Your Ultimate Fall 2026 Watchlist: The Black Movies and Shows We Can’t Wait to See
As the dog days of summer come to an end and the early scent of the upcoming fall season starts to get stronger, more than a handful of our favorite Black celebs are gearing up to bring us new TV shows and movies that are guaranteed to have us glued to our screens!
From Mahershala Ali kicking butt and taking names, to Aaron Pierre getting into his superhero bag and more—keep reading to see which films and series we can’t wait to see!
“Your Mother, Your Mother, Your Mother”
“Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother” stars Mahershala Ali as Latif, a devoutly religious hitman who struggles to balance work, faith and fatherhood. When his wife dies, he embarks on a desperate journey across Houston to protect his children, confronting the forces closing in around him – and the beliefs threatening to unravel within.
Release Date: In select theaters September 25, everywhere in October 2026
“Why Did I Get Married Again?”
In Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married Again?”, the couples reunite in celebration as Marcus (Michael Jai White) and Angela’s (Tasha Smith) daughter prepares to tie the knot. After being apart for quite some time, they learn quickly that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Realizing their children have grown up to be so much like them, they must reflect on the examples they’ve set and ask themselves that age-old question: Why did they get married… again?
Release Date: September 9 on Netflix
“Average Joe” – Season 2
After the explosive events of season one, season two of “Average Joe” sees Joe Washington trying to move forward when a mysterious threat targeting his family sends him and the gang to Cape Town, South Africa. What begins as a search for answers quickly spirals into a dangerous adventure involving international criminals, powerful enemies, and long-buried secrets.
Release Date: August 19 on Paramount+
“Misty Green”
Starring Rosalind Eleazar, Daniel Kaluuya, and Chris Rock, “Misty Green” follows a talented actress who must now fight for her second act after her career has stalled years after her Hollywood breakthrough.
Release Date: In theaters October 2026
“If I Go Will They Miss Me”
Starring Danielle Brooks and J. Alphonse Nicholson, “If I Go Will They Miss Me” centers around twelve-year-old “Lil Ant” who struggles to connect with his distant father as he begins sensing mysterious visions that seem to follow him through his everyday world.
Release Date: Fall 2026
“14th”
Written in the wreckage of the Civil War, the 14th Amendment was meant to close the door on the hierarchy of human worth. Instead, it has become a permanent argument. Ava DuVernay’s “14th” pulls this constitutional fight into the present, chronicling the vicious battle over the amendment that has raged for over 150 years. Threading deep archival scholarship with piercing headlines of today, “14th” brings together legal minds, politicians, historians, and cultural voices in direct conversation with a question America still hasn’t settled: Who gets to belong?
Release Date: Fall 2026 on Netflix
“Jumanji: Open World”
Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan are reunited in “Jumanji: Open World,” the hilarious final installment of the beloved action-adventure trilogy. Our heroes have escaped the perilous jungles of Jumanji before, but this time the unhinged destination breaks free of its console, unleashing its chaos into our real world.
Release Date: In theaters December 25
“By Any Means”
Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Mark Wahlberg, “By Any Means” is based on a true story of a young Black FBI agent who is sent into 1960s Mississippi to investigate a wave of brutal killings targeting civil rights leaders. Forced to work alongside notorious mafia hitman Greg Scarpa, he finds himself pulled into a deadly hunt where justice and vengeance begin to blur. When the system is broken, two men divided on everything agree on one thing: The law has limits. They don’t.
Release Date: In theaters September 4
“Abbott Elementary”
Our favorite teachers at Abbott Elementary will be back for a sixth season this fall. That means you can expect even more laughs, more kids and more fun storylines from show creator Quinta Brunson and the rest of the cast and crew!
Release Date: October 7, on ABC and streaming next day on Hulu
“The Greatest”
“The Greatest” is an intimate exploration of the incomparable life of the boxing champion, humanitarian and global icon Muhammad Ali. Executive produced by Lonnie Ali (his widow), the project is the first authorized scripted series about the life of the famed boxer, offering unprecedented access and going beyond the amazing victories that made Ali a legend, both in and out of the ring.
Release Date: November 4, on Prime Video
“The Drop”
“The Drop: A Snowfall Saga” follows Wanda Bell (Gail Bean) and Leon Simmons (Isaiah John) as they try to reinvent themselves in 1990s Los Angeles in the aftermath of the crack epidemic. Wanda sets out to build a West Coast rap empire while navigating the dangerous intersection of music and street politics, while Leon works to leave his criminal past behind through a free legal clinic. As their ambitions collide, they must decide how much they’re willing to risk to build a better future.
Release Date: September 8, on FX
“Lanterns”
Starring Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler, “Lanterns” centers around Green Lantern legend Hal Jordan and fresh recruit John Stewart, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery.
Release Date: August 16, on HBO Max
“Idiots”
Starring O’Shea Jackson and Dave Franco, “Idiots” follows two unqualified bozos who are hired to transfer a rich teen to rehab when their straightforward gig quickly spirals into dangerous mayhem.
Release Date: In theaters August 28
