News

As major releases continue to hit big screens, 2024 is shaping to be an important year for showbiz and the box-office. Countless conversations continue to cover pandemic recovery, nevertheless, Hollywood now has another pebble in its shoe – can it weather the aftermath of the 2023 Screen Actors Guild and Writers Guild of America strikes? So far, things seem to be picking up slowly, but not necessarily at the box-office.

Although the year has seen bright spots early on—like the success of Dune: Part Two—there have also been a slew of disappointments. While films like Madame Web and Furiosa managed to break even on the back of their production costs alone, they did ultimately become part of the financial disappointments when marketing expenses—which now run the risk of equalling the film’s production costs—are taken into account.

Anya Taylor Joy is Furiosa in the new Mad Max Saga | Credits:...

Stars: Justice Smith, David Alan Grier, An-Li Bogan, Drew Tarver, Michaela Watkins, Aisha Hinds, Tim Baltz, Rupert Friend, Nicole Byer | Written and Directed by Kobi Libii

The debut feature from writer-director Kobi Libii, this blackly comic fantasy comedy has a solid central idea, but never quite gets to grips with its own satirical intent. Ultimately, it works better as an offbeat romantic comedy, thanks to an engaging central performance and charming chemistry between the two leads.

Justice Smith stars as Aaron Mbondo, an artist in Los Angeles whose yarn sculptures aren’t quite cutting it with the art gallery crowd. After a painful show, during which he’s mistaken for a waiter, insult is added to injury when he’s nearly beaten up by some white guys who think he’s a mugger. However, he’s rescued at the last minute by Roger (David Alan Grier), a server he recognises from the gallery.

Stars: Justice Smith, David Alan Grier, An-Li Bogan, Drew Tarver, Michaela Watkins, Aisha Hinds, Tim Baltz, Rupert Friend, Nicole Byer | Written and Directed by Kobi Libii

The debut feature from writer-director Kobi Libii, this blackly comic fantasy comedy has a solid central idea, but never quite gets to grips with its own satirical intent. Ultimately, it works better as an offbeat romantic comedy, thanks to an engaging central performance and charming chemistry between the two leads.

Justice Smith stars as Aaron Mbondo, an artist in Los Angeles whose yarn sculptures aren’t quite cutting it with the art gallery crowd. After a painful show, during which he’s mistaken for a waiter, insult is added to injury when he’s nearly beaten up by some white guys who think he’s a mugger. However, he’s rescued at the last minute by Roger (David Alan Grier), a server he recognises from the gallery.

Luca Guadagnino’s love triangle drama Challengers starts its UK-Ireland box office campaign this weekend through Warner Bros.

Opening in 702 sites with additional venues still being added, the film stars Zendaya, 2016 Screen Star of Tomorrow Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist in the story of three aspiring tennis professionals fighting both for championships and romantically.

Initially programmed as the opening film of last year’s Venice Film Festival, Challengers was withdrawn following the actors’ strike, which would have prevented its starry cast from promoting the release.

It is Italian filmmaker Guadagnino’s eighth feature film. He broke out internationally with his fifth,...

Despite a provocative title, The American Society Of Magical Negroes’ worst offence is that it’s dull. There’s a kernel of a fun idea here — almost Key & Peele-esque in its specific parody, taken to a surreal extreme — but it’s uncomfortably dragged out over the course of an interminable feature plot. The society itself is presented in a fragmented manner, popping in and out of the story to the point where it actually feels like a distraction rather than, well, the central premise of the film.

Written and directed by Kobi Libii, the film focuses on protagonist Aren, a struggling artist surrounded by white people who don’t understand his work — or pay attention to him at all, really. Smith plays up Aren’s meek demeanour, and through him the film builds itself around the social expectations that white people should be placated, not confronted. The eponymous American Society...

Get ready to go gaga for another group of earnest teenagers hoping to change the world, or at least win a fake election at a famous youth retreat.

The contender to watch this week: “Girls State”

In 2021, “Boys State” picked up recognitions from the National Board of Review, Directors Guild of America, Emmys, and several critics groups, so of course we’re getting a sequel. This time, directors Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss move from Texas to Missouri to profile teenagers attending the eponymous mock-government program. The ambitious, excitable girls are just as fascinating as their male counterparts, and you can see them in action on Apple TV+.

