When The Help hit theaters in 2011, it made a huge splash. This moving drama, based on the bestselling novel by Kathryn Stockett, shined a light on the lives of Black maids working for white families in 1960s Mississippi. With knockout performances from Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, and Emma Stone, The Help became a critical and commercial hit, racking up Oscar nominations and sparking important conversations.
If you connected with the themes, performances, and period setting of The Help, you’re in luck – there are plenty of other great films that explore similar territory. From biopics of trailblazing historical figures to dramas that delve into the Civil Rights era and beyond, these movies grapple with racial injustice, activism, and the human stories behind the history.
So if you’re looking for a powerful, perspective-shifting watch like The Help, queue up one of these 15 fantastic films:
1. Hidden Figures (2016)
Hidden Figures is the incredible true story of the brilliant African-American women who worked behind the scenes at NASA during the Space Race. Fighting against both racism and sexism, Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) were instrumental in launching astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that turned around the Space Race.
Like The Help, Hidden Figures reveals the untold contributions of Black women who have been largely left out of the history books. It’s an inspiring, feel-good story that will make you cheer, with amazing performances from its lead actresses. If you want to learn more about these pioneering women after watching the movie, check out the non-fiction book it’s based on by Margot Lee Shetterly.
2. Selma (2014)
Selma is a gripping historical drama that follows Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) during the landmark 1965 voting rights marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. As King and his fellow activists plan the marches, they face violent opposition from white segregationists and grapple with tensions within the movement.
Powerfully directed by Ava DuVernay, Selma does an incredible job of humanizing Dr. King and the ordinary people who risked their lives for the Civil Rights Movement. Like The Help, it depicts a pivotal chapter in the fight for racial equality, showing both the progress made and the battles still to be won. It’s a challenging, inspiring film anchored by David Oyelowo’s transformative performance as MLK.
3. Mudbound (2017)
Set in the rural Mississippi Delta during World War II, Mudbound follows two families – one Black, one white – whose lives become intertwined. When the eldest sons of both families return from war, they strike up an uneasy friendship that challenges the strict social codes of the Jim Crow South.
Based on the novel by Hillary Jordan, Mudbound is a raw, lyrical film that explores the ways racism and oppression seep into every aspect of American life. Like The Help, it grapples with the realities of being Black in a society built on white supremacy. But it also shows glimmers of hope and change, as its characters dare to forge connections across racial lines. Directed by Dee Rees and beautifully shot, it’s a movie that will haunt you long after watching.
4. The Butler (2013)
The Butler tells the story of Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker), an African-American man who served as a butler in the White House for over three decades. Through Cecil’s eyes, we see the sweeping changes of the 20th century, from the Civil Rights Movement to the election of Barack Obama.
Inspired by the real-life story of Eugene Allen, The Butler uses one man’s remarkable life to examine the larger African-American experience. As Cecil bears witness to history, he grapples with his own family’s struggles and fights for equality. Like The Help, it’s a story of quiet dignity and resilience in the face of oppression. With an incredible cast that includes Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo, and Cuba Gooding Jr., it’s a moving, must-watch film.
5. Remember the Titans (2000)
Remember the Titans is based on the true story of the newly integrated T.C. Williams High School football team in 1970s Virginia. As the school hires its first Black head coach, Herman Boone (Denzel Washington), and brings together Black and white players for the first time, the team must overcome deep-seated racial tensions to find unity on and off the field.
While it’s set in the world of sports, Remember the Titans is really a story about breaking down prejudice and learning to see our common humanity. Like The Help, it shows how personal relationships can chip away at systemic racism. With a star-making performance from a young Ryan Gosling and Denzel Washington at the top of his game, it’s an uplifting film that will have you cheering through your tears.
6. The Color Purple (1985)
Based on Alice Walker’s classic novel, The Color Purple follows the life of Celie (Whoopi Goldberg), an African-American woman in the early 1900s South. Abused and oppressed by the men in her life, Celie finds strength, love and independence through her relationships with other women.
Directed by Steven Spielberg, The Color Purple is a sweeping, emotional epic that doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of the African-American experience. Like The Help, it celebrates the power of female friendships to help women survive in a world stacked against them. With incredible performances from Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey, it’s a film that will break your heart and piece it back together again.
7. Loving (2016)
Loving tells the true story of Richard (Joel Edgerton) and Mildred Loving (Ruth Negga), the plaintiffs in the landmark 1967 Supreme Court case that invalidated laws prohibiting interracial marriage. After being sentenced to prison for getting married in 1958 Virginia, the Lovings fought back against the racist legal system, ultimately changing history.
With understated performances from Edgerton and Negga, Loving is a quiet, intimate film that speaks volumes. Like The Help, it depicts the human cost of institutionalized racism and the bravery of those who challenged it. It’s a beautiful love story that also sheds light on a lesser-known chapter of Civil Rights history.
8. The Green Book (2018)
Set in the 1960s, The Green Book follows the unlikely friendship between Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen), an Italian-American bouncer, and Dr. Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali), a Black classical pianist. Hired to be Shirley’s driver and bodyguard on a concert tour of the Deep South, Tony must rely on The Green Book, a guide for Black travelers, to keep them safe in the Jim Crow era.
