This Historical Drama Starring Taraji P. Henson Just Hit Netflix's Top 10 Movies List

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Published Jul 9, 2021

When we see the name Taraji P. Henson, we can pretty much assume we're going to get a powerhouse performance. Whether she's a single mother, a detective or a NASA mathematician, Henson always brings her A-game to every project she joins.

Now, there's a different work from the Empire lead that's been brought to our attention, as it just reached #9 on Netflix's list of top movies. The 50-year-old actress stars alongside Sam Rockwell in The Best of Enemies, a 2019 historical drama based off Osha Gray Davidson's novel, The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South.

In the movie, we follow the conflict and eventually, the unlikely friendship between civil rights activist Ann Atwater and Ku Klux Klan leader C. P. Ellis amidst the background of 1970's North Carolina. Check out the trailer below.

Based on a true story, the film depicts Atwater's battle for the integration of a public school in Durham, after a fire in an all-Black elementary school leaves a collection of students with nowhere to go. Nearly 20 years after the passing of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Atwater is asked to co-chair a charrette alongside Ellis, and the two learn more about each other than they could've ever imagined.

Alongside major names like Henson and Rockwell, The Best of Enemies also includes Wes Bentley (American Beauty), Babou Ceesay (Rogue One), Anne Heche (Volcano), Bruce McGill (MacGyver), John Gallagher Jr. (The Newsroom) and Nick Searcy (Justified).

The movie was written and directed by Robin Bissell, who previously worked as an executive producer for blockbuster hits like The Hunger Games, The Tale of Despereaux and Seabiscuit.

We will definitely be adding this one to our queue.

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Joel Calfee

Associate Editor, News and Entertainment

Joel is the former Associate Editor for News & Entertainment and has been reporting on all things pop culture for over 5 years. Before working at PureWow, he served as a Features Editor at ROCKET Magazine. When he's not dissecting the latest trends in entertainment (or guiding you on what to watch), he covers all the hottest red carpet looks and fashion movements. When he steps away from the keyboard, you can likely find him at an NYC concert, thrift store or LGBTQ+ bookstore happily perusing the shelves.

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