Other contenders:

“The Zone of Interest“: If you still haven’t caught Jonathan Glazer‘s mesmerizing Holocaust drama, which won two Oscars and continues to spark controversy, it’s newly streaming on Max. “How to Have Sex”: Molly Manning Walker...

Evil Does Not Exist Photo: Janus Films Bustin’ used to make me feel goodThe original Ghostbusters is a near-perfect film. It’s just the right blend of comedy and legitimate horror, with Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, and Ernie Hudson in their prime. When it came out, it was...

Graphic: The A.V. Club, Photo: John P. Johnson, Gkids, Neon, Janus Films, Image: Focus Features, Warner Bros., Screenshot: Sony Pictures Entertainment/YouTube, Searchlight Pictures/YouTube, Sony Pictures Entertainment/YouTubeBustin’ used to make me feel goodForeground: Ernie Hudson, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis in Ghostbusters (Columbia Pictures/Archive Photos...

Kobi Libii’s debut feature The American Society of Magical Negroes starts on a promising note. Aren, a spindly and awkward artist (an endearing Justice Smith) loiters near a yarn sculpture in a gallery. He seems lost in the sea of roving patrons and bustling waiters. It takes a second for us to realize that Aren created the meditative wool work and is struggling to sell it to the mostly white collectors attending this group show. They find the abstract piece illegible; they repeatedly ask about the material (“Is it … yarn?”) while maintaining a distance. These brief encounters are a clever jab by Libii at a visual art world historically enamored of Black figurative artists.

Minor drama ensues after Aren is mistaken for a server by a patron and unceremoniously fired by his gallerist. Before he can think straight, the dejected artist finds himself touring the gothic halls of The American Society of Magical Negroes,...

In this episode of CinemaNerdz: The Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Mike Tyrkus states that Kobi Libii’s The American Society of Magical Negroes is a film with a purpose as well as sound and earnest intentions that make it more powerful than not.

Check out the full CinemaNerdz review of The American Society of Magical Negroes here!

Subscribe to CinemaNerdz: The Podcast here!

The post Podcast Ep. 68: “The American Society of Magical Negroes” first appeared on CinemaNerdz.

Justice Smith and David Alan Grier Image: Focus Features Although The Matrix came out two years before Spike Lee famously coined the term “magical, mystical Negro” in 2001, it successfully inverted the potential fulfillment of that trope. Morpheus was undoubtedly a self-sacrificing guide to Neo. but it was Morpheus’ confidence, the...

Justice Smith and David Alan GrierImage: Focus Features

Although The Matrix came out two years before Spike Lee famously coined the term “magical, mystical Negro” in 2001, it successfully inverted the potential fulfillment of that trope. Morpheus was undoubtedly a self-sacrificing guide to Neo. but it was Morpheus’ confidence, the weight...

Kobi Libii’s feature film debut is already facing some divisive reaction. For this viewer, having grown up on classic films that he is examining, I thought the approach was quite interesting. The American Society of Magical Negroes explores a familiar troupe in classic films that featured a lovable sidekick, often it was someone who is a minority. As his directorial debut is bound to turn a few heads, it also features an impressive cast that includes Justice Smith, Nicole Byers, An-Li Bogan, and David Alan Grier.

Recently, we had the opportunity to chat with a few of the fine folks about their latest. First up, I sat down with the legendary David Alan Grier. And it was a terrific conversation, one where we talked about classic films and reasons behind this story. He is a fascinating man, and he is a joy to speak with. After that, we sat...

Indies in moderate-wide release claimed the nos. 6, 8 and 9 spots at the domestic box office led by Love Lies Bleeding. Kristin Steward toplines the Berlin-premiering film by Rose Glass that expanded nationwide, grossing $2.5 million for the weekend on 1,362 screens (up from five theaters opening week). The steamy crime thriller from A24 also stars Katy O’Brian with an ensemble featuring Ed Harris, Anna Baryshnikov Dave Franco and Jenna Malone. It’s 88% Certified Fresh with audiences on Rotten Tomatoes (92% critics score).

Stewart plays a reclusive gym manager who falls hard for an ambitious bodybuilder headed through town to Vegas in pursuit of her dream as the pair is pulled into the web of Lou’s criminal family. Weekend breakdown: Friday, $1.1 million; Saturday, $790k; Sunday; $592k.

