10 Best Movies Like Liberation

Fans of the 2022 film "Liberation" will find many similar films worth watching, including "Harriet" and "Moonlight."

Liberation, the new movie starring Will Smith and streaming on Apple TV+, is a heart-pounding historical drama. Among other things, it brings to life in raw, visceral detail the horrors of American slavery and its horrific effects on the mind and body of those controlled by it.

At the same time, it is also a story of survival, underpinned by a brilliant performance by Will Smith. It joins the ranks of many other similar films, many of which help to illuminate this dire time.

Django Unchained (2012)

Stream On Prime Video

For many, Django Unchained is one of Quentin Tarantino's best films. It's full of violence and features his unique style, set in what could be the best performance of Jamie Foxx's career.

Of course, the film doesn't shy away from the brutality of slavery and its impact on the human spirit. However, it uses the conventions of the Spaghetti Western to imagine a scene in which the slave is finally able to get revenge on those who made his life so miserable and were responsible for separating him from his wife.

12 Years A Slave (2013)

Stream On HBO Max

Like Emancipation, 12 Years a Slave is a film about the horrors of slavery and On the irrepressible nature of the human spirit. It is particularly powerful because it focuses on a free African American who is kidnapped in New York and sold into slavery.

It is based on a true story, which gives it a raw, emotional authenticity. And, while it doesn't shy away from showing the brutality of slavery, it also gives the protagonist a happy ending. No wonder it remains one of the best films of the 2010s for many.

Harriet (2019)

Stream On HBO Max

There are many great biopics in Hollywood, and Harriet deserves to be considered one of them. After all, it charts the life of Harriet Tubman, one of the most famous figures in the movement to free African Americans from the horrors of slavery.

Like Liberation and many films like it, it is grounded in powerful realism. What's more, it also features a powerful performance from Cynthia Erivo, who digs deep to give the audience insight into the soul of this extraordinary woman. More importantly, its propelling narrative keeps the audience engaged and interested from the first frame to the last.

If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

Stream On Netflix

Liberation is one of the films In the future, will be a must-see for those who want to understand the history of race in America. Although set in a more recent period of American history - the 1970s - If Beale Street Could Talk accomplishes something similar, focusing on a young African American wrongfully imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit.

This is a visually and emotionally evocative film, and while it doesn't shy away from the more sinister side of the story, it also demonstrates the enduring power of love. Its final shot - beautiful, haunting and tragic - will stay in viewers' minds long after the film is over.

The Birth Of A Nation (2016)

Stream On Prime Video

The Birth of a Nation is a remarkable period drama. The title is taken from director DW Griffith's notoriously racist epic, which focuses on the slave uprising led by Nat Turner, one of the most important uprisings in American history.

Like Liberation, it's one of those films that has both a great screenplay and a stellar performance from Nate Parker (who also wrote and directed the film). It is strictly rooted in history and incorporates religious messages, is one of those films that really reveals an important moment in history.

Lincoln (2012)

Stream On YouTube

Throughout his career, Steven Spielberg possessed an almost uncanny ability to traverse different genres. Along with Lincoln, he presents viewers with a comprehensive and moving portrait of Abraham Lincoln and gives viewers a nuanced glimpse into his own contribution to the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment.

Like Emancipation, Lincoln is a film based on rich historical detail and strong performances, in this case directed by Daniel Day-Lewis. A biopic that doubles as an epic, it offers a rich and complex look at one of the most pivotal moments in American history.

Amistad (1997)

Stream On YouTube

Amistad is arguably one of Steven Spielberg's best films. Follows a group of slaves who take over the ship that transported them to America, sparking a legal and international crisis. Yet the film never loses sight of the deeply human story at its core.

Like Emancipation, this film highlights the evils of slavery. Yet, also like the new film, it showcases the extraordinary strength so many men and women have shown in rebelling against a system that works So much insistence dehumanizes them.

Glory (1989)

Stream On Prime Video

Glory has been regarded as one of the best films about the American Civil War. Unlike many other similar films, however, it focuses on the significant role African Americans played in that conflict, particularly its focus on the 54th Massachusetts Infantry.

It features some truly amazing performances, especially from Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman. While it never forgets that this is a story about the Civil War, what really succeeds is its emphasis on the inner workings of its characters, portraying them as humanity in all its complexity.

The Woman King (2022)

Stream On Vudu

The Queen is considered one of Viola Davis' best roles since its release. She plays the role of Nanisca, one of the mighty female warriors known as Agojie.

Like Liberation, this is an evocative and sometimes brutal film, but it is notable for the way it focuses on these powerful women who are underrepresented in film. What's more, it manages to combine several disparate genres -- including epics and war films -- into a compelling whole that showcases the remarkable The role women can and do play in a nation's history.

Moonlight (2016)

Stream On Hulu

Moonlight is widely regarded as one of the best films of the 2010s. A haunting, beautifully told, and emotionally resonant story of a young African-American man struggling with his sexuality and acceptance, it's still a testament to the power of cinema to tell LGBTQ+ stories .

Like Liberation, it's hard to watch at times, especially when Chiron has to deal with the violence of his world. At the same time, there's a fundamental optimism at the film's core, a repeated emphasis on the importance of human connection.