Blaxploitation
Early 1970s American films with Black heroes, funk soundtracks and urban crime and revenge stories, which brought Black filmmakers and stars into commercial cinema.
In the early 1970s Hollywood discovered that Black audiences would fill theatres for films about Black heroes. Melvin Van Peebles's self-financed Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971) proved the point, and Gordon Parks's Shaft, with Isaac Hayes's Oscar-winning score, made it a studio formula. Funk soundtracks, tough city streets and heroes who beat the system defined the cycle. Critics argued over its stereotypes, and civil rights groups objected, yet it opened doors for Black directors and performers. By the late 1970s the cycle faded, but its style returned in Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown and Django Unchained.
- Where
- United States, mostly New York and Los Angeles
- When
- About 1970 to 1976
- Key figures
- Melvin Van Peebles, Gordon Parks, Isaac Hayes (composer)
- Landmark films
- Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971), Shaft (1971), Shaft's Big Score! (1972), Mandingo (1975)
- Legacy
- Jackie Brown (1997) and Django Unchained (2012) carry its spirit into later cinema
What to look for
- Black heroes who face crime, police and corruption on their own terms
- Funk and soul soundtracks that drive the story
- Gritty city locations, bold clothes and a defiant attitude
If you are new to Blaxploitation, take a look at our guide to start.
Famous Directors
Top films · 11 films
- Django Unchained 2012 · Quentin Tarantino · IMDb 8.5
- Jackie Brown 1997 · Quentin Tarantino · IMDb 7.5
- The Learning Tree 1969 · Gordon Parks · IMDb 7.2
- Leadbelly 1976 · Gordon Parks · IMDb 7.2
- The Story of a Three-Day Pass 1968 · Melvin Van Peebles · IMDb 7.1
- Watermelon Man 1970 · Melvin Van Peebles · IMDb 6.7
- Shaft 1971 · Gordon Parks · IMDb 6.6
- The Super Cops 1974 · Gordon Parks · IMDb 6.6
- Mandingo 1975 · Richard Fleischer · IMDb 6.5
- Shaft's Big Score! 1972 · Gordon Parks · IMDb 6.1
- Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song 1971 · Melvin Van Peebles · IMDb 5.5