One Life by James Hawes pulled in a $1.7+ million debut 983 screens. The Bleecker Street film, starring Anthony Hopkins as a British stockbroker who helped rescued hundreds of Jewish children from Czechoslovakia,...

March has been going along well, but only one new wide release made much of a mark this weekend as “Kung Fu Panda 4” and “Dune: Part Two” continued to reign over all, including an actual “king.” Read on for the weekend box office report.

After scoring one of the second-best openings of 2024, the animated “Kung Fu Panda 4” held onto first place for a second weekend in a row, winning Friday with $8.8 million and then repeating with an estimated $30 million for the weekend, down 48% from its opening weekend. It has grossed $107.7 million in its first 10 days in North America. It added another $39.6 million in 56 international territories for a global weekend of $69.6 million and a global total of $176.5 million.

Denis Villeneuve‘s sci-fi epic “Dune: Part Two” crossed the $200 million mark domestically in its third weekend, making it the first movie to cross that milestone since “Wonka.” This weekend, it added another $29.1 million,...

Kung Fu Panda 4 and Dune: Part Two are still going strong at the box office, with both movies celebrating milestones this weekend.

From DreamWorks Animation and Universal, the Jack Black-voiced Kung Fu Panda 4 dethroned Dune 2 in its sophomore weekend with an estimated $30 million from 4,067 theaters as it leaped past the $100 million mark to finish Sunday with a 10-day domestic total of $107.7 million. Overseas, it grossed another $39.6 million for a foreign tally of $68.6 million and $176.4 million globally. The pic fell a respectable 48 percent domestically.

Not far behind was Denis Villeneuve’s Dune 2, now in its third weekend. The Legendary-Warner Bros. tentpole is the first release of 2024 to clear $200 million domestically. The pic earned an estimated $29.1 million from 3,847 cinemas, putting its North American total at $205.3 million.

Overseas, the sequel — starring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya — earned another $51.2 million this weekend from 73 markets for a dazzling foreign tally...

Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s “Kung Fu Panda 4” remained victorious at the domestic box office, collecting a solid $30 million in its second weekend of release. After 10 days on the big screen, the animated family film has grossed $107.7 million in North America and $176.5 million globally.

Those ticket sales easily surpassed the debut of Mark Wahlberg’s canine drama “Arthur the King,” which opened in third place. It arrived on the lower end of expectations with a soft $7.5 million from 3,003 theaters. Lionsgate spent $19 million on the feel-good story, about a man who befriends a wounded stray dog, so its modest price tag could soften its box office shortcomings. Though critics weren’t fond of “Arthur the King” (it has a 64% on Rotten Tomatoes), moviegoers were more receptive and gave the film an “A” grade on CinemaScore.

“It’s not a family film or a comedy, but it’s not a hard...

The new film entitled The American Society of Magical Negroes is, on one level, an examination of society through the lens of the cinematic trope of the “magical negro” popularized in American culture throughout the twentieth century. On another, less serious plane, the film is a solidly entertaining romantic comedy that establishes a new filmmaker with a voice that, with a little seasoning, should have a lot to say in the not-too-distant future.

The film follows the trials and tribulations of a young man named Aren (Justice Smith) after he is recruited by a mysterious man named Roger (David Alan Grier) to join an organization called The Society of Magical Negroes. This society is dedicated to the purpose of making white people more comfortable around people of color, which is done using the “magical” powers bestowed up members of the society once they are assigned white people to assuage.

Aren...

With no big new releases at the box office this weekend, sci-fi epic "Dune: Part Two" and "Kung Fu Panda 4" are staying seated at the top of the charts. It's a closer race than last week, though, as the second half of Denis Villeneuve's "Dune" adaptation continues to draw crowds and rake in those lucrative IMAX ticket sales. Deadline reports that "Dune: Part Two" is tracking to gross $28-29 million in its third weekend at the box office, a relatively small drop of around 38% from last week.

The beauty of counter-programming, though, is that two big movies can dominate at the box office without cannibalizing each other (sometimes they can even team up and help each other). After a strong $57.9 million start last weekend, "Kung Fu Panda 4" is tracking for a $31.5 million second weekend, a drop of around 46%. 

While Jack Black's kung fu fighting panda looks likely to land the No.

