The 25 Most Embarrassing All-Black Cast Flops of the Decade

Over the last ten years, we’ve seen a big rise in movies starring mainly Black actors. While many of these films have been critical and commercial successes, changing what we see on screen for the better, not every project has landed well. As with any increase in production, some films haven’t connected with viewers or critics, often due to issues with the story or how they were made. Despite having talented people involved, these movies often didn’t perform well in theaters or received negative reviews. Here’s a list of twenty-five films from the last decade that didn’t quite live up to expectations.

‘Mea Culpa’ (2024)

Kelly Rowland leads in this thriller, written and directed by Tyler Perry. The movie centers around a lawyer defending a charming artist accused of murder. However, critics generally disliked it, finding the plot predictable and lacking in thrills. Many viewers also felt the dialogue was awkward and the connection between the main actors wasn’t believable. The film has received very poor reviews overall.

‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’ (2024)

I was really intrigued by the concept of this film starring Justice Smith – a secret society dedicated to protecting the Black community by… keeping white people comfortable. It sounded like a sharp satire, and I was hoping for something that really challenged racial stereotypes. Unfortunately, I felt like it didn’t quite stick the landing. The movie seemed unsure of what it wanted to say, and honestly, the satire felt a little too timid to make a real impact. It’s a shame, because the idea had so much potential, but the final product just didn’t have the punch I was expecting, and it seems like a lot of other viewers felt the same way – the box office numbers were pretty disappointing.

‘House Party’ (2023)

This new version of the 1990 comedy tries to appeal to today’s viewers with appearances by several famous people. The story follows two young men trying to make it in the club scene who end up cleaning LeBron James’ house and decide to throw a huge party. Unfortunately, the movie didn’t live up to the original and didn’t do well in theaters. Critics said it wasn’t funny enough and relied too much on celebrity cameos instead of a good story.

‘White Men Can’t Jump’ (2023)

This new movie, starring Jack Harlow and Sinqua Walls, is a fresh take on the classic basketball story. While it tries to tackle current issues, it doesn’t quite capture the energy and humor that made the original so memorable. Viewers and critics found the connection between the lead actors lacking, and the film generally received a mild response after being released directly on streaming platforms.

‘Praise This’ (2023)

Chlöe Bailey leads this lighthearted comedy about a woman who tries out for a competitive church choir. The movie combines contemporary gospel music with a classic ‘new person in a strange world’ story. However, reviewers found the plot predictable, similar to other films about choir competitions, and lacking in originality. The jokes didn’t always land, and even the musical performances couldn’t overcome the weak story. The film didn’t gain much attention when it came out.

‘Big George Foreman’ (2023)

This movie tells the life story of boxing legend George Foreman, from his difficult childhood and climb to becoming a heavyweight champion, to his later embrace of religion. While it showed his journey, the film wasn’t a financial success, failing to earn back the money spent making it. Critics felt the story was predictable and didn’t fully explore the many layers of Foreman’s life.

‘Alice’ (2022)

Keke Palmer leads this suspenseful movie about an enslaved woman who flees a plantation and unexpectedly finds herself in 1973. The film mixes historical storytelling with the style of 1970s Blaxploitation films. However, reviewers felt the movie’s ambitious idea wasn’t handled smoothly and lacked a consistent tone. The big plot twist was also revealed in trailers, spoiling the surprise for many. Ultimately, the film didn’t do well in theaters.

‘Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.’ (2022)

Okay, so I recently checked out this movie with Regina Hall and Sterling K. Brown – they play a pastor and his wife trying to rebuild their church after some trouble. It’s done like a fake documentary, and it’s really trying to poke fun at mega-churches and how religion can sometimes feel like a business. Honestly, while Hall and Brown were fantastic, it didn’t really catch on with audiences. A lot of people, including me, felt like it couldn’t decide if it wanted to be a straight-up comedy or a more serious drama, and that unevenness kind of hurt it.

‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ (2021)

This movie stars LeBron James in a follow-up to the classic 1996 film featuring Michael Jordan. The story centers on a basketball game played within a virtual world against rebellious computer programs. While visually impressive, critics felt the film was more of an advertisement for existing brands than a compelling story, and it didn’t capture the emotional depth of the original.

‘Karen’ (2021)

Taryn Manning stars in this suspenseful thriller as a prejudiced woman who harasses her Black neighbors. Before it even came out, the film received a lot of criticism online for being overly obvious with its message about social issues. Reviewers found it more comical than scary, and it lacked real suspense. It currently has one of the lowest scores on Rotten Tomatoes for its release year, and many saw it as a failed attempt to recreate the success of other similar thrillers.

‘Coming 2 America’ (2021)

Eddie Murphy is back as Prince Akeem in this long-awaited sequel, which went straight to streaming. The story follows Akeem as he goes back to Queens, New York, to find his previously unknown son. While some fans enjoyed the familiar feel, others felt the movie relied too much on callbacks to the original and repeated old jokes. The film’s PG-13 rating also meant it wasn’t as edgy or funny as the first one. Most reviews were lukewarm, with many people saying it didn’t live up to the beloved original.

‘A Fall from Grace’ (2020)

This thriller, written and directed by Tyler Perry, centers on a woman accused of killing her husband. The movie gained notoriety online due to noticeable mistakes and visible film crew equipment that made it into the final version. Critics generally disliked the film, citing a fast-paced, over-the-top performance style. Many reviewers found the surprise ending confusing and illogical, and it’s considered one of the studio’s worst-received films.

