Black Reel Award for Outstanding Film explained

Black Reel Award for Outstanding Motion Picture
Presenter:The Black Reel Awards (BRAs)
Country:United States
Year:Black Reel Awards of 2000
Holder Label:Most recent winner
Holder:American Fiction (2024)

The Black Reel Award for Outstanding Film is one of the Black Reel Awards presented annually. This award goes to the producers of the film. Outstanding Film is the final award of the night at each ceremony. There have been 120 films nominated for Outstanding Film and 24 winners.

History

Outstanding Film and Outstanding Director

The Black Reel Award for Outstanding Picture and Black Reel Award for Outstanding Director have been closely linked throughout their history. Of the 22 films that have won Outstanding Film, 10 have also been awarded for Outstanding Director. Only six films have been awarded Outstanding Film without receiving an Outstanding Director nomination: The Hurricane directed by Norman Jewison, Ray directed by Taylor Hackford (2005), Crash directed by Paul Haggis (2006), Dreamgirls directed by Bill Condon (2017), The Help directed by Tate Taylor (2012) and Dolemite Is My Name directed by Craig Brewer (2020). Note: These film directors were deemed ineligible for an Outstanding Director nomination due to not being of African-American of African descent.

Language and country of origin

Only one non-English language film has been nominated in the category: The Intouchables (French, 2013). Five films wholly financed outside of the United States has been nominated for Outstanding Film: Attack the Block (2011), Shame (2011), The Intouchables (2013), (2013) and Belle (2014).

Genres

The Princess and the Frog, Soul, and are the only animated films to be nominated for Outstanding Film. Black Panther remains as the only comic book film to win Outstanding Film; and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse are the only other comic book films to be nominated. Get Out became the first horror film to win Outstanding Film and one of three films along with From Hell and Us to be nominated in this category.

Lightning in a Bottle is the only documentary film to win. It won in the first and only winner in the Outstanding Comedy/Musical film at the 5th Annual Black Reel Awards. Standing in the Shadows of Motown, , Fade to Black and 13th were the other documentaries to be nominated in this category.

Dreamgirls is the only musical to win this category. To date, The Book of Eli and Attack the Block are the only two science fiction films to be nominated for Outstanding Film.

Winners and nominees

Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.

2000s

YearFilmDistributorProducer(s)Ref
2000
The HurricaneUniversal StudiosNorman Jewison, John Ketchem and Armyan Bernstein[1]
The Best ManUniversal PicturesBill Carraro, Sam Kitt and Spike Lee
LifeUniversal PicturesEddie Murphy and Brian Grazer
The WoodParamount PicturesDavid Gale, Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa
2001
Love & BasketballNew Line CinemaSpike Lee and Sam Kitt[2]
BamboozledNew Line CinemaJohn Kilik and Spike Lee
GirlfightScreen GemsMaggie Renzi, Martha Griffin and Sarah Green
Men of Honor20th Century FoxBill Badalato and Robert Teitel
Remember the TitansWalt Disney PicturesChad Oman and Jerry Bruckheimer
2002
Training DayWarner Bros. PicturesBruce Berman and Davis Guggenheim[3]
AliColumbia PicturesMichael Mann, Jon Peters and James Lassiter
Baby BoyColumbia PicturesJohn Singleton
The BrothersScreen GemsDoug McHenry and Paddy Cullen
From Hell20th Century FoxDon Murphy, Amy Robinson and Jane Hamsher
2003
Antwone FisherFox Searchlight PicturesDenzel Washington, Randa Haines and Todd Black[4]
25th HourTouchstone PicturesJohn Kilik, Spike Lee and Julia Chasman
BarbershopMetro-Goldwyn-MayerGeorge Tillman Jr., Mark Brown and Robert Teitel
Drumline20th Century FoxTimothy M. Bourne, Wendy Finerman and Jody Gerson
Standing in the Shadows of MotownArtisan EntertainmentPaul Justman and Alan Slutsky
2004
Out of TimeMetro-Goldwyn-MayerNeal H. Moritz, Damien Saccani and Jesse Beaton[5]
The Fighting TemptationsParamount PicturesLoretha C. Jones, Benny Medina and Jeff Pollack
The Italian JobParamount PicturesDonald De Line
S.W.A.T.Columbia PicturesNeal H. Moritz, Chris Lee and Dan Halsted
Paramount PicturesPreston Holmes, Karoyln Ali and Lauren Lazin
2005Drama
RayUniversal PicturesHoward Baldwin, Taylor Hackford and Bob Yari[6]
BAADASSSSS!Sony Pictures ClassicsMario Van Peebles
I, Robot20th Century FoxTopher Dow, Laurence Mark and Wyck Godfrey
Comedy / Musical
Lightning in a BottleSony PicturesAlex Gibney, Margaret Bodde and Jack Gulick
Metro-Goldwyn-MayerGeorge Tillman Jr., Robert Teitel and Alex Gartner
Fade to BlackParamount VantageBob Ezrin, Rich Kleiman and Justin Wilkes
2006
CrashLionsgatePaul Haggis, Cathy Schulman and Bob Yari[7]
Coach CarterTouchstone PicturesDavid Gale, Brian Robbins and Michael Tollin
Four BrothersColumbia PicturesLorenzo di Bonaventura
HitchColumbia PicturesJames Lassiter, Will Smith and Teddy Zee
Hustle & FlowParamount ClassicsJohn Singleton and Stephanie Allain
2007
DreamgirlsDreamWorksLaurence Mark[8]
Akeelah and the BeeWarner Bros.Sid Ganis, Laurence Fishburne and Michael Romersa
Inside ManUniversal PicturesBrian Grazer and Jonathan Filley
The Pursuit of HappynessColumbia PicturesJames Lassiter, Todd Black and Steve Tisch
Something NewFocus FeaturesStephanie Allain
2008
Cadillac RecordsTriStar PicturesAndrew Lack and Sofia Sondervan[9]
Miracle at St. AnnaTouchstone PicturesSpike Lee, Luigi Musini and Roberto Cicutto
The Secret Life of BeesFox Searchlight PicturesJames Lassiter, Will Smith and Lauren Shuler Donner
Seven PoundsColumbia PicturesJames Lassiter, Will Smith and Steve Tisch
TraitorOverture FilmsDon Cheadle, David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman

