In celebration of this month’s Oscar ceremony we polled Pride readers to find out what were the most iconic black movie moments of all time. Here, we share the top 10 scenes as voted by you!
10 LOVE AND BASKETBALL (2000)
“I score. You strip. You score. I drop suttin.” It’s lines like those- not to mention the sizzling sexual chemistry between the two leads Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps- that helped make this flick a cult classic. In the tale of neighbours who fell in love with basketball and then each other, the college dorm room scene which sees the two go one-on-one, came in at no.10 and also as your steamiest scene of all time.
9 THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS (2006)
This film showcases Will Smith at his absolute best as an actor –a fact cemented by the Academy Award nomination he earned for the role. A biographical adaptation of Chris Gardner’s journey from homeless man to stockbroker, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Christopher and his son (played by Smith’s own son Jaden) were forced to sleep in a subway bathroom after being evicted from their apartment.
8 THE BEST MAN (1999)
We all saw it coming but the moment Morris Chestnut delivered the beat down to end all other beat downs to Taye Diggs in this romantic comedy was still enough to elicit a shocked gasp or two. Finding out that your best friend slept with your wife-to-be back in the day is tough. But when that friend decides to immortalise the deed in print in his new book? Heck, we’d think about throwing him off a multi-storey building too…
7 HOUSE PARTY (1990)
The lead roles were originally intended for DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince but House Party just wouldn’t have been the same without Kid ‘N Play. Also starring Martin Lawrence and Tisha Campbell-Martin, the hilarity that ensued (not to mention the moves displayed) during the infamous dance battle scene makes us long wistfully for the days of shell suits, hi-top fades and stretchy lycra bodysuits.
6 BOOMERANG (1992)
When it comes to Boomerang’s most iconic scenes it’s almost criminal to even think about narrowing it down to just one. That being said the honour goes to the infamous “Hammertime” moment in which Eddie Murphy’s lothario Marcus, horrified upon discovering his date Christy’s less than savoury feet, comically slides out of bed so as not to wake her. Even 20 years on this moment remains a reference point for men who insist, “jacked-up feet are a deal breaker.”
5 Friday (1995)
F. Gary Gray’s slacker comedy revolving around the lives of two friends portrayed by Ice Cube and Chris Tucker is a stone cold classic with side splitting turns from both leads. The scene where neighbourhood terrorist Deebo insults Craig and Smokey and steals Red’s bike and chain is hilarious plus it delivers one of the film’s best one-liners: “He gon’ cry in the car.” Boom! Gotta love it!
4 THE COLOR PURPLE (1985)
Boasting an impressive roster of acting talent including Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey, this has to be one of the most poignant films ever made. Who could forget the heartbreaking moment when Albert, furious that his predatory advances towards Nettie have been rejected, forcefully ejects her from the house while her sister Celie clings to her sobbing hysterically.
3 DO THE RIGHT THING (1989)
Spike Lee has built up an impressive oeuvre over the years, yet it’s this particular picture that’s widely regarded as the Brooklyn director’s best. One of the film’s most memorable and thought provoking moments, the hate speech scene in which characters of various ethnicities spew out racial insults straight to camera, acted as a platform for Lee to cleverly highlight the universality of racism, the humour that can motivate it and the consequences of such actions.
2 BOYZ N THE HOOD (1991)
Filmed and released in the Summer of ’91, Boyz n the Hood made director John Singleton the youngest person and the only black man ever to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Director. Depicting the gritty reality of life in South Central, Los Angeles the scene in which Ice Cube’s Doughboy, sits down on the porch with Cuba Gooding Jr. and declares that America “don’t know, don’t show, or don’t care about what’s going on in the Hood,” was a concise, pointed indictment of the chasm between the ‘hood and the rest of the nation.
1 COMING TO AMERICA (1988)
And here we have it. Your top movie which is filled to the rafters with standout scenes aplenty. Showcasing Eddie Murphy at his absolute best, the much talked about club scene in which Prince Akeem’s eccentric sidekick Semmi (Arsenio Hall) attempts to find him a suitable princess is seared in our memories. Instead of being presented with fine American girls he is shown one horrifying prospect after another. From rapping/ beat-boxing twins to a wannabe Joan of Arc lighting a flame under her palm it was slim pickings.
