3 great movies you need to watch on Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Digital Trends

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Three-day weekends are great, but Martin Luther King Jr. Day is foremost an important time to reflect on the legacy of the man the day is named after, and also on the complicated way the country related to him while he was alive. While several movies have been made about King’s life over the years, those movies are not uniformly excellent.
The movies on this list are among the best dramas and documentaries about King from recent years, and they’re also remarkably honest about the political climate that King was operating within. These are three movies that are perfect for MLK Day viewing.
The best movies about real historical figures often choose to focus on just one narrow part of that person’s life. In Selma, we follow Martin Luther King Jr. as he and his allies prepare for the March on Selma in the aftermath of the passage of the Civil Rights Act. The brilliance of the movie comes in part from the fact that the Civil Rights Movement had already accomplished much of what it set out to do when Selma starts.
Boosted by a great central performance from Silo‘s David Oyelowo, it’s a bracing reminder of the level of violence and intimidation that the movement regularly dealt with.
Selma is streaming on Paramount+.
Although he’s universally beloved today, Martin Luther King Jr. wasn’t always celebrated for his accomplishments. MLK/FBI is a hugely important reminder that large parts of the country were against King when he was leading his movement. The movie centers on newly declassified FBI files that reveal the levels of harassment that J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI placed King under throughout his years of prominence.
The documentary is an important reminder that the FBI was not always the unambiguous force for good that many people have long believed it to be. In highlighting the way King was harassed and violated, the film gives us an unvarnished look at the way the country reacted to his attempts to change it for the better.
MLK/FBI is streaming on Hulu.
Although this film is not directly about King, Judas and the Black Messiah is another bracing movie that is designed to remind its audience about the often horrific role that the American government played in undermining the Civil Rights movement.
Telling the true story of a man who infiltrated the Black Panthers of Chicago on behalf of the FBI, and helped to facilitate the killing of many members of that movement by authorities, Judas and the Black Messiah is an emotional and thrilling movie that communicates to its audience with a kind of visceral force. It’s also a key reminder that racism is not a new problem in America.
Judas and the Black Messiah is streaming for free on Tubi. You can also stream it on Max.
Telling the story of a real crash that left 16 survivors stranded in the Andes, Society of the Snow is one of the most exciting new movies coming to Netflix in early 2024. The film has already earned rave reviews after playing at several prominent film festivals, and it’s the kind of survival epic that can feel all too uncommon in the modern movie landscape.
If you’ve checked out Society of the Snow, which hits Netflix on January 4, and you’re looking for other titles that may offer something similar, then you’re in luck. We’ve put together a list of three great survival epics that are sure to remind you of the thrills that Society of the Snow provides.
Alive (1993)
Alive (1993) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers
Hulu is kicking off the new year in style by releasing new movies throughout January. One of Hulu’s most anticipated films this month is Self Reliance, Jake Johnson’s feature-length directorial debut about a man attempting to avoid hunters for 30 days to win $1 million. Other movies coming to Hulu this month include Dirty Dancing, Dangerous Waters, and The Good Mother.
Besides the high-profile releases, there are plenty of underrated gems to stream on Hulu. Below are three underrated movies on Hulu to watch in January. Our picks include an Academy Award-nominated documentary, a time loop action film, and sci-fi horror with minimal dialogue.
Minding the Gap (2018)
Last month, you probably watched the new Christmas movie Candy Cane Lane with Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross on Amazon Prime Video. Or maybe you decided to watch something non-holiday themed, like the intense movie Copshop or the comedy 17 Again. This month, it’s time to start fresh. What movie should you watch?
Sure, you can choose from a high-profile title like Everything Everywhere All At Once or Air. But if you want something that you can call your own little hidden gem to share with friends and family members at the next gathering, look to these three underrated movies on Prime Video you need to watch in January.
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (2022)
MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS – Official Trailer [HD] – Only In Theaters July 15
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