2010s

YearFilmDistributorProducer(s)Ref
2010
PreciousLionsgateLee Daniels, Gary Magness and Sarah Siegel-Magness[10]
American VioletSamuel Goldwyn FilmsBill Haney
The Blind SideWarner Bros.Broderick Johnson, Andrew Kosove and Gil Netter
InvictusWarner Bros.Clint Eastwood, Mace Neufeld and Robert Lorenz
The Princess and the FrogWalt Disney PicturesPeter Del Vecho
2011
Night Catches UsMagnolia PicturesJason Orans, Ron Simons and Sean Costello[11]
The Book of EliWarner Bros. PicturesDenzel Washington, Joel Silver and Andrew Kosove
Brooklyn's FinestOverture FilmsJohn Thompson, John Langley and Elle Cohn
For Colored GirlsLionsgateTyler Perry, Roger M. Bobb and Paul Hall
Just WrightFox Searchlight PicturesDebra Martin Chase, Queen Latifah and Shakim Compere
2012
The HelpDreamWorksChris Columbus, Brunson Green and Michael Baranthan[12]
Attack the BlockScreen GemsNira Park and James Wilson
Jumping the BroomTriStar PicturesElizabeth Hunter, Tracy Edmonds and T.D. Jakes
PariahFocus FeaturesNekisha Cooper
ShameFox Searchlight PicturesEmile Sherman and Iain Canning
2013
Beasts of the Southern WildFox Searchlight PicturesJosh Penn, Dan Javey and Michael Gottwald[13] [14]
Django UnchainedThe Weinstein CompanyReginald Hudlin, Stacey Shear and Pilar Savone
FlightParamount PicturesRobert Zemeckis, Steve Starkey and Laurie MacDonald
The IntouchablesThe Weinstein CompanyNicolas Duval-Adassovsky, Yann Zenou and Laurent Zeitoun
Middle of NowhereAAFRMPaul Garnes, Ava DuVernay and Howard Barish
2014
12 Years a SlaveFox Searchlight PicturesBrad Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner[15] [16]
42Warner Bros. PicturesThomas Tull
The ButlerThe Weinstein CompanyPamela Oas Williams, Laura Ziskin and Lee Daniels
Fruitvale StationThe Weinstein CompanyNina Yang Bongiovi and Forest Whitaker
20th Century FoxDavid M. Thompson and Anant Singh
2015
SelmaParamount PicturesChristian Colson, Oprah Winfrey and Dede Gardner[17]
BelleFox Searchlight PicturesDamian Jones
Beyond the LightsRelativity MediaStephanie Allain, Reggie Rock Bythewood and Ryan Kavanaugh
Dear White PeopleLionsgateEffie Brown, Ann Le and Julia Lebedev
Top FiveParamount PicturesScott Rudin and Eli Bush
2016
CreedWarner Bros. PicturesIrwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff and Charles Winkler[18]
Beasts of No NationBleecker StreetAmy Kaufman, Cary Joji Fukunaga and Daniela Taplin Lundberg
Chi-RaqRoadside AttractionsSpike Lee
ConcussionColumbia PicturesRidley Scott, Giannina Facio and David Woltroff
Straight Outta ComptonUniversal PicturesIce Cube, Tomica Woods-Wright and Matt Alvarez
2017
MoonlightA24Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Adele Romanski[19]
13thNetflixSpencer Averick, Howard Barish and Ava DuVernay
FencesParamount PicturesTodd Black, Scott Rudin and Denzel Washington
LovingFocus FeaturesNancy Buirski, Ged Doherty, Colin Firth, Sarah Green, Peter Saraf and Marc Turtletaub
Manchester by the SeaRoadside AttractionsLauren Beck, Matt Damon, Chris Moore, Kimberly Steward and Kevin J. Walsh
2018
