12 Must-Watch Afrofuturism Movies and TV Shows

Introduction

Afrofuturism is more than just science fiction with Black leads — it’s a creative and cultural lens that reimagines the past, speculates on the future, and grounds it all in the richness of African and diasporic experiences. Whether it’s through cosmic journeys, rebellious tech, magical ancestry, or dystopian satire, these 12 titles are essential viewing if you're ready to expand your perception of what's possible.

1. Black Panther (2018)

The crown jewel of modern Afrofuturism, Black Panther brought Wakanda — a tech-advanced African nation untouched by colonialism — to the mainstream. With vibrant world-building, a layered villain, and themes of diaspora and legacy, it didn’t just entertain — it sparked cultural pride and global conversation.

2. They Cloned Tyrone (2023)

A stylish, surreal satire that plays like The Truman Show meets Get Out, this film uses sci-fi cloning conspiracies to unpack government surveillance, systemic oppression, and generational trauma — all wrapped in funky ‘70s aesthetics and sharp humor. It’s Afrofuturism with a conspiracy twist.

3. Entergalactic (2022)

A dreamy animated rom-com dipped in Afrofuturist aesthetics, Entergalactic merges urban futurism with real romance. Backed by Kid Cudi’s soundtrack and vision, it explores love, creativity, and personal freedom in a stylized, Black-centered world of tomorrow.

4. Afronauts (2014)

Inspired by the true story of Zambia’s space program in the 1960s, Afronauts is a poetic short film that reimagines space travel from the perspective of post-colonial hope. It's a quiet, powerful meditation on ambition, legacy, and dreaming beyond imposed limits.

5. Neptune Frost (2022)

Set in a Rwandan tech fantasy world, Neptune Frost is a dazzling Afrofuturist musical that fuses gender-fluid rebellion with cyberpunk energy. It’s abstract, political, and deeply original — a call to dismantle systems through radical connectivity and imagination.

6. Fast Color (2018)

A grounded superhero tale with emotional depth, Fast Color centers on three generations of Black women with mysterious powers. It’s an Afrofuturist spin on family, healing, and reclaiming strength — quiet, poetic, and powerful.

7. Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire (2023)

This animated anthology bursts with futuristic visions from across the African continent. From robotic wildlife to time-traveling warriors, Kizazi Moto showcases what Afrofuturism looks like when imagined by African creators — diverse, bold, and burning with potential.

8. Sankofa (1993)

A foundational work in cinematic Afrofuturism, Sankofa blends time travel with spiritual reckoning. A modern Black woman is transported back to experience slavery firsthand, urging viewers to confront history as a path to liberation and self-knowledge.

9. Nope (2022)

Jordan Peele’s sci-fi horror deconstructs spectacle, surveillance, and the exploitation of Black labor in Hollywood. Nope offers genre thrills while embedding its narrative with sharp Afrofuturist undertones — asking who gets to claim stories, and at what cost.

10. Lovecraft Country (2020)

This genre-bending series rewrites cosmic horror with a powerful Black lens. By flipping Lovecraft’s racist legacy into a tale of magical resistance and ancestral trauma, Lovecraft Country becomes a haunting, visceral piece of Afrofuturist storytelling.

11. Iwájú (2024)

A groundbreaking collaboration between Disney and African animation studio Kugali, Iwájú is set in a futuristic Lagos bursting with sleek tech, lush landscapes, and class divisions. With its rich visuals and youth-centered narrative, it captures the heart of Afrofuturism — a forward-looking tale rooted in cultural authenticity, imagination, and innovation.

12. Black Is King (2020)

Part visual album, part spiritual odyssey, Black Is King reclaims African identity through fashion, mythology, and celestial storytelling. Beyoncé reimagines The Lion King as an Afrofuturist journey of self-discovery, ancestry, and global Black pride — blending modern luxury with timeless symbolism to craft a regal vision of what Black futures can look like.

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