‘Rest In Power’: All the best Black Lives Matter-inspired content
The Paramount Network’s six-part docuseries Rest In Power: The Trayvon Martin Story on BET recounted the murder of the teenager killed by police officer George Zimmerman in 2012. Martin’s death galvanized the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, and the series places his story at the center of that shift. Filmmakers Jenner Furst and Julia Willoughby Nason show the cost of ignoring the issues the movement raised, pushing Martin’s life and death beyond symbolism.
Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton said of the docuseries, “I hope people walk away knowing who Trayvon Martin really was. I want people to walk away having a clear view of what this country is about right now, and not what they thought it is.” Produced by Jay-Z, Rest In Power supplies context for the shooting, maps racial microaggressions, and delivers a clear view of race relations in America.
The series sits among a broader run of documentaries, shows, and films that trace the same ground. Here are ten titles that continue to matter.
Strong Island (2017)
Yance Ford’s Oscar-nominated Netflix documentary examines the value of Black life in America through the 1992 murder of her 24-year-old brother. Ford’s investigation raises direct questions about the justice system and institutionalized racism.
Fruitvale Station (2013)
Ryan Coogler’s drama centers on the final day of Oscar Grant, killed by a police officer at the Fruitvale station in Oakland. Michael B. Jordan and Octavia Spencer deliver performances that keep the focus on the person rather than the headline. The film connects the political to the personal and refuses to let viewers look away.
Luke Cage (2016 – )
Netflix canceled the series after two seasons in October 2018. A new Luke Cage project is reportedly in development at Marvel Studios as of 2026. When the Cheo Hodari Coker show premiered, critics noted its exploration of political ideas in an entertaining format and called the character a “Black Lives Matter superhero.” Beyond the image of a bulletproof Black man, the series underscored the importance of Black stories and the need to support Black communities.
13th (2016)
Ava DuVernay’s Netflix documentary links race, justice, and mass incarceration with precision and force. The film traces the history of racial inequality and explains why prisons hold disproportionate numbers of African Americans. It experienced over 4,000 percent viewership growth during the 2020 protests, and Netflix later released it for free on YouTube.
Whose Streets? (2017)
Sabaah Folayan’s documentary follows the Ferguson uprising through the voices of residents. Centered on the community response after the murder of 18-year-old Michael Brown, the film records the ongoing effects of systemic harm.
Get Out (2017)
Jordan Peele’s Oscar-winning horror film probes Black identity and the quiet threat of white supremacy. Peele noted that, amid attention to police brutality, audiences needed both an escape and a way to confront the tension. The result mixes sharp scares with necessary release.
The First Purge (2018)
The film takes on the violent reach of white supremacy and recalls the urgency of the Black Lives Matter movement. Critics noted its heavy-handed metaphor for government actions and classism, yet the core message about state-sanctioned violence remains clear.
Seven Seconds (2018)
The Netflix drama follows the cover-up after a white New Jersey police officer kills a Black teenager in a hit-and-run. The story tracks the fight for accountability and the widening gap between citizens and law enforcement.
The Hate U Give (2018)
George Tillman Jr.’s adaptation of Angie Thomas’s novel follows Starr Carter, who finds her political voice after watching a police officer fatally shoot her childhood best friend. The film stars Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall, Anthony Mackie, Issa Rae, and Common. Thomas titled the book after Tupac’s “THUG LIFE” concept, and the story carries that same ferocity. The 2021 prequel novel Concrete Rose deepens the family and community context around these themes.
Stay Woke: The Black Lives Matter Movement (2016)
The BET documentary gives a clear account of how the movement formed and how it continues to operate through peaceful action. It remains useful for viewers seeking a direct introduction to the movement’s origins and goals.
When They See Us (2019)
Ava DuVernay’s Netflix limited series recounts the wrongful conviction of the Central Park Five. The story tracks the young men through arrest, trial, and long-term damage, exposing racial bias in policing and prosecution. The series sits alongside 13th and Rest In Power as a direct look at mass incarceration and systemic failure.
Blindspotting (2018)
The comedy-drama follows a man in Oakland who witnesses police violence and must decide how to respond. It examines gentrification, accountability, and the daily weight of those decisions. The film appeared in discussions of BLM-themed work alongside The Hate U Give.
Recent Streaming Collections and Accessibility
Netflix maintains dedicated rows for Black Lives Matter titles, and platforms continue to surface these films and series in 2025 and 2026. 13th was released for free on YouTube during periods of heightened awareness, widening access beyond subscription walls.
Literary Expansions: Concrete Rose
Angie Thomas published the 2021 prequel novel to The Hate U Give, shifting focus to Maverick Carter’s youth. The book deepens the family dynamics and systemic pressures that shape the world of the original story while keeping the THUG LIFE framework intact.
These titles keep the focus on lived experience rather than abstraction. They document loss, resistance, and the ongoing demand for accountability. The phrase rest in power continues to mark both memory and insistence that the work is not finished.