‘Fatal Affair’ (2020)

Nia Long and Omar Epps lead this thriller about a woman haunted by someone from her past. However, the movie closely follows the familiar pattern of 1990s stalker thrillers and doesn’t offer much originality. Critics found it lacked genuine suspense and pointed out that the characters often made unbelievable choices. Many viewers felt the story was easy to guess from the very beginning, making it a fairly standard addition to the home invasion thriller category.

‘Shaft’ (2019)

This action comedy brings together three generations of the Shaft family. Jessie T. Usher stars as the grandson of the iconic detective, who reluctantly teams up with his father. While trying to update the classic series, the film didn’t quite find the right balance between its tough, original style and modern humor. Many critics found the jokes fell flat and the action wasn’t very exciting, resulting in much lower ticket sales compared to the 2000 film.

‘Undercover Brother 2’ (2019)

Michael Jai White stars in this follow-up to the 2002 spy comedy. Though released almost twenty years later, the sequel didn’t have the same impact as the original. Critics noted its cheap look and the lack of familiar faces from the first film. Many found the humor outdated and the story too similar to the original. Ultimately, it went straight to video and didn’t attract much attention from viewers.

‘Sextuplets’ (2019)

This comedy stars Marlon Wayans, who plays six different roles as a man tries to find his long-lost brothers and sisters. However, the movie’s heavy use of makeup and silly humor didn’t impress reviewers or moviegoers. Critics felt the characters were over-the-top stereotypes and the story was just a setup for visual jokes. It received very poor ratings and is considered one of the weakest films from Marlon Wayans’ partnership with Netflix.

‘The Intruder’ (2019)

I recently watched this thriller with Michael Ealy and Meagan Good, and honestly, while it wasn’t a total flop at the box office, it really didn’t leave much of an impression. Dennis Quaid played the seller, and he was… a lot. The problem was, the story felt incredibly predictable. It relied way too much on those sudden, startling noises to create tension, and the characters kept making choices that just didn’t feel realistic. It’s a shame, because the cast is really talented, but they were stuck in a pretty standard, run-of-the-mill thriller. Most people remember it for how dramatically over-the-top Quaid’s character was, rather than anything truly clever or suspenseful.

‘Nobody’s Fool’ (2018)

This comedy features Tiffany Haddish and Tika Sumpter, and tells the story of a woman adjusting to life after prison as she tries to support her sister. However, the film was poorly received by critics, who found the story confusing and overly reliant on silly, physical humor. Many felt the movie didn’t showcase Haddish’s comedic abilities well, and the romance lacked spark. Ultimately, it didn’t do well in theaters, especially considering the popular actresses involved.

‘Traffik’ (2018)

This thriller features Paula Patton and Omar Epps as a couple whose relaxing weekend trip is disrupted by a menacing biker gang. However, the film received negative reviews for using sensitive topics purely for shock value. Critics pointed out a weak plot with unbelievable turns and uninspired dialogue. It didn’t perform well in theaters and wasn’t particularly memorable. Viewers also felt the movie was slow-paced and the villains lacked depth.

‘Proud Mary’ (2018)

I was really excited to see Taraji P. Henson in this movie, playing a tough hitwoman connected to the Boston mob. Honestly, it’s a bit of a letdown. It felt like nobody really got behind promoting it, and I heard things were rocky during filming. The biggest problem for me was that it promised a lot of action, but didn’t deliver. The story just kind of… dragged, and the editing felt really uneven, making it hard to get into. It’s a shame, because Taraji is fantastic, and I really think this could have been something special if it had been done right.

‘Superfly’ (2018)

Director X updated the 1972 film with a new story set in Atlanta. While the movie looked good, many critics felt the plot was shallow. They pointed out that it celebrated a certain lifestyle without offering the same insightful social messages as the original. The film didn’t perform well in theaters and plans for sequels were scrapped. Viewers thought it lacked the raw, authentic feel that made the first movie so memorable.

‘Acrimony’ (2018)

Taraji P. Henson plays a woman who seeks revenge when her husband is unfaithful. Though Henson’s performance was powerful, the movie received mixed reviews. Critics found the story confusing and the film’s overall tone inconsistent. The special effects in the final scene were also heavily criticized online, and the film continues to be a divisive work in Tyler Perry’s collection.

‘All Eyez on Me’ (2017)

This movie is a biographical drama about the life of Tupac Shakur. It had a difficult production process, with multiple delays and director changes, before it was finally released. While the lead actor received positive feedback, the film was largely criticized by both reviewers and people who knew Tupac for its inaccuracies and weak storyline. Ultimately, it didn’t do well in theaters and disappointed many of Tupac’s fans.

‘Fifty Shades of Black’ (2016)

Marlon Wayans wrote and starred in a comedic take on a well-known romantic film. However, the movie’s humor, which depended on silly physical gags and often crude jokes, didn’t land well with most critics. It received poor reviews, didn’t perform well in theaters—especially compared to Wayans’ other parodies—and many felt the original movie was already so over-the-top that it couldn’t be effectively spoofed. Overall, it’s considered a less successful entry in the parody film genre.

‘Nina’ (2016)

Zoe Saldana plays Nina Simone in this biopic, but the casting choice was immediately met with criticism due to concerns about colorism and the use of makeup to change Saldana’s appearance. The movie centers on the final years of Simone’s life and her relationship with her manager. Many critics found the film didn’t truly capture the spirit of the iconic singer and pointed out problems with the script’s accuracy. Ultimately, the film didn’t do well in theaters and was shown in a limited number of locations.

Tell us which of these films you found the most disappointing in the comments.

2025-12-01 13:48