Get OutUniversal PicturesSean McKittrick, Jason Blum, Edward H. Hamm Jr. and Jordan Peele[20] [21]
DetroitAnnapurna PicturesKathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Matthew Budman, Megan Ellison and Colin Wilson
Girls TripUniversal PicturesMalcolm D. Lee and Will Packer
MarshallOpen Road FilmsReginald Hudlin, Jonathan Sanger and Paula Wagner
MudboundNetflixCarl Effenson, Sally Jo Effenson, Cassian Elwes, Charles King, Christopher Lemole, Kim Roth and Tim Zajaros
2019
Black PantherWalt Disney Studios Motion PicturesKevin Feige[22] [23]
BlacKkKlansmanFocus FeaturesJason Blum, Spike Lee, Raymond Mansfield, Sean McKittrick, Jordan Peele, and Shaun Redick
Green BookUniversal PicturesJim Burke, Brian Hayes Currie, Peter Farrelly, Nick Vallelonga, and Charles B. Wessler
If Beale Street Could TalkAnnapurna PicturesMegan Ellison, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Adele Romanski, Sara Murphy, and Barry Jenkins
Widows20th Century FoxSteve McQueen, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, and Arnon Milchan

2020s

YearFilmDistributorProducer(s)Ref
2020
Dolemite Is My NameNetflixEddie Murphy, John Davis and John Fox[24]
Just MercyWarner Bros. PicturesAsher Goldstein and Gil Netter
Queen & SlimUniversal PicturesMelina Matsoukas, Lena Waithe, Pamela Addy, Michelle Knudsen, Brad Weston and James Frey
UsUniversal PicturesJordan Peele, Sean McKittrick, Ian Cooper and Jason Blum
WavesA24Trey Edward Schults, Kevin Turen and James Wilson
2021
Judas and the Black MessiahWarner Bros. PicturesShaka King, Charles D. King and Shaka King[25]
Da 5 BloodsNetflixSpike Lee, Lloyd Levin, Jon Kilik and Beatriz Levin
Ma Rainey's Black BottomNetflixDenzel Washington, Todd Black and Dany Wolf
One Night in Miami...Amazon StudiosKeith Calder, Jess Wu Calder & Jody Klein
SoulWalt Disney Studios Motion PicturesDana Murray
2022
King RichardWarner Bros.Will Smith, Tim White & Trevor White [26]
The Harder They FallNetflixLawrence Bender, Jay-Z, James Lassiter and Jeymes Samuel
PassingNetflixNina Yang Bongiovi, Forest Whitaker, Rebecca Hall & Margot Hand
The Tragedy of MacbethA24Joel Coen, Frances McDormand, Robert Graf
West Side Story20th Century StudiosSteven Spielberg, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Kevin McCollum
2023
The Woman KingSony PicturesMaria Bello, Viola Davis, Cathy Schulman, and Julius Tennon[27]
Walt Disney Studios Motion PicturesKevin Feige and Nate Moore
DevotionSony PicturesMolly Smith, Rachel Smith, Thad Luckinbill, and Trent Luckinbill
NopeUniversal PicturesJordan Peele and Ian Cooper
TillUnited Artists ReleasingKeith Beauchamp, Barbara Broccoli, Whoopi Goldberg, Michael Reilly, and Thomas Levine
2024
American FictionAmazon MGM StudiosBen LeClair, Nikos Karamigios, Cord Jefferson, and Jermaine Johnson[28]
The Color PurpleWarner Bros. PicturesOprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders, and Quincy Jones
OriginNeonPaul Garnes and Ava DuVernay
RustinNetflixBruce Cohen, Tonia Davis, and George C. Wolfe
Sony PicturesPhil Lord, Christopher Miller, Amy Pascal, and Avi Arad

