudy Ray Moore is DOLEMITE!
Dolemite and his beautiful All-Girl-Army of Kung Fu Killers take on the corrupt city in this groundbreaking film whose influence is still being felt today. The basis for Eddie Murphy’s “Dolemite is My Name”!
“The Citizen Kane of kung-fu pimpin’ films”—New York Times
Melvin Van Peebles, Hubert Scales
Melvin Van Peebles’ breakthrough film, in which an idealistic hustler becomes militant after witnessing police brutality and corruption.
“His work blows my mind.” —Huey P. Newton
Leon Isaac Kennedy, Donovan Womack, Badja Djola
“Too Sweet”, a hardened but pragmatic inmate, joins the prison boxing team to secure an early parole. A highly acclaimed film directed by Jamaa Fanaka.
“Comparisons to ‘Rocky’ are inevitable, but ‘Penitentiary’ is too vital and personal to be a copy of anything.”—Los Angeles Times
Marlene Clarke Lawrence Cook Wally Taylor
In this horror film, black African Christians confront the traditional religion of their peers when a Yoruban priest is drowned after attempting to stop the Christian baptism of a young girl and her mother. Trouble ensues when the priest comes back to life.
“Rife with powerful allegory … A film of style and deep substance that ranks among the best independent works of 1970s Black cinema.” – Screen Slate
This came out of nowhere and hit me like a ton of bricks…. extremely well constructed …. I can’t recommend it enough! – Chris Kirby, Letterboxd
Barry White, Scatman Crothers, Philip Michael Thomas, Charles Gordone
“The most incendiary work of the entire genre” – Quentin Tarantino
Starring Scatman Crothers, Phillip Michael Thomas, and soul legend Barry White. Originally reviled by activists (who had not seen the film), Coonskin has now been acknowledged by critics as the important masterpiece that it is. Rap superstars The Wu Tang Clan have expressed their love for the film, and want to produce a remake.
“Coonskin could be RALPH BAKSHI’S MASTERPIECE.”-New York Times
Tobar Mayo, J. Walter Smith, Roxie Young, Gladys Lum, Tony Rumford
A black scientist moves his family into an affluent neighborhood, only to be greeted with threats and vandalism by their new white neighbors. When the bigotry turns murderous, the good doctor works to transform his militant bodyguard into a black superman with fantastic physical strength and mental powers that set the stage for a remarkable climax!
“Strike fear into the hearts of intolerant racists everywhere.” Rovi
Rudy Ray Moore, Carol Speed, Lady Reed, Jimmy Lynch, Jerry Jones
Rudy Ray Moore’s fourth in a series of cult favorites finds him playing an ex-cop called back into action to stop an angel dust producer.
“Rudy Ray Moore is a comic genius.” –ColeSmithey.com
Rudy Ray Moore, Lady Reed, Jimmy Lynch, Ernie Hudson
In this sequel to the smash hit Dolemite, Dolemite is on the run from a redneck sheriff who has caught him with his woman. Dolemite and his posse (including a young Ernie Hudson) dodge the sheriff and his bullets in a high-speed chase that takes them to LA. Upon Dolemite’s arrival, he learns that Queen Bee (Lady Reed) and her Kung Fu Girls have been pushed out of the night-club business by a ruthless competitor who ... Read more
“The most essential Dolemite movie…”-ColeSmithey.com
Rudy Ray Moore, Jimmy Lynch, Leroy & Skillet, Eboni Wryte, Wildman Steve
One of the classic films from Dolemite himself – Rudy Ray Moore! Gunned down by the mob, a comedian is given a second chance at life if he will marry the Devil’s hideous daughter.
“…[Moore] delivers his particular brand of humor forcefully…” – Variety
Rod Perry, Jimmy Witherspoon
A small-time numbers runner takes on the drug king pin that murdered his best friend.
Jerri Hayes, Ernest Williams II
COMPTON 1976: Emma Mae, a young woman from rural Mississippi, goes to live with her aunt and cousins in Compton, CA, following the death of her mother. Green as grass and far from beautiful, Emma Mae still manages to earn the respect of her peers with her positive attitude and her remarkable ability to kick ass!
“Watching Emma Mae kick the s#!t out of Jesse is certainly worth the cost of admission.”—Darius James, That’s Blaxploitation
Joseph De Sue, Ivory Stone, Roosevelt Jackson, Liz Renay, Cardella Di Milo
Eddie, a Vietnam vet who has lost his arms and legs, is restored by DNA expert Dr. Stein. But the results turn monstrous when a rival for Eddie’s fiancée gives him the wrong medication.
Esther Rolle, Mabel King, Avon Long, Joe Keyes Jr.
The film version of Melvin Van Peebles hit Broadway show. Two imps are sent by the devil to break up a house party in Harlem.
“A FIND….broadly, humorously and exuberantly acted by its cast, which includes Esther Rolle from ‘The Jeffersons’….those who think of Van Peebles only as an angry young man with a single message will be pleasantly surprised.” —The Onion
Leon Isaac Kennedy, Ernie Hudson, Mr. T, Stephanie Mills, Rudy Ray Moore
An ex-con is forced back into the boxing ring as a condition of his parole. This big-budget sequel gave Mr. T his first major screen appearance.
Rudy Ray Moore, Jimmy Lynch, Jerry Jones, Bishop Don "Magic" Juan, David Ward
From Dolemite: The Total Experience collection, which includes: Dolemite, The Human Tornado, Petey Wheatstraw: The Devil’s Son-In-Law, Disco Godfather, The Legend of Dolemite: Bigger and Badder, Rude, and Live at Wetlands N.Y.C.
Jeannie Bell Jayne Kennedy Rosanne Katon Trina Parks
Climb aboard THE MUTHERS, the meanest, toughest and most action packed pirate ship in the pacific. Join Jayne Kennedy, Rosanne Katon, Jeannie Bell and their all female crew on a daring rescue mission to save one of their own from the clutches of vicious white slavers. Directed by the master of Filipino sleaze, Cirio Santiago. Newly restored from its 35mm negative
James Iglehart, Leon Isaac Kennedy, Jayne Kennedy, Carmen Argenziano
After being betrayed by his friends, an American soldier on his way home from Vietnam is left for dead and is saved by a pair of Japanese stragglers from WWII, who train him in the way of the samurai.