We should thank whoever cut the official trailer for writer-director Kobi Libii’s The American Society of Magical Negroes. As infuriating as the film is, it would have been devastating to imagine anyone, but especially people of color, walking into it expecting Jordan Peele-grade social commentary or a Black Harry Potter after the teaser was released and getting this instead. The second trailer sold a more accurate and deterrent bill of goods, as this is, in fact, an interracial romcom masquerading as social satire. But even knowing that Libii’s film would fail at both was a possibility, nothing can prepare you for the reality of sitting through a 105-minute, unchallenged preaching session on the virtues of minstrelsy.

The first five minutes almost play as a warning. A struggling artist trying to sell his latest piece at an art show, Aren (Justice Smith) glides through a sea of white...

The American Society of Magical Negroes satirizes an age-old Hollywood trope with clever humor and pointed social commentary in a Harry Potter-esque narrative. The critical term "magical negro" was popularized by filmmaker Spike Lee. It refers to a stereotypical Black supporting character who only exists to help the white protagonist achieve their goals. Classic examples are Forrest Gump, The Green Mile, and The Legend of Bagger Vance.

Justice Smith stars as Aren, a Black yarn artist who's mistaken as a waiter by a white man at his gallery opening. But instead of taking offense, Aren dutifully fetches a cocktail. Roger (David Alan Grier) notices this interaction. He invites Aren to join The American Society of Magical Negroes, a secret organization that has existed since Jefferson's presidency with a singular goal: help, support, and soothe white people so that Blacks won't get killed.

Nicole Byer co-stars as Dede, leader of the society.

After the Oscar-winning “American Fiction” comes another racial satire film targeting the psychologically elusive racial dynamics that invade everyday society: “The American Society of Magical Negroes” (2024). Kobi Libii’s directorial debut focuses on “defense mechanisms and survival strategies for Black people navigating racism in America,” as he told TheWrap at Sundance where the film premiered.

The film is also a love story, following Aren (Justice Smith), who gets introduced to a society of magical Black people whose powers are used to make white people’s lives easier. But when Aren falls in love, he realizes he might not be willing to give her up to fulfill his new career.

Those curious about how to watch “The American Society of Magical Negroes” can find the details below:

When Did “The American Society of Magical Negroes” Premiere?

The film premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

When Is the Release Date?

The film...

A trio of moderate releases – One Life, The American Society Of Magical Negroes and Knox Goes Away join Janus Films’ celebration of master musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, and César award winning The Animal Kingdom as the next wave of 2024 indie films rolls out post-Oscars.

Focus Features’ American Society Of Magical Negroes, the feature directorial debut of Kobi Libii opens at 1,146 theaters across the North America. Premiered at Sundance, see Deadline review. A satirical comedy about a young man, Aren (Justice Smith) who is recruited by Roger (David Alan Grier) into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making sure white people never feel bad about themselves or get stressed out — because bad things happen when they do. Also stars Rupert Friend, Michaela Watkins, An-Li Bogan, Drew Tarver and Nicole Byer. Libii originally developed the project as an alumnus of both the Sundance Writers and Directors Labs.

Upon his 2013 graduation from the Orange County School of the Arts, Justice Smith assumed he would spend some time “waiting tables and doing small roles in indie films here and there.” Instead, he found himself working the blockbuster space fairly quickly, booking roles in “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” and its sequel “Jurassic World Dominion.” He stood out opposite a fuzzy creature voiced by Ryan Reynolds in “Pokémon: Detective Pikachu” and as a half-elf sorcerer in “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.”

Though it was a crash course in big-budget filmmaking, the 28-year-old actor notes that he wouldn’t have had it any other way. “I’m blessed because those experiences were also highly technical environments that challenged me,” he says. “It strengthened my ability and gave me a more well-rounded arsenal of tools. While doing the thing I love.”

And while he’s happy to dabble in big studios hits,...

Mark Wahlberg’s canine drama “Arthur the King” opens in cinemas on Friday, but it may not have enough bite to top domestic box office charts.

Lionsgate’s film, a feel-good story about a man who befriends a wounded stray dog, is targeting a debut of $8 million to $10 million from 3,000 North American theaters. It’s a so-so start for the roughly $20 million-budgeted movie.

Despite the newcomer, last weekend’s champ “Kung Fu Panda 4” is expected to dominate again with roughly $28 million to $30 million in its sophomore outing. So far, the animated fourquel has grossed $62 million at the domestic box office and $93 million globally.

