#Best Modern Movies Shown in Black and White, Ranked

In the early days of photography and filmmaking, black and white cinematography was all that we had. The technology wasn’t there yet, and it was a cheaper method of making films. With that said, the films that were produced in black and white meant that the filmmakers had to give special attention to light, shadows, and other aspects of cinematography. When The Wizard of Oz with Judy Garland premiered in 1939, Technicolor was brought to mainstream audiences and people were blown away by the new form of filmmaking. Nowadays, black and white films may be rare, but they are still produced for artistic motives.
Depending on the content of the movie, black and white filmmaking can help display certain emotions or themes. Steven Spielberg, who recently celebrated his birthday, knew that when it came to a story like Schindler’s List, there was no other way to show the story than black and white. If done correctly, black and white filmmaking can use light and shadow to create beautiful cinematography. It has a certain “classic” feel to it, and on the rare occasions that we do see a black and white film, it is quite refreshing. Let’s take a look at the best modern films made in black and white, ranked.
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8 Frances Ha

In Noah Baumbach’s Frances Ha, Greta Gerwig plays a struggling dancer in her late twenties as she navigates love, life, and friendship in New York City. The black and white cinematography adds to the intimate feel of the film. New York City is basically a character in the film, and the black and white helps portray the city in a good light, while showing how it feels to be struggling to live there. Frances bounces from one apartment to the next, showing us several great areas of Manhattan. The film received positive reviews and features one of Gerwig’s best performances to date.

7 Sin City

Sin City was an epic adaptation of Frank Miller’s classic graphic novel of the same name. The film is an array of talent featuring an A-list cast including Mickey Rourke, Rosario Dawson, Benicio del Toro, and many more. Although there are some moments of color throughout, the film is basically black and white from start to finish. The cinematography is certainly an homage to classic neo-noir films, showcasing the violent, gritty streets. It adds a classic feel to the film, making it an authentic neo-noir crime story filled with ruthless gangsters and killers.

6 The Lighthouse

Robert Eggers is one of the most original filmmakers on the market. His 2019 film The Lighthouse tells the story of two lighthouse keepers, played by Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe, who begin to go insane after they get stranded on the island. The black and white cinematography portrays many emotions such as madness and claustrophobia. The film is a psychological tale keeping its characters at the center of the story. The choice to use black and white cinematography adds a lot to the eerie and terrifying story.

5 Roma

Roma was a passion project of Alfonso Cuarón, which he wrote, directed, and also shot using black and white cinematography. The story follows the life of a live-in Mixteco housekeeper of a middle-class family in the 1970s. The film dives deep into many themes including cultural differences, politics, and class disparity. The black and white cinematography adds the authentic feel of the film, showcasing the Mexican landscapes. Roma received overwhelmingly positive reviews and would go on to win three Academy Awards including Best Foreign Language Film.

4 Clerks

Clerks was Kevin Smith’s break-out film, and was a massive achievement in independent filmmaking. The film follows two store clerks over the course of one day as they discuss pop-culture and their miserable lives. The black and white cinematography adds to the gritty feel and the hopelessness of the characters. At the same time, the film features brilliant dialogue that is both thought-provoking and hilarious. This classic movie launched Smith’s career into the leading filmmaker that he is today.
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3 The Artist

The Artist was a throwback to classic Hollywood while showcasing the age of silent films. Being shot in black and white added the authentic feeling of classic cinema. The story follows a silent film star (Jean Dujardin) as he faces off against the changing industry while mentoring an up and coming actress (Berenice Bejo). The emotions and drama that the film creates while virtually using no dialogue was a sheer achievement in filmmaking. The film would go on to win five Academy Awards including Best Picture.

2 Raging Bull

Martin Scorsese’s classic sports drama chronicles the life of the middleweight boxer, Jake LaMotta (Robert DeNiro). DeNiro is untouchable in his performance from start to finish. Raging Bull dives deep into his self-destructive personality and his determination to become a champion even if it destroys his life. The black and white cinematography adds so much to the overall feel of the film and the inner demons of LaMotta’s personality. Raging Bull is a classic boxing story giving us one of DeNiro’s greatest performances of all time.

1 Schindler’s List

Spielberg’s classic film tells the true story of Oscar Schindler (Liam Neeson) who saved over a thousand Jewish refugees from being murdered during the Holocaust. Schindler’s List can be hard to watch at many points as we see the murders that took place during this dark time in history. Spielberg’s choice to use black and white cinematography was an important technique to portray the bleak and miserable atmosphere of the Holocaust. Spielberg’s direction is masterful, and he portrayed this true story with passion while getting fine performances from the actors.

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