Best Early 70S
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Directed by Ivan Dixon, this 1973 thriller follows a former CIA agent who uses his specialized training to organize a nationwide Black revolution, making it highly controversial.
Documenting a 1972 Los Angeles concert, this American documentary film is notable for showcasing Black culture and performances by Stax Records artists.
Directed by Gordon Parks, this 1971 film centers on private detective John Shaft and became a landmark hit that popularized the blaxploitation movement in American cinema.
Directed by Melvin Van Peebles, this 1971 independent film follows a Black man on the run from the law and is widely credited with launching the blaxploitation genre.
This 1972 crime thriller depicts a violent clash between the Mafia, Harlem criminals, and police, noted for its gritty realism and a celebrated soundtrack by Bobby Womack.
Directed by Gordon Parks Jr., this 1972 crime film follows a Harlem cocaine dealer trying to quit the trade, famous for its Curtis Mayfield soundtrack and stylish aesthetic.
Starring Max Julien, this 1973 American crime drama is a highly influential entry in the genre, detailing the rise of a successful pimp in Oakland.
Directed by Jack Hill, this 1973 film stars Pam Grier as a nurse who turns vigilante to avenge her sister's drug addiction, making Grier an iconic leading lady in action cinema.
Directed by Larry Cohen, this 1973 crime film stars Fred Williamson as a shoeshine boy who rises to become a ruthless Harlem mob boss, featuring a James Brown soundtrack.
This 1973 American comedy film diverges from typical violent blaxploitation tropes, focusing instead on family dynamics during an impending wedding.
Starring Robert Hooks, this 1972 film follows a suave fixer in Los Angeles who gets framed for murder, noted for its celebrated Motown soundtrack produced by Marvin Gaye.
Starring Sidney Poitier, this 1970 police procedural follows detective Virgil Tibbs investigating a murder in San Francisco and serves as a sequel to In the Heat of the Night.
Based on Chester Himes's novel, this 1970 film follows two Harlem detectives investigating a scam and is considered a crucial forerunner to the blaxploitation genre.
Starring William Marshall, this 1972 horror film reimagines the Dracula mythos with an African prince turned vampire, notable for blending gothic horror with blaxploitation.
Directed by Melvin Van Peebles, this 1970 satire features a racist white insurance salesman who wakes up Black, offering a sharp critique of American racial prejudice.
Directed by Arthur Marks, this 1973 crime thriller pairs a Black detective with a white colleague to solve a high-profile jewelry heist, notable for its gritty urban realism.
Starring Tamara Dobson, this 1973 action film features a stylish secret agent battling a drug lord, noted for its strong female lead and becoming a major box office success.
Starring William Marshall and Pam Grier, this 1973 horror sequel follows the resurrected African prince Mamuwalde as he becomes obsessed with a voodoo princess in Los Angeles.
Starring Godfrey Cambridge and Raymond St. Jacques, this 1972 crime comedy follows Harlem detectives Gravedigger Jones and Coffin Ed investigating a series of gangland murders.
Directed by Gordon Parks, this 1972 sequel sees private detective John Shaft investigating the murder of his friend and uncovering a massive Mafia-linked smuggling ring.
Starring Billy Dee Williams and Richard Pryor, this 1973 American crime thriller features a federal agent forming a hit squad to avenge his daughter.
Directed by Larry Cohen, this 1973 sequel to Black Caesar follows mobster Tommy Gibbs as he attempts to reclaim his criminal empire from corrupt cops and rival gangsters.
Directed by John Guillermin, this 1973 film sees detective John Shaft travel to Ethiopia to dismantle a modern-day slave trading ring, concluding the original Shaft trilogy.
Starring Bernie Casey, this 1972 blaxploitation film is a loose remake of the 1967 film Point Blank, following a former football player seeking revenge for his brother's death.
Directed by Raymond C. St. Jacques in 1973, this American crime drama details a numbers racket operation within the Black community of the 1930s.
Starring Jim Brown, this 1972 action film features a former Green Beret seeking vengeance against the mobsters who killed his parents, spawning a successful cinematic franchise.
Based on Iceberg Slim's novel, this 1972 crime film follows a biracial con artist and his mentor as they swindle wealthy targets, offering a gritty look at street hustles.
Directed by Ossie Davis in 1973, this American action film follows a group of Vietnam veterans who wage war on drug dealers in Harlem.
Starring Pam Grier and Margaret Markov, this 1973 film follows two chained female inmates who escape custody in the Philippines, heavily inspired by the plot of The Defiant Ones.
Directed by Barry Pollack, this 1972 heist film is a loose remake of The Asphalt Jungle, featuring a group of Black thieves attempting to steal millions in jewelry.
