Oprah Winfrey produced and Denzel Washington starred in this film — Washington's second as director — about the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor in a segregated Texas town who inspired students to form the school's first debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the national championship. Don't watch this one without a box of tissues!

Set in the world of church choirs, this film features Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton as choir singers who disagree over their group's direction as they head into a national competition.

Bishop Jakes and Tyler Perry partnered for this spiritual film — an adaptation of Jakes' self-help novel — about a woman (Kimberly Elise) who must come to terms with her past sexual abuse, drug use and brush with poverty. The film earned critical acclaim for Elise as well as two NAACP Image Awards and an Independent Spirit Award.

Produced by T.D. Jakes, a strained marriage is at the heart of this drama. Morris Chestnut and Taraji P. Henson play an estranged couple whose relationship is put to the ultimate test when Henson is in a near-fatal car accident. Chestnut must fight his feelings for another woman while Henson pulls further away. Kevin Hart also stars in the film, which takes a spiritual look at marriage and divorce.

The film that introduced the world to Madea was also Tyler Perry's first box-office hit. Based on his play of the same name, Diary follows a woman, Helen, who has it all and loses it in an instant. Distraught after her philandering husband reveals plans to file for divorce, Helen moves back in with her mother and grandmother to get back on her feet and finds love and her faith.