Aspiring actor and hot-dog stand employee Bobby Taylor catches the ire of his grandmother for auditioning for a role in the regrettably titled exploitation film "Jivetime Jimmy's Revenge." When Tinseltown Studios casts Taylor in the title role, he has a series of conflicted dreams satirizing African-American stereotypes in Hollywood, and must reconcile his career goals with his desire to remain a positive role model for his little brother.

The Meteor Man

1993

English

5.2

♡ 17

27%

Robert Townsend Director

Barbara Montgomery as Dre's Mother

Don Cheadle as Goldilocks

Robert Townsend as Jefferson Reed / Meteor Man

Wallace Shawn as Mr. Little

One night Jefferson Reed gets hit in the chest by a souped-up chunk of meteor. So he can fly, but he's scared of heights. He can master the information in any book ... for about thirty seconds. Now his friends and family want him to protect their community from the dreaded Golden Lords.

Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story

2000

English

6.7

♡ 4

88%

Robert Townsend Director

Daniel Fathers as A & R Guy

Sandi Ross as Aunt Bay

Megan Fahlenbock as Grace

Jack Langedijk as NBC Executive

The true life story of famed singer Natalie Cole, daughter of Nat 'King' Cole. Gripping drama of her struggle with addiction and living in her father's shadow while still maintaining her own celebrity status.

Ms. Pat: Y'all Wanna Hear Something Crazy?

2022

English

6.0

♡ 6

78%

Action

Comedy

stand-up comedy

Robert Townsend Director

Phyllis Yvonne Stickney as Aunt Gwen

Patricia Williams as Self

Ms. Pat finds laughter in the absurdities of parenting, pet lovers and very unfortunate lip trends as she unpacks a painful past with humor and honesty.

Making the Five Heartbeats

2018

English

8.9

♡ 3

Action

Documentary

Music

Robert Townsend Director

Denzel Washington as Self

Robert Townsend as Self

Michael Jai White as Self

Tico Wells as Self

In 1990, actor, comedian, writer and director, Robert Townsend, went against every obstacle in Hollywood, relying on his faith, street smarts, and tenacity to bring his passion project, 1991’s The Five Heartbeats, to big screens. The Motown-flavored story of the rise and fall of an African-American vocal group in the 1960s, the musical drama is the subject of Townsend’s documentary, Making The Five Heartbeats. The documentary chronicles the inspiring journey of a young black writer/director (Townsend) determined to present a new image of black people in cinema while endeavoring to create a classic.

BAP*S

1997

English

4.8

♡ 6

los angeles, california

millionaire

restaurant

Robert Townsend Director

Dennis Rodman as Dennis Rodman

Natalie Desselle Reid as Mickey

Bernie Mac as Mr. Johnson

Halle Berry as Nisi

Two wannabe Black American princesses aim to marry rich men, who will pay for their world's first combination hair salon and soul food restaurant.

Little Richard

2000

English

6.7

♡ 3

70%

Robert Townsend Director

Alimi Ballard as

Garrett Morris as Carl Rainey

Devika Parikh as Silvia Penniman

Reynaldo Rey as Sugarfoot Sam

The story of Little Richard Penniman, from his poor Southern upbringing to dealing with the trials and tribulations of being a Black singer in the 1950s, to his born-again phase and brief "retirement" from rock and roll.

Phantom Punch

2008

English

5.5

♡ 5

41%

Robert Townsend Director

Bridgette Wilson-Sampras as Farah

Rick Roberts as Father Alios

Alan Van Sprang as Nico Orso

Ving Rhames as Sonny Liston

From his discovery by a priest while serving time at the Missouri State Penitentiary to the infamous 'Phantom Punch' by Cassius Clay which effectively ended his career, the movie spans the years from 1950 to Liston's mysterious and untimely death in 1971.

The Five Heartbeats

1991

English

7.6

♡ 6

39%

rhythm and blues (r&b)

Robert Townsend Director

Tico Wells as Choirboy

Kasi Lemmons as Cookie

Robert Townsend as Duck

Anne-Marie Johnson as Sydney Todd

In the early 1960s, a quintet of hopeful, young African-American men form an amateur vocal group called The Five Heartbeats. After an initially rocky start, the group improves, turns pro, and rises to become a top flight music sensation. Along the way, however, the guys learn many hard lessons about the reality of the music industry.

Up, Up, and Away!

2000

English

5.5

♡ 3

Robert Townsend Director

Mitchell Kosterman as Fireman

Robert Townsend as Jim Marshall / Bronze Eagle

Olivia Burnette as Nina

Ellie Harvie as The Annihilator

A boy is the only family member without superpowers in this Disney Film. The world depends on him saving his family from computerized brainwashers. Will he realize that it doesn't take superpowers to be a hero in time to help them defeat the villains?

In the Hive

2012

English

6.4

♡ 3

Drama

Robert Townsend Director

Vivica A. Fox as Billie

Marcus Natividad as Inmate

Michael Clarke Duncan as Mr. Hollis

Ali Liebert as Parker Whitmore

Sixteen-year-old Xtra Keys hopes to raise his son better than his boozy, razor-edged mother raised him, and he just might get his wish when he's thrust into an unorthodox alternative school full of underprivileged boys.

Eddie Murphy: Raw

1987

English

7.6

♡ 21

79%

Robert Townsend Director

Samuel L. Jackson as Eddie's Uncle

Eddie Murphy as Himself

J.D. Hall as Party Guest

Barbara Harris as Thanksgiving Guest

Eddie Murphy delights, shocks and entertains with dead-on celebrity impersonations, observations on '80s love, sex and marriage, a remembrance of Mom's hamburgers and much more.