Black Films Are Box Office Hits
Films produced by African Americans and/or featuring a predominately black cast continue to score at the box office. The dynamic duo Will Smith and James Lassiter’s Hancock finished in fourth place out of all top grossing films in 2008, raking in $227.9 million domestically and $624.3 worldwide. This year’s top dog among black films is Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail at $90.5 million, which ranks No. 12 among the highest grossing films so far in 2009. This is Perry’s top earning production since Madea’s Family Reunion, which went on to gross $63.2 million domestically.
Top 10 Grossing Black Films 2008 (millions)
1.   Hancock $227.9
2.   Seven Pounds $69.9
3.   College Road Trip $45.6
4.   Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins $42.4
5.   Tyler Perry’s Meet The Browns $41.9
6.   Lakeview Terrace $39.2
7.   First Sunday $37.9
8.   The Secret Lives of Bees $37.7
9.   Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys $37.1
10.   Soul Men $12.1
Source: BoxOfficeMojo.com
Top 10 Grossing Black Films 2007 (millions)
1.   I Am Legend $256. 3
2.   American Gangster $130.1
3.   Norbit $95.6
4.   Stomp The Yard $61.3
5.   Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married $55.2
6.   Are We Done Yet? $49.6
7.   This Christmas $49.1
8.   Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls $31.3
9.   The Great Debaters $30.2
10.   I Think I Love My Wife $12.5
Source: BoxOfficeMojo.com
— Carolyn M. Brown