“Dune: Part Two” won’t be far behind “Panda” as the sci-fi adventure looks to continue its impressive box office run. The “Dune” sequel is projected to add $24 million to $27 million during its third weekend of release. After 12 days on the big screen, “Dune 2” has...

This past year at the Sundance International Film Festival saw the release of several critically acclaimed movies like Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain, Stephen Soderbergh’s Presence, and the newest racial satire, The American Society of Magical Negroes. Written and directed by Kobi Libii, this imaginative independent film dissects some of the tired and racist tropes that have dogged Black Americans throughout film history. Featuring a cast of newcomers like Justice Smith as well as veterans like David Alan Grier, this is set to be a highly talked about movie. For anybody who can’t wait to see this satirical adventure, here’s everything we know about how, when, and where you can watch this new comedy about race, coming of age, and fantasy.

The American Society of Magical Negroes cleverly satirizes a film trope first criticized by filmmaker Spike Lee. A "magical negro" is a stereotypical Black supporting character who exists solely to aid a white protagonist. Forrest Gump, The Green Mile, and The Legend of Bagger Vance are well-known examples. Writer/director Kobi Libii, also an accomplished actor, takes aim at Hollywood and American culture in general with a humorous and romantic twist.

Justice Smith stars as Aren, a struggling Black yarn artist. Yup - you read that right. He defers to a white man who mistakes him for a server. Roger, played by the superb David Alan Grier, witnesses this interaction. He invites Aren to join The American Society of Magical Negroes, a secret organization that has existed since Jefferson was president. Their goal: alleviating white tension and discomfort to prevent Black people from getting hurt.

An-Li Bogan, in her film debut,...

Focus Features has firmed up release plans for Conclave, the papal thriller marking filmmaker Edward Berger’s follow-up to his 2022 Oscar winner All Quiet on the Western Front. An adaptation of Robert Harris’ same-name bestseller, penned by Peter Straughan, the film releases in theaters in New York and L.A. on November 1st, before expanding on the 8th.

Currently, the 1st is only occupied by an unknown title from Universal Pictures. Titles set to open on the 8th include Sony’s Venom 3 and 20th’s action thriller The Amateur starring Rami Malek.

Conclave follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events — selecting a new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence finds...

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

Though 2024 has gotten off to a slow start, especially on the movies front, March seems determined to correct that. The year’s first real blockbuster, Dune: Part Two, debuts on the first of the month in theaters. Jake Gyllenhaal steps into Patrick Swayze’s shoes in the Road House remake on Prime Video. And, on the returning front, we’re getting a chance to see Pixar’s charming...

From top left: Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Kung Fu Panda 4, The American Society Of Magical Negroes, Dune: Part Two, and Imaginary

Summer movie season comes earlier every year, and 2024 is no exception. After surviving the harsh winter with nothing to warm us but a Madame Web and a Mean Girls musical,...

Focus Features has released the official poster (see below) for The American Society Of Magical Negroes. The film will be in theaters nationwide on Friday, March 15, 2024!

Synopsis: The American Society Of Magical Negroes is a fresh, satirical comedy about a young man, Aren, who is recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people’s lives easier.

About The Film

Genre: Comedy Starring: Justice Smith, David Alan Grier, An-Li Bogan, Drew Tarver, Michaela Watkins, Aisha Hinds, Tim Baltz with Rupert Friend and Nicole Byer Director: Kobi Libii Screenplay: Kobi Libii Producer: Julia Lebedev p.g.a., Eddie Vaisman p.g.a., Angel Lopez p.g.a., Kobi Libii p.g.a.

The American Society Of Magical Negroes

is in select theaters nationwide on Friday, March 15, 2024!

For More Information, Please Visit:

Official Site / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

#TheAmericanSocietyofMagicalNegroes

The...

Exclusive: UTA has signed acclaimed actor Rupert Friend for representation in all areas.

Up next, Friend will be seen in buzzy New Line thriller Companion opposite Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, and Lukas Gage, as well as Michel Franco’s Dreams alongside Jessica Chastain and Lucio Castro, 2Am’s After This Death, and Pierre Morel’s Canary Black opposite Kate Beckinsale.

Most recently, he was seen at Sundance in The American Society of Magical Negroes, an acclaimed satire from writer-director Kobi Libii, which hits theaters via Focus Features on March 15.

