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‘Ma Rainey's Black Bottom’ (2020) -

‘Ma Rainey's Black Bottom’ was nominated for five Oscars for a reason. Viola Davis gave a standout performance as formidable blues singer Ma Rainey.

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‘Bruised’ (2020) -

The iconic Halle Berry made her directorial debut in the 2020 film 'Bruised.' She also took on the physically and emotionally challenging lead role of disgraced MMA fighter Jackie Justice.

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‘The 355’ (2022) -

‘The 355’ boasts an incredible ensemble of strong female leads including Lupita Nyong’o, Penélope Cruz, and Fan Bingbing. A group of professional women at the top of their fields join together to save the world when a top-secret weapon falls into the wrong hands.

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‘Malcolm & Marie’ (2021) -

Zendaya stars as Marie in this unconventional love story told in black and white. She plays one half of the eponymous couple as they reflect on the ups and downs of their complex relationship. 

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‘Hidden Figures’ (2016) -

Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson, and Janelle Monáe costar in this 2016 drama about three African-American mathematicians who played a pivotal role in the early space program. What a lineup!

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‘Hidden Figures’ (2016) -

They each play a real-life female pioneer in the aerospace industry. They portray Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson during a particularly important moment in their careers as they deal with racism and misogyny in the workplace.

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‘The Lovebirds’ (2020) -

Issa Rae is responsible for changing the way black stories are told in modern media. Her TV series 'Insecure' has been nominated for and won countless awards. Rae has a diverse filmography including the Netflix comedy 'The Lovebirds,' which she starred in alongside Kumail Nanjiani.

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‘Widows’ (2018) - The 2018 film 'Widows' features another spectacular ensemble of strong female leads. Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, and Cynthia Erivo star as the wives of organized criminals who are killed in a shooting by a rival gang.

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‘Widows’ (2018) - They band together to pull off the high-stakes robbery their husbands had been planning. It's a female-lead heist movie written by 'Gone Girl' author Gillian Flynn and '12 Years a Slave' director Steve McQueen, who also directs.

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‘Miss Juneteenth’ (2020) -

Nicole Beharie is the star of this heartfelt drama about a young mother training her daughter to take part in the Miss Juneteenth pageant she herself won as a teenager.

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‘Black Panther’ (2018) -

After her breakthrough role in '12 Years a Slave' (2013), Lupita Nyong'o went on to star in the game-changing Marvel superhero movie 'Black Panther.' She took on the role of Nakia, a powerful warrior, secret agent, and love interest.

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‘Black Panther’ (2018) -

‘Black Panther’ was groundbreaking for being the first superhero blockbuster with a majority-black cast. Other female stars in the film included Danai Gurira, Angela Bassett, and Letitia Wright (pictured).

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‘Fences’ (2016) -

Once again, Viola Davis gives a stellar performance in this gritty historical drama, starring opposite Denzel Washington.

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'Hustlers' (2019) -

Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu star in this unbelievable thriller that's actually based on a true story! A group of exotic dancers come up with a risky plot to make money after their income suffers in the wake of the 2007 financial crash. Cardi B and Lizzo also make guest appearances.

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‘Fast Color’ (2018) -

‘Fast Color’ is not your typical superhero movie. Gugu Mbatha-Raw gives a magnificent performance as the troubled protagonist, a woman with supernatural abilities she tries to keep hidden from the world. Not only does it deal with these grand themes, it also addresses her complicated relationship with her family and her hometown.

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‘Passing’ (2021) -

Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga costar in this 2021 Netflix hit about a black woman who discovers that her childhood friend is passing and living as a white woman.

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‘In the Heights’ (2021) -

Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical drama ‘In the Heights’ tells the story of his beloved Manhattan hometown, Washington Heights. It features a diverse Latinx and black cast with standout female stars like Melissa Barrera and Leslie Grace.

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‘Clemency’ (2019) -

Alfre Woodard stars as a tough prison warden who develops a bond with a death row inmate over several years. She must deal with the psychological toll of her job as she prepares for his execution.

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'The Incredible Jessica James' (2017) -

Jessica Williams stars as an aspiring playwright living in New York in 'The Incredible Jessica James.' Williams plays to her comedic strengths in this romantic comedy.

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‘Us’ (2019) -

Lupita Nyong'o shows her range once again in this bone-chilling horror/thriller by Jordan Peele. She stars as Adelaide Wilson, a woman on vacation with her family who is terrorized by mysterious figures dressed in red.

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‘Sylvie's Love’ (2020) -

Tessa Thompson stars in this romantic drama about a summer romance revisited years later. She's both vulnerable and tough in the leading role of Sylvie.

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‘To All the Boys’ trilogy -

Lana Condor makes for an incredibly relatable heroine in this rom-com trilogy about a high school girl whose secret love letters get shared with her classmates. There's a good reason the original movie got two sequels!

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‘Pose’ (2018-2021) -

The FX series 'Pose' features a number of strong female leads, but the standout has to be Mj Rodriguez. She stars as the maternal figure to a group of young LGBTQ New Yorkers as they all take part in the city's iconic ball scene in the 1980s.

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‘I May Destroy You’ (2020) -

Michaela Coel’s 'I May Destroy You' was the biggest TV event of 2020. As writer and star, Coel channeled the story of her personal experience with sexual assault to create this harrowing drama. She has also starred in the drama series 'Black Earth Rising' and the dramedy 'Chewing Gum,' which are both well worth watching.

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‘Black-ish’ (2014-) -

Tracee Ellis Ross followed in the footsteps of her mother, Diana Ross, to become a living icon. She has starred as Dr. Rainbow Johnson in the award-winning series 'Black-ish' since 2014.

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‘The Chair’ (2021) -

Sandra Oh gives us an insight into the experience of a woman of color attempting to break the glass ceiling in the world of academia in this Netflix drama.

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‘How to Get Away with Murder’ (2014 -2020) -

Viola Davis slays as shrewd law professor Annalise Keating in this six-season series. As the name suggests, the criminal defense lawyer and her students become entangled in a murder.

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‘Never Have I Ever’ (2020-) -

This coming-of-age series features breakout star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (right) as an Indian-American teen navigating romance, friendships, and family. The series was created by the impeccable Mindy Kaling.

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‘Truth Be Told’ (2019) -

Octavia Spencer is fantastic in this thrilling series about an investigative reporter who used her true-crime podcast to explore the high-profile murder case that shot her to international fame.

Sources: (SheKnows) (Screen Rant) 

See also: A timeline of female firsts in Hollywood

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