The Best HBCU Movies & TV Shows To Watch

Hillman College is calling, and class is officially back in session. The release of the sequel series of A Different World debuts this month, and it inspired our list of the best HBCU movies and TV shows to watch. Check it out inside. 

Just in time for homecoming season, A Different World is getting a whole new generation of students. The highly anticipated sequel series premieres on Netflix Sep. 24. The series brings viewers back to the fictional HBCU Hillman College through the eyes of Deborah Wayne — the daughter of beloved alumni Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert. Several original cast members are returning, with Debbie Allen back behind the scenes as executive producer and director.

Before you head back to the yard, it is time to brush up on your HBCU screen education.

Essence shared a roundup of HBCU movie and TV show favorites ahead of Beyoncé’s iconic Homecoming drop on Netflix. From legendary marching bands and Greek life to Black love, campus politics, friendship, activism and finding yourself, these movies and television shows capture different pieces of the HBCU experience. As Essence points out in its homecoming watch list, titles like Drumline, Stomp the Yard, School Daze and A Different World have helped bring the energy of Black college culture to audiences everywhere.

And as Bustle previously highlighted, the HBCU stories on screen offer more than entertainment. They give viewers a window into traditions like stepping, marching band culture, Greek life and the everyday experiences of Black college students.

So grab your snacks, call your homecoming crew and press play.