Previously, Friend starred in the shorts The Swan and Ratcatcher, based on short stories by Roald Dahl, which Wes Anderson directed for Netflix. As a favorite of the filmmaker’s, Friend has also taken on prominent roles in his recent films Asteroid City and The French Dispatch.

Other notable film credits for the actor include The Death of Stalin, A Simple Favor,...

Filmmaker Spike Lee generally gets credit for inserting the “magical negro” phrase into pop culture more than two decades ago, but the idea itself dates back decades, if not longer. Coined to reflect the tradition in fiction or film of Black characters who function primarily, if not solely, as an adjunct or ancillary to a white character’s needs, the “magical negro” has been justifiably criticized, lampooned, and satirized, the product of more racist, reactionary, regressive times. The “magical negro” concept, however, has never received the satirical treatment in fiction or film it’s so justly deserved. Unfortunately, writer-director Kobi Libii’s feature-length debut, The American Society of Magical Negroes, doesn’t — and won’t — qualify, squandering what little it has to say in the first few, episodic...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

The Sundance Film Festival has wrapped in snowy Park City, and Deadline was on the ground to watch all of the key films. Here is a compilation of our reviews from the fest, which include festival award winners like Daughters, the documentary that took the Festival Favorite Award, and A Real Pain, which won the Waldo Salt Screenwriter Award for its writer-director-star Jesse Eisenberg.

Other pics include several that were scooped up by distributors, led by Steven Soderbergh’s ghost story Presence selling to Neon, A Real Pain going to Searchlight, Ghostlight to IFC Films, and Netflix’s smash $17 million deal for It’s What’s Inside.

Check out the reviews below, click on the titles to read them in full, and keep checking back as we add more.

The American Society of Magical Negroes (L-r) Justice Smith and David Alan Grier in ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’

Section: Premieres

Director-screenwriter: Kobi Libii

Cast: Justice Smith,...

The American Society of Magical Negroes is a satirical fantasy-comedy film that explores the uncomfortable necessity of calming nervous white people. The film starts off strong with humor and satire, but the romance subplot overshadows the main concept it aims to critique. Despite its flaws, the film provides important insight into the experience of suppressing parts of oneself to make others comfortable.

The term “magical negro” was coined as an American cinema trope then popularized by filmmaker Spike Lee in 2001. The phrase describes a Black side character whose entire existence is to serve and support the white protagonist in his or her journey. The "magical power" in question isn’t necessarily literal, as it relates to a Black characteristic or personality trait that directly impacts the white character’s decision and/or growth. I explain all this to emphasize the importance of understanding the phrase before heading to see Kobi Libii...

The American Society of Magical Negroes is a controversial satirical fantasy-comedy film directed by Kobi Libii. The movie explores the concept of a secret society of Black people with magical powers who use their gifts to ease tensions with white people. Despite concerns about the trailer and its portrayal of certain stereotypes, the film aims to critique white supremacy and offers well-written characters with a fresh perspective.

The American Society of Magical Negroes has been seen as a controversial movie since its trailer was released, but star David Alan Grier is wholeheartedly defending the project. It is certainly an ambitious concept, especially considering that it serves as writer-director Kobi Libii's feature film directorial debut. The movie imagines a Hogwarts-esque institution where Black people with magic powers are trained to use their gifts to defuse tension with white people and thus safeguard their communities.

Dungeons & Dragons star Justice Smith leads...

In recent years, there have been many films about what it’s like to be a Black person in America today. In the wake of Black Lives Matter, diversity onscreen became a priority. But in the years since, many filmmakers have tried to capture the magic of the work of Jordan Peele, critiquing prejudice while keeping his Black characters at the center. It’s a difficult balancing act, marrying comedy and tragedy to yield something truly poignant and unique. Kobi Libii’s debut feature, The American Society of Magical Negroes, struggles to bring its tricky premise to life.

Aren (Justice Smith) is a young sculpture artist struggling to sell his art. He’s broke, anxious and can’t seem to advocate for himself at all. Things go from bad to worse when he’s mistaken for a robber on his way home from the gallery. But before things get too disastrous,...