Multiple nominations and wins

Multiple wins

3 wins
2 wins

Multiple nominations

8 nominations
6 nominations
5 nominations
4 nominations
3 nominations
2 nominations

Production companies with multiple nominations and wins

Production CompanyNominationsWins
Universal Pictures113
Paramount Pictures111
Warner Bros. Pictures103
Netflix91
Searchlight Pictures63
Walt Disney Pictures62
Columbia Pictures60
Lionsgate52
Sony Pictures Releasing52
20th Century Fox / 20th Century Studios50
The Weinstein Company50
Focus Features40
A2431
MGM31
New Line Cinema31
Roadside Attractions30
Screen Gems30
New Line Cinema21
Overture Films20
Annapurna Pictures20
TriStar Pictures20
Amazon MGM Studios20

Notes and References

  1. https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000957/2000 2000 Black Reel Awards
  2. https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000957/2001 2001 Black Reel Awards
  3. https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000957/2002 2002 Black Reel Awards
  4. https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000957/2003 2003 Black Reel Awards
  5. https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000957/2004 2004 Black Reel Awards
  6. https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000957/2005 2005 Black Reel Awards
  7. https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000957/2006 2006 Black Reel Awards
  8. https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000957/2007 2007 Black Reel Awards
  9. https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000957/2008 2008 Black Reel Awards
  10. https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000957/2010 2010 Black Reel Awards
  11. https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000957/2011 2011 Black Reel Awards
  12. https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000957/2012 2012 Black Reel Awards
  13. https://blackreelawards.wordpress.com/2012/12/19/black-reels-embraces-diverse-group-of-films/ Black Reels Embraces Diverse Group of Films
  14. https://blackreelawards.wordpress.com/2013/02/08/critics-wild-about-beasts/ Critics Wild About “Beasts!”
  15. http://blackreelawards.com/the-14th-annual-black-reel-awards-nominations/ The 14th Annual Black Reel Awards Nominations
  16. http://blackreelawards.com/12-years-a-slave-breaks-free/ “12 Years a Slave” Breaks Free
  17. https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000957/2015 2015 Black Reel Awards
  18. https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000957/2016 2016 Black Reel Awards
  19. https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000957/2017 2017 Black Reel Awards
  20. http://blackreelawards.com/get-out-dominate-the-black-reel-awards/ Get Out Dominates the Black Reel Awards
  21. http://blackreelawards.com/get-out-sinks-the-competition-at-the-black-reel-awards/ Get Out “Sinks” the Competition at The Black Reel Awards
  22. Web site: Black Panther "ROARS!". December 13, 2018. Black Reel Awards. December 13, 2018. April 26, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190426215520/http://blackreelawards.com/black-panther-roars/. dead.
  23. Web site: 19th Annual Black Reel Awards Winners. February 9, 2018. Black Reel Awards. February 9, 2019.
  24. https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000957/2020 2020 Black Reel Awards
  25. https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000957/2021 2021 Black Reel Awards
  26. https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000957/2022 2022 Black Reel Awards
  27. Web site: 'The Woman King' Wins Big at the 23rd Annual Black Reel Awards . Valerie . Complex . . February 6, 2023 . February 6, 2023.
  28. Web site: Black Reel Awards Reveals Winners of Film and Television Categories; 'American Fiction' and 'The Color Purple' Take Home Top Honors . Valerie . Complex . . January 16, 2024 . January 17, 2024.