free radical movies to watch now
black power mixtape [DOC]
The Black Power Mixtape 1967–1975 is a powerful and poetic documentary that stitches together rare archival footage shot by Swedish journalists who traveled to the United States during one of its most explosive political eras. Through their outsider lens, we witness the rise of the Black Power movement—uncensored, intimate, and brimming with revolutionary clarity.
Featuring interviews and speeches from icons like Stokely Carmichael, Angela Davis, Bobby Seale, and Eldridge Cleaver, the film captures not just the public face of Black radicalism but also the personal and human side of those leading the struggle. We see Carmichael tenderly interviewing his own mother, and Davis speaking with fierce brilliance from behind prison walls.
Framed with contemporary voiceovers from artists and thinkers like Erykah Badu, Talib Kweli, and Harry Belafonte, the documentary bridges past and present, showing how the legacies of resistance, surveillance, and state repression continue to shape Black life today. It’s more than a documentary—it’s a time capsule of revolutionary energy, a meditation on solidarity and surveillance, and a reminder of the enduring fight for Black liberation.
Malcolm X - 1972 [doc]
Malcolm X (1972), directed by Arnold Perl, is a compelling and deeply humanizing documentary that traces the life and legacy of one of the most influential Black radical leaders in American history. Combining rare archival footage, personal interviews, and Malcolm’s own speeches, the film paints a nuanced portrait of his journey—from his early life marked by violence and struggle, to his rise as a fiery orator and advocate for Black self-determination.
PANTHER [FILM]
Panther (1995), directed by Mario Van Peebles, is a gripping and uncompromising dramatization of the rise and struggles of the Black Panther Party during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The film brings to life the fierce determination of the Panthers as they organize armed self-defense, community programs, and political education in the face of brutal state repression.
With a powerful ensemble cast, Panther doesn’t shy away from depicting COINTELPRO’s violent attempts to undermine the movement or the internal tensions within the Party itself. It highlights key figures and moments that shaped the Panthers’ legacy—from their Free Breakfast for Children program to confrontations with law enforcement. This film is an essential exploration of Black radicalism, state surveillance, and the fight for justice, making it a must-watch for anyone interested in revolutionary history and the ongoing struggle against systemic oppression.
Citizens’ Commission to Investigate the FBI (2019) [doc]
Citizens’ Commission to Investigate the FBI (2019) is a gripping documentary that tells the story of a small group of ordinary citizens who exposed one of the most notorious government surveillance programs in U.S. history. In 1971, this anonymous collective broke into an FBI office in Media, Pennsylvania, and uncovered files revealing COINTELPRO—an illegal campaign aimed at surveilling, infiltrating, and disrupting Black liberation groups, anti-war activists, and other radicals.
Through interviews with surviving members and archival footage, the film unpacks how this daring act of whistleblowing ignited national outrage and forced the government to confront its abuses of power. It’s a crucial look at the lengths the state will go to suppress dissent—and a powerful reminder of the importance of grassroots resistance, transparency, and accountability.
The Weather Underground (2002) [FILM]
The Weather Underground (2002) is a riveting documentary that chronicles the rise and fall of a radical left-wing militant organization born from the tumultuous anti-war and civil rights movements of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Through candid interviews with former members and archival footage, the film explores how the group—committed to overthrowing U.S. imperialism and ending racial injustice—turned to direct action and bombings as a form of resistance.
With a powerful ensemble cast, Panther doesn’t shy away from depicting COINTELPRO’s violent attempts to undermine the movement or the internal tensions within the Party itself. It highlights key figures and moments that shaped the Panthers’ legacy—from their Free Breakfast for Children program to confrontations with law enforcement. This film is an essential exploration of Black radicalism, state surveillance, and the fight for justice, making it a must-watch for anyone interested in revolutionary history and the ongoing struggle against systemic oppression.
Attica (1974) [doc]
Attica (1974) is a powerful and unflinching documentary that chronicles the 1971 Attica Prison uprising—one of the most significant acts of resistance against systemic racism and brutality within the U.S. prison system. Through raw footage, interviews with survivors, and testimonies from family members and activists, the film captures the prisoners’ demands for basic human rights, dignity, and an end to inhumane conditions.
huey! [doc]
Huey! (2018) is a powerful documentary about Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party and a key figure in Black activism. Through rare archival footage and interviews with former Panthers, the film explores Newton’s role in building community defense programs, free breakfast initiatives, and grassroots organizing to combat systemic racism and police violence.
This documentary is ideal for students, activists, educators, and anyone interested in Black history, civil rights movements, and revolutionary social justice. Huey! offers a clear, accessible introduction to the Black Panther Party’s legacy and the ongoing fight against racial oppression in the United States.
BLACK SNAKE KILLAZ [doc]
“Black Snake Killaz is a feature-length documentary film about the resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline. This film explores actions taken by water protectors to stop the construction of the oil pipeline and highlights actions taken by law enforcement, military, and corporate mercenaries to quell the months-long protest. Black Snake Killaz timelines the historical events that unfolded in Standing Rock throughout 2016 and brings you the raw experience from many frontline actions to protect the water. Although the Dakota Access Pipeline is completed, the impact of the movement will be long-lasting. As fossil fuel extraction projects continue to impact some of the most vulnerable communities throughout the United States of America, the importance of the water protectors story grows.”