Sundance film festival: A provocative comedy, imagining a Harry Potter-esque academy poking fun at a well-worn stereotype, has its moments

Make no mistake: The American Society of Magical Negroes, the debut film from writer-director Kobi Libii, is trying to be provocative. It’s openly prodding the idea of comfort in text and in title, which cites the term popularized by Spike Lee for the Hollywood trope of saintly, lone Black characters who exist to assist the white protagonist’s journey without any interiority of their own. Libii is taking a big, ambitious satirical swing by literalizing that into an actual secret society in which magic-equipped Black people provide “client services” to upset white people in the name of safety. The trailer, which would lead one to believe that a Harry Potter-type boy wonder finds love while relieving white discomfort, predictably inflamed the Fox News crowd and drew heated skepticism and fatigue on social media.

For some of us, “American Fiction” has a satirical audacity that’s funny right out of the gate, gathers speed and force on the runway — and then, somehow, just when the comedy should be taking off, it turns muted and moralistic instead. I think the hitch is that after Jeffrey Wright’s Monk sells his fake memoir of Black street life, there’s a strong urge to see him — and the film — take a certain vengeful joy in how the book’s popularity skewers the racism of clueless white people. Instead, Monk is made so miserable by what happens that the movie never allows itself to discover that joy.

Had it done so, it might have been more like “The American Society of Magical Negroes,” a comedy of racial images that’s every bit as witty and scandalous as “American Fiction” (it almost feels like a kind of cousin to...

One of the boldest movies premiering at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival is “The American Society of Magical Negroes,” directed by Kobi Libii. The film takes aim at the Magical Negro stereotype and centers on a young man (Justice Smith) who is recruited into a society in which African American members are tasked with ensuring that white people’s lives remain easy. Libii, Smith and co-star David Alan Grier visited the Variety Studio presented by Audible and spoke about the reactions to their button-pushing satire.

“Some members of the white community will see it and say, ‘We’re tired of hearing about race.’ Well we’re tired of talking about it,” Grier said. “We’re tired! We’re tied, too. We all want to get past this, but you can only get past it by going through it.”

Smith remembered reactions to the film during focus screenings. He noticed that some...

Kobi Libii’s work on the sadly short-lived Comedy Central show “The Opposition with Jordan Klepper” always tended toward the confrontational. By donning the guise of right-wing media provocateurs, he highlighted the absurd internal contradictions of ideological hardliners.

Read More: Sundance 2024: The 23 Most Anticipated Movies To Watch

Everything about his feature directorial debut, “The American Society of Magical Negroes” would seem of a piece with that pugnacious posture.

Continue reading ‘The American Society Of Magical Negroes’ Review: Kobi Libii’s Racial Satire Is Sensitive & Sharp [Sundance] at The Playlist.

Sundance has a long history of screening films that tackle issues of race in the U.S. from every possible angle. Some are angry, some satirical, and some quite gonzo.

Kobi Libii’s feature debut The American Society of Magical Negroes has the distinction of going for all three, and while it results in a wildly uneven tone, there’s something refreshing about its thoughtfulness. Cord Jefferson’s recent TIFF hit, American Fiction, arguably did a better job of balancing character and politics. But Libii is a talented world-builder, whether taking us into the esoteric halls of an all-Black Hogwarts, or the absurdly boho offices of a largely white Silicon Valley dot-com.

The title is probably the most provocative thing about it, but even that comes with a spoonful of sugar. A pre-credits title card affirms the role of...

Editor’s Note: This review was originally published at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Focus Features will release “The American Society of Magical Negroes” on Friday, March 15.

In one of the few laugh-out-loud scenes of “The American Society of Magical Negroes,” actor, writer and comedian Kobi Libii’s unevenly written but good-looking directorial debut that gradually runs out of steam, a Black man grabs an unsuspecting white person by the crotch to supposedly cure him of a prostatic illness.

The scene is a direct reference to Frank Darabont’s 1999 Oscar nominee “The Green Mile,” in which Michael Clarke Duncan’s prison inmate with a heart of gold (and supernatural powers) and Tom Hanks’ kind guard get similarly, well, acquainted. “The Green Mile” was only one of the then-recent barrage of popular movies like “What Dreams May Come,” “The Family Man,” and “The Legend of Bagger Vance” (also amusingly referenced in Libii...

Actress Richa Chadha has been selected to be part of a distinguished panel discussing ‘Entertainers as Activists’ at the Sundance Film Festival. Richa will share the stage with other influential figures, including philanthropic leader Bridgette Antoinette Evans, comedian and actor Kobi Libii, and documentary filmmaker Bao Nguyen.

Speaking of this, Richa said: “Entertainment has the power to shape perceptions and inspire change. As artists, it’s our responsibility to use our voices to amplify important issues.

