Number Ones: Black Films That Debuted at the Top of the Box Office

Think Like a Man is just the latest Black film to open #1.

Think Like a Man (2012) - Despite conventional wisdom to the contrary, Black films have a long history of coming in No. 1 at the box office. Think Like a Man is just the latest, scoring a $33 million opening weekend and knocking Hunger Games out of the top spot. Even though insiders had a hunch this rom-com would do well at the box office, nobody could have anticipated just how well.  Check out our list of memorable films that topped the box office.(Photo: Courtesy Screen Gems)

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Think Like a Man (2012) - Despite conventional wisdom to the contrary, Black films have a long history of coming in No. 1 at the box office. Think Like a Man is just the latest, scoring a $33 million opening weekend and knocking Hunger Games out of the top spot. Even though insiders had a hunch this rom-com would do well at the box office, nobody could have anticipated just how well.  Check out our list of memorable films that topped the box office.(Photo: Courtesy Screen Gems)

Barbershop, Monday at 8:30P/7:30C - Cedric the Entertainer and Ice Cube want THIS barbershop to stay around for ever!Flip through some of Ice Cube's other movie hits. (Photo: MGM)

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Barbershop (2002) - It's been a good decade for Think Like a Man director Tim Story, who also helmed cult classic Barbershop. The film, starring Ice Cube and Cedric the Entertainer, debuted at No. 1 in 2002, besting SwimFan and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. (Photo: Courtesy MGM)

The Princess and the Frog (2009) - Disney's return to hand-drawn animation — and its first-ever Black princess — proved to be a wild success when the film premiered at No. 1, earning $25 million in a weekend and taking the box-office crown from Sandra Bullock's The Blind Side. (Photo: Courtesy Walt Disney Pictures)

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The Princess and the Frog (2009) - Disney's return to hand-drawn animation — and its first-ever Black princess — proved to be a wild success when the film premiered at No. 1, earning $25 million in a weekend and taking the box-office crown from Sandra Bullock's The Blind Side. (Photo: Courtesy Walt Disney Pictures)

Poetic Justice (1993) - John Singleton's love story between a talented poet (Janet Jackson) and a mail clerk with musical ambitions (Tupac Shakur) opened at No. 1 despite screening on only half as many screens as the average widely released film. (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Pictures)

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Poetic Justice (1993) - John Singleton's love story between a talented poet (Janet Jackson) and a mail clerk with musical ambitions (Tupac Shakur) opened at No. 1 despite screening on only half as many screens as the average widely released film. (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Pictures)

Photo By Photo: Columbia Pictures

Bad Boys (1995) - This action-comedy was the debut film of Michael Bay (who, like it or not, quickly became the blockbuster-maker of the decade) and turned Will Smith from Fresh Prince to bonafide movie star. Trivia: Did you know Arsenio Hall turned down the role of Mike Lowrey before it went to Smith?  (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Pictures)

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Bad Boys (1995) - This action-comedy was the debut film of Michael Bay (who, like it or not, quickly became the blockbuster-maker of the decade) and turned Will Smith from Fresh Prince to bonafide movie star. Trivia: Did you know Arsenio Hall turned down the role of Mike Lowrey before it went to Smith?  (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Pictures)

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Mo' Money (1992) - Damon Wayans's romantic crime caper, also starring Stacey Dash and then-newcomer Bernie Mac, floated right to the top of the charts when it premiered in 1992, stealing thunder from Boomerang, which was also in theaters at that time. (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Pictures)

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Mo' Money (1992) - Damon Wayans's romantic crime caper, also starring Stacey Dash and then-newcomer Bernie Mac, floated right to the top of the charts when it premiered in 1992, stealing thunder from Boomerang, which was also in theaters at that time. (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Pictures)

Beverly Hills Cop (1984) - This classic comedy not only trounced the competition when it opened on December 7, 1984, making a worldwide star out of Eddie Murphy, it became the highest-grossing film of the year with $234 million in total ticket sales and spawned two sequels.(Photo: Courtesy Paramount Pictures)

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Beverly Hills Cop (1984) - This classic comedy not only trounced the competition when it opened on December 7, 1984, making a worldwide star out of Eddie Murphy, it became the highest-grossing film of the year with $234 million in total ticket sales and spawned two sequels.(Photo: Courtesy Paramount Pictures)

Inside Man (2006) - Spike Lee's crime drama, starring Denzel Washington and Jodie Foster, was named one of the 10 Best Films of 2006 by AFI and, with its $184 million worldwide gross, the most successful film of Lee's career.(Photo: Courtesy Universal Pictures)

