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Best MLK Movies

Martin Luther King, Jr.  Day was to Honor Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy on  January 16th. It is important to remember that he is more than a civil rights activist but a man of faith, a loving husband, and a strategic visionary.

If your way of commemorating Martin Luther is through movies, no worries. Here is a list of MLK Movies to get you packed.

MLK Movies

MLK movies typically focus on the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., one of the key figures in the American Civil Rights Movement. These films delve into his inspirational leadership, nonviolent activism, and the struggles for racial equality, offering a poignant look at the challenges and triumphs of the civil rights era.

Malcolm X (1992)
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Al Freeman, Jr. (Actors)

Malcolm X

Filmmaker Spike Lee, star Denzel Washington and other talents vividly portray the life and times of the visionary leader.

I Am MLK Jr.
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Rep. John Lewis, Rev. Al Sharpton, Van Jones (Actors)

I Am MLK Jr.

I Am MLK Jr. is a feature-length documentary telling the story of American icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. while celebrating his life from an engaging contemporary perspective structured around seminal events in the Civil Rights Movement.

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MLK/FBI

Based on recently declassified files, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Sam Pollard explores the US government's surveillance and harassment of Martin Luther King, Jr.

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RELATED:  The Best MLK Movies for Kids

King: A Filmed Record – Montgomery to Memphis

A monumental documentary that follows Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from 1955 to 1968, in his rise from regional activist to world-renowned leader of the Civil Rights movement.

One Night in Miami
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge (Actors)

One Night in Miami

One Night in Miami is a fictional account of one incredible night when icons Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown gathered to discuss their roles in the civil rights movement and cultural upheaval of the 60s.

In Remembrance of Martin
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Rev. Ralph Abernathy, Julian Bond, Jimmy Carter (Actors)

In Remembrance of Martin

Personal comments fill this remarkable documentary honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Coretta Scott King joins the Rev. Ralph Abernathy, Julian Bond, Jimmy Carter, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Edward Kennedy, John Lewis, Bishop Desmond Tutu, and Andrew Young, who recall Dr. King's career and leadership in the civil rights movement.
 
Includes portions of his “I Have a Dream” speech.
King in the Wilderness
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Clifford Alexander, Joan Baez, Harry Belafonte (Actors)

King in the Wilderness

A portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. during the last years of his life, from his part in the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to his assassination in 1968.
MLK: The Assassination Tapes
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Tom Jennings (Director) - Tom Jennings (Producer)

Relive an unspeakable tragedy detailed with unforgettable images, videos, and recordings only recently rediscovered.

Betty & Coretta
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Angela Bassett, Tyler Hynes, Gloria Reuben (Actors)

Betty and Coretta

Coretta Scott King and Dr. Betty Shabazz develop a friendship after the tragic deaths of their husbands; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X and through their strength and dignity they carried on the civil rights movement becoming role models for millions of women all over the world.

Lee Daniels' The Butler
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey (Actors)

The Butler

Forest Whitaker leads an all-star cast as a White House butler who served eight presidents while the civil rights movement and other major events affect his life, family, and society.

Boycott
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Jeffrey Wright, Terrence Howard, CCH Pounder (Actors)

Boycott

Jeffrey Wright stars as the young Martin Luther King Jr. in this powerful film that recreates the start of the Civil Rights movement.

RELATED:  8 Best Martin Luther King, Jr. Movies on Amazon Prime Video

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: A Historical Perspective

This documentary brings out the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his importance to the conquest of rights for African Americans in the US in the 50s and 60s.

MLK: The Conspiracies
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Loyd Jowers, Jesse Jackson, Mark Lane (Actors)

MLK: The Conspiracies

1968. April 4th. The life of the most influential voice of social justice was ended. He transcended racial barriers, serving as the spokesman for nonviolence during one of the most tumultuous periods in American history.

Coming For The King
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • John Allen Shaw, Bill Johnson, Paul Mauriello (Actors)

Coming For The King

Coming for the King is a fictional account of the events and the people that surrounded Martin Luther King Jr. from early 1963 until his untimely demise in the Spring of 1968.

I Am Not Your Negro
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Samuel L. Jackson, James Baldwin, Dick Cavett (Actors)

I Am Not Your Negro

With unprecedented access to James Baldwin’s original work, Raoul Peck completed a documentary film version of the novel Baldwin never finished—a radical narration about race in America that tracks the lives and assassinations of Baldwin’s friends Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Medgar Evers.
 

If you enjoyed this list of movies, I have a monthly membership for parents and educators that want to teach or supplement lessons with shows and movies.

RELATED:  MLK/FBI Streaming

“I absolutely love sharing movies with my kids as a way to teach them valuable lessons. It's like this awesome bonding experience where we all snuggle up on the couch with some popcorn, and I get to see their little faces light up with curiosity. Whether it's a classic with timeless morals or a new animated flick with hidden gems of wisdom, it's a fantastic way to impart important life lessons in a fun and engaging way. Plus, the post-movie discussions are priceless – hearing their take on the characters and the story adds a whole new dimension to our family time.” –a Homeschooling parent

With Homeschooling with Shows and Movies membership, you will get resources every month, including:

  • List of This Month’s Suggested Themes
  • List of Monthly Observances
  • List Of Movies for Unit Study
  • Unit Study Resource
  • Seasonal Activities (minimum of three)
  • (BONUSES) Resources for you, the teacher

These resources are worth it if you'd like to easily incorporate shows and movies into your homeschooling.

Grab your membership here.

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