“I’m honoured to be part of the Sundance Film Festival panel, discussing how entertainers can be catalysts for meaningful activism. Let our stories not only entertain but also provoke thought and drive positive transformation.”

Known for speaking her mind, Richa Chadha has been a vocal advocate for social change, addressing issues close to her heart and within the film industry.

Richa, along with her husband and business partner Ali Fazal, is jetting off...

Early promotional efforts for Kobi Libii’s feature film debut “The American Society of Magical Negroes” failed miserably with Black social media due to a miscommunication of the film’s intent. At Sundance, where the film had its world premiere on Friday, invited a far more enthusiastic response.

The film is inspired by the “magical negro” trope, a Hollywood pattern of centering Black characters who cater to white characters originally credited to Spike Lee back in 2001. “The American Society of Magical Negroes” attempts to probe today’s race relations, highlighting the invisibility many people of color experience in the American workplace as well as other challenges.

There is a lot to like about Libii’s effort, particularly with the prolific Justice Smith leading the cast. Veteran comedic actor David Alan Grier, as well as Nicole Byer, An-Li Bogan, and Drew Tarver lend noteworthy assists.

Smith stars as struggling Black artist...

Kobi Libii knew “The American Society of Magical Negroes” would be controversial. After all, the film is a critique of the “magical negro,” the cinematic trope where Black characters are constructed to support white protagonists without internal lives of their own.

Libii grew up in Gary, Ind. in the ’90s, during a run of those movies. “Some of them were seared in my brain,” he tells Variety, remembering a time when “The Legend of Bagger Vance” and “The Green Mile” were lauded by critics and audiences alike, even though they reinforce those tropes. (Both movies are not-so-indirectly referenced in the film.) “It really agitated me at the time but I didn’t have a language for that. I was just told that this was a great movie even though Black people are doing this.”

Now that he’s got a foothold in Hollywood, Libii is taking that type of representation to task,...

Films are made of and from places: the locations they are filmed in, the settings they are meant to evoke, the geographies where they are imagined and worked on. What place tells its own story about your film, whether a particularly challenging location that required production ingenuity or a map reference that inspired you personally, politically or creatively? Ninety percent of this film was shot in Downtown LA, specifically the Arts District. I love that part of town and think it’s singular and vibrant and beautiful. I also don’t think it’s photographed as much as some of the more “iconic” […]

The post “People Who Have Been Relegated to the Background Finally Stepping Forward” | Kobi Libii, The American Society of Magical Negroes first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

Films are made of and from places: the locations they are filmed in, the settings they are meant to evoke, the geographies where they are imagined and worked on. What place tells its own story about your film, whether a particularly challenging location that required production ingenuity or a map reference that inspired you personally, politically or creatively? Ninety percent of this film was shot in Downtown LA, specifically the Arts District. I love that part of town and think it’s singular and vibrant and beautiful. I also don’t think it’s photographed as much as some of the more “iconic” […]

The post “People Who Have Been Relegated to the Background Finally Stepping Forward” | Kobi Libii, The American Society of Magical Negroes first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

Riffing on the eponymous stock trope recognizable in so many American films, The American Society of Magical Negroes tells the story of Aren, the latest recruit to a secret society of magical Black people who use their powers to make the lives of white people easier. The Sundance 2024 premiere is the debut film for director Kobi Libii. The film’s cinematographer Doug Emmett has a number of recognizable credits under his belt, including The Edge of Seventeen and Sorry to Bother You. Below, he humorously recounts difficulties mounting a set three floors underground and details the inspirations behind the film’s look. See all responses to […]

The post “You Live and Die by Your Crew”: Dp Doug Emmett on The American Society of Magical Negroes first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

Riffing on the eponymous stock trope recognizable in so many American films, The American Society of Magical Negroes tells the story of Aren, the latest recruit to a secret society of magical Black people who use their powers to make the lives of white people easier. The Sundance 2024 premiere is the debut film for director Kobi Libii. The film’s cinematographer Doug Emmett has a number of recognizable credits under his belt, including The Edge of Seventeen and Sorry to Bother You. Below, he humorously recounts difficulties mounting a set three floors underground and details the inspirations behind the film’s look. See all responses to […]

The post “You Live and Die by Your Crew”: Dp Doug Emmett on The American Society of Magical Negroes first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.