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Inside Man (2006) - Spike Lee's crime drama, starring Denzel Washington and Jodie Foster, was named one of the 10 Best Films of 2006 by AFI and, with its $184 million worldwide gross, the most successful film of Lee's career.(Photo: Courtesy Universal Pictures)

Independence Day (1996) - Will Smith's alien invasion epic attacked the box office the way the film's space creatures attacked Nevada...only with more success. The film was the highest-grossing film of the year and, at the time, the second-highest grossing film of all time. It also kicked off the comeback of science fiction at the multiplex.(Photo: Courtesy Fox Pictures)

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Independence Day (1996) - Will Smith's alien invasion epic attacked the box office the way the film's space creatures attacked Nevada...only with more success. The film was the highest-grossing film of the year and, at the time, the second-highest grossing film of all time. It also kicked off the comeback of science fiction at the multiplex.(Photo: Courtesy Fox Pictures)

Men in Black (1997) - Will Smith's winning streak continued with this sci-fi comedy, which not only grabbed nearly $600 million in box-office dollars, but was one of the best-reviewed major releases of the year. Critical success for a summer blockbuster? Sounds more difficult than protecting the Earth from the scum of the universe.(Photo: Courtesy Columbia Pictures)

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Men in Black (1997) - Will Smith's winning streak continued with this sci-fi comedy, which not only grabbed nearly $600 million in box-office dollars, but was one of the best-reviewed major releases of the year. Critical success for a summer blockbuster? Sounds more difficult than protecting the Earth from the scum of the universe.(Photo: Courtesy Columbia Pictures)

Photo By Photo: Columbia Pictures

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Obsessed (2009) - Beyoncé protecting her husband, Idris Elba, from psycho seductress Ali Larter? The instant we heard the plot of this thriller, we were obsessed. And we weren't the only ones. The campy drama, made for a relatively teeny $20 million, opened at No. 1 (with more than three times the gross of The Soloist, which came out on the same day) and earned close to $80 million overall.   (Photo: Courtesy Screen Gems)

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Obsessed (2009) - Beyoncé protecting her husband, Idris Elba, from psycho seductress Ali Larter? The instant we heard the plot of this thriller, we were obsessed. And we weren't the only ones. The campy drama, made for a relatively teeny $20 million, opened at No. 1 (with more than three times the gross of The Soloist, which came out on the same day) and earned close to $80 million overall.   (Photo: Courtesy Screen Gems)

Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005) - Tyler Perry's first Madea film, and the only one he didn't direct himself, shot straight to the top upon its release in 2005, positively shocking industry insiders. The $50 million picture was just the start of Perry's box-office reign.(Photo: Courtesy Lionsgate Pictures)

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Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005) - Tyler Perry's first Madea film, and the only one he didn't direct himself, shot straight to the top upon its release in 2005, positively shocking industry insiders. The $50 million picture was just the start of Perry's box-office reign.(Photo: Courtesy Lionsgate Pictures)

Waiting to Exhale, Saturday at 7P/6C - Loretta Devine, Lela Rochon, Angela Bassett and the late Whitney Houston relax, relate and release. Encore presentation on Sunday at 3P/2C.(Photo: Twentieth Century Fox Pictures)

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Waiting to Exhale (1995) - This non-comedic predecessor of Think Like a Man was called a "social phenomenon" for opening at No. 1 with an all-Black cast. It grossed $88 million worldwide and boasted a soundtrack album with four top 10 hits. Reportedly, a sequel is in the works. (Photo: Courtesy Twentieth Century Fox Pictures)

The Karate Kid (2010) - Jaden Smith's movie debut got off to an auspicious start with this remake of the 1984 classic. It not only opened at No. 1, it was the most successful film in the Karate Kid franchise. Could this kick off a No. 1 streak for Jaden that would rival his dad's?(Photo: Courtesy Columbia Pictures)

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The Karate Kid (2010) - Jaden Smith's movie debut got off to an auspicious start with this remake of the 1984 classic. It not only opened at No. 1, it was the most successful film in the Karate Kid franchise. Could this kick off a No. 1 streak for Jaden that would rival his dad's?(Photo: Courtesy Columbia Pictures)

Takers (2010) - Hollywood insiders know that movies about exorcisms usually have a guaranteed spot at the top of the box office, but not so if they're up against Takers. The crime drama starring Chris Brown and Idris Elba surprised analysts when it narrowly edged out The Last Exorcism. The film grossed $68 million worldwide.(Photo: Courtesy Screen Gems)

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Takers (2010) - Hollywood insiders know that movies about exorcisms usually have a guaranteed spot at the top of the box office, but not so if they're up against Takers. The crime drama starring Chris Brown and Idris Elba surprised analysts when it narrowly edged out The Last Exorcism. The film grossed $68 million worldwide.(Photo: Courtesy Screen Gems)