Discover the best of Jamaican cinema, film, and television
Discover the definitive list of popular and critically-acclaimed movies and TV shows from Jamaica. Find your next binge-watch, streaming on Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Prime Video, and other top services!
The cinema of Jamaica
Jamaican cinema pulsates with the rhythm of the nation itself, a film culture where the soundtrack is as powerful as the story. It is a cinema of vibrant energy, undeniable cool, and raw authenticity. The story of modern Jamaican film explodes into life with one iconic masterpiece: Perry Henzell’s The Harder They Come. Starring the legendary Jimmy Cliff, this raw and vibrant story of a country boy turned reggae star and outlaw wasn't just a film; it was a cultural event that took the sound and spirit of Jamaica global. It created a powerful blueprint, followed by other beloved classics like the beautifully authentic Rockers and the energetic Dancehall Queen, which brilliantly captured a different era of the island's music scene. In recent years, a new generation of filmmakers, led by visionaries like Storm Saulter, has built on this legacy. They are crafting ambitious new stories that are gaining international acclaim, exploring the island’s culture with fresh eyes. This creative energy is also driving a lively local television scene, producing comedies and dramas with a distinctly Jamaican flavour. What makes Jamaican cinema so unforgettable is this incredible fusion of sound and story. The soundtrack isn't just background noise; it's the narrative's very soul. It's a cinema that you don't just watch; you feel.
Best Jamaican series
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Best Jamaican movies
The Harder They Come 1972
Ivanhoe Martin arrives in Kingston, Jamaica, looking for work and, after some initial struggles, lands a recording contract as a reggae singer. He records his first song, "The Harder They Come," but after a bitter dispute with a manipulative producer named Hilton, soon finds himself resorting to petty crime in order to pay the bills. He deals marijuana, kills some abusive cops and earns local folk hero status. Meanwhile, his record is topping the charts.
72
Rockers 1979
Horsemouth, a drummer living in a ghetto of Kingston, plans to make money selling records. After his prized motorcycle is stolen, his plans fall through and he's forced to adapt.
77
Dancehall Queen 1997
Street vendor Marcia is scraping together a living in the ghetto section of Kingston, Jamaica. Her young daughter is being hounded by a rich sugar daddy who has been supporting the family; her brother's life is being threatened by a local thug. So, when the licentious patron threatens to abandon the family, and her brother breaks down under pressure, Marcia hits bottom. She needs to escape to a haven where she can get lost in fantasy; Marcia, don in sex-me-up clothing and outrageous glamour, finds refuge in the beats of the very dance hall outside of which she normally vends.
75
Sprinter 2019
Sprinter tells the story of Akeem Sharp who is set to be Jamaica's next big track-and-field sensation. Akeem hopes to rise in the track and field world will take him to the U.S. to reunite him with his mother who has supported the family while living as an illegal resident for over a decade. But Akeem's rising star is weighed down by turmoil at home: a volatile father, and an unruly older brother who insinuates himself into Akeem's career as a means of escaping - or perhaps enhancing - his scam artist hustle. Not only does Akeem have to prove to himself and everyone that he can succeed, but also overcome the struggles that may ultimately bring him down.
62
Countryman 1982
A young woman crash-lands her plane in Jamaica. A local named Countryman rescues her and leads her away from the authorities, who have fabricated a story about the plane, involving drug and arms smuggling by the CIA, in order to gain popularity in an upcoming election.
71
Tell the Children the Truth 2015
100