Top 20 Badass Blaxploitation Films, Can you dig it?

 

No other genre has been as fly as the 1970's bad ass Blaxploitation phenomenon. These movies had a special thrilling power to make you feel 10ft tall, with a mojo tooth, and wha-wha guitar licks gallore underground filmmaker Fabrizio Federico gives you the lowdown on his Top 20 favourite.

1) Dolemite (1975)

2) The Mack (1973)

3) Sweet Sweetbacks Badassss Song (1971)

4) Black Gunn (1972)

5) Superfly (1972)

6) Peety Wheatstraw (1977)

7) Trick Baby (1972)

8) Boss Nigger (1975)

9) The Education Of Sonny Carson (1974)

10) Coffy (1973)

11) Hit Man (1972)

12) Cooley High (1975)

13) Trouble Man (1972)

14) Black Gestapo (1975)

15) Foxy Brown (1974)

16) Black Shampoo (1976)

17) Willie Dynamite (1974)

18) Black Caesar (1973)

19) Three The Hard Way (1974)

20) Truck Turner (1974)

With its main years of production being between 1972 and 1975, blaxploitation cinema was a contradictory, confrontational and controversial beast that both smashed and reinforced stereotypes of ‘blackness’, reflected and exaggerated life on the streets and in the ghettos and, despite its crossover appeal with white audiences, alienated as many viewers, critics and activist groups as it attracted. 

Blaxploitation’s often regressive representation of African-American women and its numerous anti-hero pimps and pushers were elements that drew criticism from all corners. 

On the positive front, African-American music, fashions, celebrities, social issues and political viewpoints became regular sights and sounds on the big screen as a wave of movies capitalised on the unexpected box office success of these classics.