The entertainment world manages to show different kinds of stories with varying genres to its viewers. Whether it be action, drama, comedy, or the theme of slavery that we will talk about today. Slavery is by far the most negative institution practiced by humans. The following are the top 25 best slavery movies of all time:
With influential directors, actors, and hardworking members, the viewers get to see some influential movies through which they get to experience how slavery was implemented throughout different parts of the world.
The following list of movies explores how systemic racism, discrimination, and exploitation affect marginalized communities in the past and still in the present day. Check out this list of the best movies on slavery when you plan to watch and get more information on it.
List of Best slavery movies of all time –
1. 12 Years A Slave (2013)
Clear from the name, 12 Years A Slave is one of the best historical representations of the life of being a slave. The story is set in 1840 when a man is abducted and forced into slavery where he is mistreated and humiliated until he finally finds freedom. It got praised for its gripping story, strong representation, and performances.
IMDB rating-8.1
Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong’o, Michael Fassbender, and more.
2. Lincoln (2012)
It is widely known that Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States of America was anti-slavery. The movie directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Day-Lewis in the titular role shows the progress of Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 to free all the slaves in the Confederate-controlled areas.
IMDB rating-7.3
Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Sally Field, David Strathairn, and more.
3. Django Unchained (2012)
This popular commercial and critical hit directed and written by Quentin Tarantino shows the era of the 1850s where we get to experience the journey of a slave named Django (Jamie Foxx) who gets freed by a bounty hunter and later becomes his partner catching criminals. Although slavery is not the sole focus of the movie, it is an essential element of the story and its underlying themes.
IMDB rating-8.4
Cast: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, and more.
4. Glory (1989)
In Glory, the main leads Denzel Washington, Matthew Broderick, and Morgan Freeman all act very strongly and showcase the story of the first all-black regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The movie is based on Lay This Laurel by Lincoln Kirstein and shows themes of racism, slavery, and discrimination.
IMDB rating-7.8
Cast: Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, and more.
5. Tamango (1958)
Based on a short story written by French author Prosper Mérimée, Tamango (Alex Cressan)is a slave who is on a slave ship routing from Africa to Cuba. The movie shows slavery in its truest form and is very raw and hard-hitting. We get to see the development of a complex relationship between slaves and their oppressors.
IMDB rating-6.5
Cast: Dorothy Dandridge, Curd Jürgens, Jean Servais, Alex Cressan, Roger Hanin, and more.
6. Amistad (1997)
Directed by Steven Spielberg, Amsistad is based on a real-life event about an African slave ship and how after being held captive, the captives rebelled against their abductors on the ship and had to go into a legal battle because of the misdirection. It received huge critical acclaim and got nominated for four academy awards and is one of the best movies on slavery.
IMDB rating-7.3
Cast: Djimon Hounsou, Morgan Freeman, Matthew McConaughey, and Anthony Hopkins.
7. Emancipation (2022)
The Hollywood superstar Will Smith acted in and produced this movie about slavery. This high-budgeted movie narrates the real-life experience of (Will Smith) who was held in bondage and managed to flee from a plantation in Louisiana during the 1860s, subsequently traveling to the northern region to enlist in the Union army.
IMBD rating-6.1
Cast: Will Smith, Phylicia Rashad, Byron Bowers, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Tom Mison, and more.
8. 13th (2016)
In 13th, we get to experience how people exploit the 13th Amendment in the American constitution which abolished slavery has been exploited and manipulated to disproportionately target and incarcerate Black Americans. The film’s central theme is to raise awareness about the urgent need for reform and change in the American criminal justice system.
IMDB rating-8.1
Cast: Angela Davis, Cory Booker, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Newt Gingrich, Van Jones, and more.
9. Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013)
Based on the globally known figure, Nelson Mandela, The biographical film explores Mandela’s struggle against discrimination that existed for years in the country of South Africa. Due to his resilience, longing to fight for justice, and patience, Mandela managed to bring democracy to South Africa and the movie accomplishes to show this.
IMDB rating-7.2
Cast: Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, Tony Kgoroge, Riaad Moosa, Jamie Bartlett, and more.
10. KGF: Chapter 1 (2018)
This Indian blockbuster of 2018 showed the slaves The film portrays slavery when Rocky gets to the Gold Mines and sees the harsh reality of miners who are compelled to work as slaves in perilous conditions, and the brutal methods employed by the owners to assert their dominance over the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF). This Kannada-language movie is one of the best movies on slavery from India.
IMDB rating-8.2
Cast: Yash, Ramachandra Raju, Srinidhi Shetty, Vasishta N. Simha, Achyuth Kumar, Anant Nag, and more.
11. Ben Hur (1959)
Based on the popular and classic novel by Lew Wallace, Ben Hur centers the theme of slavery when the main character Judah Ben-Hur, played by Charlton Heston, is enslaved into working and gets mistreated in the process. This was the highest-budgeted movie of that time and became the second highest-grossing movie after Gone with the wind.
IMDB rating-8.1
Cast: Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Haya Harareet, Stephen Boyd, Hugh Griffith, and more.
12. Sankofa (1993)
Sankofa shows slavery and its impact on people and how it even affects the world of today. The movie shows how African cultural practices were suppressed and erased during the time of the slave trade, and how people still struggle with racism and oppression. One of the most classic pieces to show the horrors of slavery, it is one of the best movies on slavery.
IMDB rating-6.6
Cast: Kofi Ghanaba, Oyafunmike Ogunlano, Alexandra Duah, and more.
