Nothing beats a warm blanket, hot cocoa, and loved ones enjoying the holidays together. If one runs out of memories to laugh about and the old VHS won’t play the video of Christmas karaoke night from 1983, the following holiday movies will suffice as another great memory to share.
A Diva’s Christmas Carol
This feature film tells the timeless story of Ebenezer Scrooge but in stilettos. Vanessa L. Williams plays her role to perfection as an “ego-driven” megastar who has no time for the holiday spirit. Her character, Ebony Scrooge, has turned a blind eye to the real meaning of the holidays, but glamorous ghosts from Christmas past put her in check. Main cast members include Rozonda Thomas, also known as Chilli from TLC, and iconic comedian, Kathy Griffin.
Friday After Next
The extremely comical Friday saga produced by Cubevision knocked down two birds with one stone with Friday After Next. All the usual suspects were present, but new faces were introduced like Katt Williams, who played an unforgettable role as Money Mike.
Friday After Next carries many different genres, all wrapped in one. But somehow, through the comedic tale of Craig (Ice Cube) and Day-Day (Mike Epps), there is a bit of Christmas cheer that faces the inevitable doom from Santa himself.
This Christmas
If one wants to visit the cutest version of Chris Brown while cozying up by the fire, tune into This Christmas. He plays an angsty teenager with his heart set on singing. This Christmas is a classic film that brings in the warmth of a family, with a dash of drama to spice it up between eggnog sips.
Ma’Dere Whitfield (Loretta Devine) calls her tribe together, bringing family members in close proximity. It starts off in the name of good cheer but carries hints of dreadful fears–of what might be uncovered…this Christmas.
The Wiz
Watching The Wiz is a holiday right of passage. Everyone from all walks of life will ease down the road and into the spirit of connecting family throughout generations. This feature film follows the legendary Diana Ross on one of the craziest adventures that include a whole dancing moment by another music icon, Michael Jackson. The songs and the star-studded cast will have the entire family dancing around the house.
TheBest Man Holiday
The adored college quartet of friends brings in the holidays together in The Best Man Holiday. Lance ( Morris Chestnut) joins Harper (Taye Diggs), Candace (Regina Hall), Quentin (Terrence Howard), Robyn (Sanaa Lathan), Jordan (Nia Long), Murch (Harold Perrineau), And Mia (Monica Calhoun) for holiday festivities.
Although the beloved college days are long gone, the gang gets back together to bring in the holiday joy and rekindle passionate old flames. Laugh, cry, and feel the warmth of the holidays with the college group that’s 15 years strong.
Singer and actress Cassie Ventura, known artistically as Cassie, announced her pregnancy on Wednesday. The announcement was shared via a touching social media post featuring a series of intimate photographs with husband Alex Fine and their two daughters, Frankie, 5, and Sunny, 3.
The “Me & U” singer began dating Fine shortly after her split from Sean “Diddy” Combs. They made their relationship Instagram official in December 2018. The couple announced their first pregnancy, got engaged, married, and welcomed their oldest daughter the following year. Their second child, Sunny, was born in March of 2021.
The most recent pregnancy announcement comes more than a year after the 38-year-old filed and subsequently settled a lawsuit against her ex, Diddy, alleging various forms of abuse during their relationship. Fine has been incredibly supportive of his wife during this time.
The soon-to-be father-of-three also expressed his excitement in a post captioned “Best gift I could ask for.” In his Instagram stories, he revealed that Cassie is six months pregnant.
Preacher and producer DeVon Franklin is engaged to his girlfriend, celebrity trainer, Maria Castillo.
Franklin, who announced his split from Meagan Good in December 2021, proposed to Castillo on a Hawaii holiday vacation.
“Finding Maria has been one of God’s greatest blessings in my life, so I wanted the proposal to be as special as our love,” he told PEOPLE magazine. “We went to Maui for vacation, I told her we were gonna do a photo shoot and during the photo shoot I surprised her with the proposal! It was truly a magical moment and I can’t wait to spend a magical life with Maria!”
The couple reportedly met a year ago when Castillo’s business partner, also Franklin’s friend, introduced them to one another. The two connected over their love for fitness and since that meeting, they’ve been inseparable.
See the gorgeous engagement photos below, courtesy of People magazine.
Viola Davis and Angela Bassett are set to take on roles that are not only groundbreaking but also reflect a vision of leadership that has been historically underrepresented. Both actresses, known for their extraordinary talents and impactful performances, will portray Black women presidents in two upcoming projects: “G20” and “Zero Day.”
Viola Davis in ‘G20’ on Prime
Viola Davis stars as President Danielle Sutton in the action-packed thriller “G20,” produced by Amazon MGM Studios. Set to premiere on Prime Video on April 10, 2025, “G20” unfolds during an international summit in Cape Town, South Africa, which is suddenly besieged by terrorists. Davis’s character, a former war hero elected on a liberal ticket, must use her military acumen and diplomatic skills to protect her family, her nation, and the world leaders in attendance.
Viola Davis in ‘G20.’
This film marks a significant moment as Davis, who has already achieved EGOT status, steps into a role that showcases her as a leader and an action hero. The story emphasizes her character’s resilience and strategic thinking under duress, offering viewers a thrilling yet grounded portrayal of a Black woman navigating the highest office during a crisis. The film’s director, Patricia Riggen, praised Davis for bringing an unprecedented depth to the role, turning her into a “weapon of mass destruction” in her efforts to combat the threats at the summit.
Angela Bassett in ‘Zero Day’on Netflix
Meanwhile, Angela Bassett takes on the role of President Evelyn Mitchell in Netflix’s “Zero Day,” a series that delves into the aftermath of a catastrophic cyberattack on the United States. Scheduled to stream from February 20, 2025, the film explores themes of technology, politics, and power, with Bassett’s character navigating the complexities of leading a nation in crisis. In “Zero Day,” the Commander-In-Chief teams up with a retired president, played by Robert De Niro, to unravel the truth behind an attack that claims thousands of lives.
Robert DeNiro and Angela Basset in ‘Zero Day’. Courtesy of Netflix
Bassett, known for her powerful performances in films like “What’s Love Got to Do with It” and “Black Panther,” brings a nuanced portrayal of the presidency, highlighting the challenges of leadership in a modern, tech-driven world. Her role in “Zero Day” is about commanding authority and the moral and ethical dilemmas that come with such power.