The Best Blaxploitation Flix?

My list would include Coffy, Truck Turner, Foxy Brown, Friday Foster, and Cleopatra Jones. I'm still trying to track down Seet Sweetback's Baaaadasssss Song, and Dolamite, so I can't say about those, but I've heard they're good. For a newer twist on a classic genera, try Undercover Brother, The Hebrew Hammer, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, and Jackie Brown.

This is hardly an expert's point of view, but from what I understand...
In the 1970's the movie industry suddenly became aware of black people living in the U.S. And they discovered that not all of this newly discovered market wanted to watch Dick Van Dyke, Doris Day, and westerns. So, after the popularity of a couple of low budget, Afro-American centered movies, the film industry jumped on the band wagon and began to churn out movies about pimps, hoes, bad mothas, cops, private dicks, and all sorts of other characters, all featuring casts of black actors. Often the story revolved around fighting drug dealers who were trying to move into the neighborhood, or redneck cops, or sleezy polititions bent on selling out the black community.
The irony is that many of these films were made by white people and from what I understand, mostly made those white people money. However, the movies were so fun and filled with great action and excitement, that they transended their intended market, and I truely think, influenced modern moviemaking.
Many fine actors got their start in these pictures, and many established actors got paychecks playing guest roles, often as the villain.
If you haven't seen any of the above movies, check some out. Coffy, Shaft, and Friday Foster are all good to start. Or if you want to ease into it with a more modern sort of film, try Jackie Brown.

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And also, try and look up a copy of THE MACK with Richard Pryor. Damn good film. For an okay blaxploitation flick with the "Mocha Mogul of Hollywood" Pam Grier and Fred Williamson, check out the 1975 BUCKTOWN.

http://z14.invisionfree.com/The_Cult_House

My favorites are:

Cotton Comes To Harlem
The Cosby/Poitier trilogy:
Uptown Staurday NIght
Let's Do It Again
A Piece of the Action
Five on the Black Hand Side
Get Christie Love
Blacula
Foxxy Brown
Three the Hard Way

A couple favorites of mine that no one's mentioned yet:

Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde (1976)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074430/
This one is quite good, actually. Certainly better than Blacula and Blacknstein.

Black Gestapo (1975)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0169620/
Kind of a mess, but it's quite watchable for the concept alone.

Coonskin (1975)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071361/
Bakashi animation coupled with Scatman Crothers. Worth it for the fantastic opening song alone.

Putney Swope (1969)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064855/
Technically, not quite blaxploitation, but still worth mentioning. Beats the Coen brothers to the "Hudsucker Proxy" punch by about 20 years.

Blacksnake (1973)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069796/
Russ Meyer entry about a carribean slave revolt. Less serious and more campy than Mandingo, but more serious and less campy than typical Meyer. If that makes sense.

A lot of strange things happen in this world. Things you don't know about in Grand Rapids.

Boss *beep* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-Fig_LoBy4

Hit! (1977; not on DVD)

Black Caesar (1973)

Truck Tunner (1974)

The Watermelon Man (1970)

Foxy Brown (1974)

Buck Town (1975)

Dolomite (1975)

Petey Wheatstraw: The Devil's Son-In-Law (1977)

The Mack (1973)


Anyone on this board ever see 'Soul Vengeance (aka. Welcome Home Brother Charels)?' It's not a classic, but it is the only movie i've seen where a guy strangles his enemys with his giant meat-whistle. I'm not kidding.

"I'm not going to die; not in New Jersey"- Stg. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D