Top Black Films of the Decade

Top Black Films of the Decade 2000-2009
There was a time when African American movies were few and far between. Fortunately, these days, black Hollywood is bankable and in demand. We took a look at the best black films of the decade and selected the 10 we thought were heads above the rest. From true-life stories to those with familiar characters, our top 10 features flicks that are witty, entertaining and inspiring.

20th Century Fox / Lionsgate / K.C. Bailey / Lionsgate

10. 'Brown Sugar'
After appearing together in 1999's 'The Best Man,' Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan teamed up again in 2002's 'Brown Sugar.' Directed by Rick Famuyiwa, and also starring Mos Def, Queen Latifah, Nicole Ari Parker and Boris Kodjoe, 'Brown Sugar,' is a story about how a relationship with hip-hop forces two childhood friends (Lathan and Diggs) to realize that their feelings for each other are more complicated than they ever imagined. The movie, which grossed $27 million at the box office, was inspired by Common's smash hit song 'I Used to Love H.E.R.'

K.C. Bailey

9. 'Drumline'
Before he became known as Mariah Carey's husband, actor Nick Cannon broke into the film industry in 2002's 'Drumline,' which also starred Zoe Saldana, Orlando Jones and Jason Weaver. Directed by Charles Stone III, 'Drumline' is the story of a young percussionist from New York who plays in the band at the fictional Atlanta A&T University and bumps heads with the leader of the drum section. Released during a slow December box office period, the film – made on a budget of $20 million -- grossed a surprising $56 million.

20th Century Fox

8. 'Remember the Titans'
Moiviegoers still consider 2000's 'Remember the Titans' to be one of the best sports film of the decade. Starring Denzel Washington as coach Herman Boone, the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced movie is based on the true story of a newly appointed African American coach and his high school team during their first season as a racially integrated unit at T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Va. Also featured in the film are Wood Harris, Donald Faison, 'Heroes' Hayden Panettiere and Will Patton. Produced for $30 million, the flick grossed $115 million.

Disney

7. 'Akeelah and the Bee'
Following their pairing in 'Boyz in the Hood' and 'What's Love Got to Do With It,' Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett teamed up for a third time in the 2006 drama 'Akeelah and the Bee.' Starring newcomer Keke Palmer, the film follows an 11-year-old girl from South Central Los Angeles who tries to make it to the National Spelling Bee. Produced for $8 million, the Lionsgate film, in conjunction with Starbucks, grossed a total of $18 million. It also became the first DVD offered for sale at the chain store.

Lionsgate

6. 'The Pursuit of Happyness'
Will Smith scored an Oscar nomination for best actor when starred in this 2006 sleeper hit. Directed by Gabriele Muccino, the film was based on the true story of Chris Gardner (played by Smith), a homeless-salesman-turned-stockbroker. The film also starred Thandie Newton, and paired Smith with his real-life son, Jaden. The movie raked in $27 million during its opening week, making it Smith's sixth consecutive No. 1 opening, and grossed a total of $162 million domestically.

Sony

5. 'Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire'
As the only film ever to win the 2009 Audience Award from both the Sundance and Toronto film festivals in the same year, Lee Daniels' 'Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire' is already considered a shoo-in for a best picture nomination. With the extra-marketing provided by Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, the movie, about an overweight, illiterate teen who is pregnant with her second child when she is invited to enroll in an alternative school, proved a box-office success. With a cast that includes Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Mariah Carey and Paula Patton, the Lionsgate film has brought in $42 million to date.

Lionsgate

4. 'Diary of a Mad Black Woman'
In 2005, Hollywood was introduced to Tyler Perry, and the film industry was never the same. When the former playwright's first movie, 'Diary of a Mad Black Woman,' hit No. 1 at the box office during its opening weekend, with a staggering $20.6 million from 1,605 theaters, Perry became a sought-after moviemaker. 'Diary,' which was based on Perry's play about a couple whose solid marriage begins to crumble despite increasing financial success, starred Kimberly Elise, Steve Harris, Cicely Harris and Shemar Moore. Produced on a $5.5 million budget, the romantic drama grossed $50 million at the box office, the first of Perry's film to achieve that goal.

Lionsgate

3. 'Dreamgirls'
Originally a Broadway musical, 'Dreamgirls' finally made it to the big screen with a bevy of talent that included Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, Anika Noni Rose, Eddie Murphy and newcomer Jennifer Hudson. Many said the film, about a trio of black female soul singers who cross over into the pop charts in the early-60s, was a thinly veiled portrayal of the rise and fall of the Supremes. Hudson, who won an Academy Award for best supporting actress in 1996 for her role as Effie White, delivered the movie's show-stopping performance during her rendition of 'And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going.' The film went on to gross $103 million at the box office.

Dreamworks

2. 'Hotel Rwanda'
After playing numerous supporting roles, Don Cheadle scored the role of his life when he starred in 2004's 'Hotel Rwanda.' The film was based on the life of Paul Rusesabagina (played by Cheadle), a hotel manager who housed more than a thousand Tutsi refugees during the Rwandan genocide of 1994. Cheadle and his co-star, Sophie Okonedo, received Oscar nods for their performances in the film, which grossed $33 million at the box office.

United Artists