Based on a true story, The Green Book uses the classic odd-couple road trip format to explore the realities of racism. Like The Help, it shows how individual relationships can break down barriers and challenge prejudice. With winning performances from Ali and Mortensen, it’s a crowd-pleasing film that also packs an emotional punch.
9. 42 (2013)
42 is a biopic of Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman), the first African-American to play Major League Baseball. Recruited by Brooklyn Dodgers executive Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford), Robinson faces overwhelming racism and threats of violence as he breaks the color barrier in America’s pastime.
Like The Help, 42 depicts a groundbreaking moment in the fight for racial equality. It shows the incredible courage it took for Robinson to endure the abuse he faced on and off the field. With a breakout performance from Chadwick Boseman, it’s an inspiring sports drama that hits home how much Robinson sacrificed for a more just future.
10. Hairspray (2007)
Hairspray is a delightful musical comedy set in 1960s Baltimore. When plucky teenager Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) wins a spot on a local TV dance show, she becomes an overnight sensation. Using her newfound fame, Tracy fights to integrate the show and bring together Black and white dancers in a city sharply divided by race.
While lighter in tone than The Help, Hairspray still grapples with serious themes of racism and activism. It shows how even something as seemingly trivial as a TV dance show can become a battleground in the struggle for equality. With catchy tunes, colorful costumes, and a star-studded cast including John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Queen Latifah, it’s a joyful film that will make you want to dance and fight for change.
11. Fences (2016)
Based on the August Wilson play, Fences follows Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington), a Black garbage collector in 1950s Pittsburgh. Once a promising baseball player, Troy’s dreams were derailed by racism and he now struggles to provide for his family. When his son Cory (Jovan Adepo) gets a chance to play college football, Troy’s bitterness and pain threatens to tear the family apart.
Directed by and starring Denzel Washington, Fences is a powerful character study that explores the generational impact of racism. Like The Help, it shows how the scars of oppression can linger and fester, shaping lives and relationships. With tour-de-force performances from Washington and Viola Davis, who won an Oscar for her role, it’s an acting masterclass that will leave you shaken.
12. Just Mercy (2019)
Just Mercy tells the true story of Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan), a young lawyer who moves to Alabama to defend wrongly condemned Death Row prisoners. One of his first cases is that of Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx), a Black man sentenced to die for a murder he didn’t commit. As Stevenson investigates the case, he uncovers a pattern of racism and legal injustice.
Like The Help, Just Mercy is a film about fighting against a deeply broken system. It shows the incredible resilience and dignity of those caught in the gears of mass incarceration. With great performances from Jordan and Foxx, it’s an infuriating and inspiring legal drama that will stir your soul to action.
13. Harriet (2019)
Harriet is a biopic of the iconic freedom fighter Harriet Tubman, played by Cynthia Erivo. Escaping from slavery in 1849, Tubman risks her life to lead other slaves to freedom via the Underground Railroad. Evading capture and driven by visions from God, she becomes one of the most famous conductors on the Railroad and a hero of the abolitionist movement.
With pulse-pounding action and an incredible performance from Erivo, Harriet brings Tubman’s story to vivid life. Like The Help, it celebrates the courage and resilience of Black women who fought back against the evils of slavery and racism. It’s a thrilling, moving tribute to an American icon.
14. Marshall (2017)
Marshall is a biopic of a young Thurgood Marshall, the future Supreme Court Justice. Played by Chadwick Boseman, Marshall travels the country for the NAACP, defending Black men accused of crimes they didn’t commit. One of his most famous cases is that of Joseph Spell (Sterling K. Brown), a Black chauffeur accused of raping his white employer (Kate Hudson) in 1940s Connecticut.
With a crackling script and great performances from Boseman and Brown, Marshall is an entertaining courtroom drama that packs a punch. Like The Help, it shows the vital work of those who fought for justice in a deeply prejudiced legal system. It’s a compelling portrait of a Civil Rights hero before he made history.
15. Red Tails (2012)
Red Tails tells the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American fighter pilots in U.S. history. Facing discrimination at every turn, the Airmen must fight for the chance to serve their country during World War II. Led by Col. A.J. Bullard (Terrence Howard) and Maj. Emanuelle Stance (Cuba Gooding Jr.), they prove their mettle in the skies over Europe, paving the way for a more integrated military.
With thrilling aerial battles and a talented ensemble cast, Red Tails is an action-packed war movie that also delivers an important history lesson. Like The Help, it shines a light on the bravery and sacrifice of Black Americans who served their country even as it failed to serve them. It’s a rousing, inspiring film that will make your heart soar.
So there you have it – 15 fantastic films to watch if you loved The Help. From biopics to historical dramas to even a musical, these movies all explore themes of racism, activism, and the fight for justice. They’ll make you laugh, cry, and think deeply about our shared history and the work still to be done.
Most importantly, they all center and celebrate the experiences of Black Americans, whose stories have too often been marginalized or ignored. Like The Help, these films give voice to the maids and activists, athletes and artists, everyday heroes and icons who have shaped this country. They remind us of the power of cinema to open hearts, change minds, and inspire us to build a better world.
So grab some tissues and get ready to be moved, challenged, and uplifted. These are films that everyone should see.
