It’s easy to remember holiday classics like Miracle on 34th Street, It’s a Wonderful Life, and A Christmas Carol. However, if you want to pick up holiday DVDs with a lil’ color, this list is for you.

This Christmas (2007)

An all star cast that included Loretta Devine, Idris Elba, Regina King and Chris Brown. This Christmas was a holiday film about a family dealing with the challenges of relationships, love and following your dreams. The movie brought in over 49 million at the box office.

Last Holiday (2006)

There have been a string of black holiday films (Perfect Holiday, This Christmas) in the past few years, but one could argue the success of Queen Latifah’s Last Holiday rejuvenated the trend. The film is a remake from 1955 with Latifah playing a woman who finds out she only has weeks alive. She spends her last holiday doing all she never had a chance to do. Latifah’s presence carries the film and her co-star, LL Cool J, adds some flavor.

A Diva’s Christmas Carol (2000)

A fun, light film — and any excuse to see Vanessa Williams on camera is a plus. Before Williams was the high-powered diva, Wilhelmina Slater, on Ugly Betty she played Ebony Scrooge (Ebenezer Scrooge – get it?) in the 2000 VH1 production of A Diva’s Christmas Carol. A modern and divalicious remake of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. A Diva’s Christmas Carol is an amusing watch and includes appearances from Brian McKnight and Chili of TLC.

Holiday Heart (2000)

Ving Rhames in drag is more like a horror flick during Halloween, however, for better or for worse, Holiday Heart is a classic. Rhames is a drag queen named Holiday who is a staunch Christian. Wanda (Alfre Woodard) is trying to care for her daughter while battling drugs. Rhames becomes a parental figure with the story’s climax hitting on Christmas Eve.

The Preacher’s Wife (1996)

The Preacher’s Wife would be Whitney Houston’s last big screen film appearance and probably her best acting to date. The Preacher’s Wife starred Oscar-winner Denzel Washington and was a story about a preacher who prays for help with his struggling church. His prayers are answered with the help of an angel (Denzel Washington) who falls for the preacher’s wife — Whitney Houston’s character. A great holiday film for the entire family. Plus, Nippy belts out her hit “I Believe in You and Me.”

The Kid Who Loved Christmas (1990)

A made for TV movie that was produced by Eddie Murphy Productions and starred Cicely Tyson, Vanessa Williams, Della Resse, and marks Sammy Davis Jr.’s last film appearance. The Kid Who Loved Christmas is a touching story about a child’s only wish to be with his father for Christmas. While not well known, one would think with all the star power that the movie would at some point make it to DVD.

Happy Holidays!

We always hear about the success of Will Smith, Denzel Washington and Eddie Murphy.  However, who are the top black actresses of all time *according to their box office gross*?  Check out the official list below.

10. Jennifer Hudson (3 films)
To have only been in three films and manage to be one of the top black actresses of all time is amazing for Oscar, Grammy, SAG and Golden Globe winner Jennifer Hudson.  The woman definitely has a long career ahead of her.

Lifetime gross: $293,750,056
#1 movie: Sex and the City $152,647,258

9. Beyonce Knowles (5 films)
The singer turned actresses has only been in five films, but Austin Powers in Goldmember racked in over $200 million, placing Sasha Fierce at number 8.

Lifetime gross: $437.3 (5 films)
#1 movie: Austin Powers in Goldmember $213.3

8. Thandie Newton (22 films)

The UK actress has always been known for her respectable and critically acclaimed roles. From Beloved to Mission Impossible, Newton is a mainstay in cinema from Hollywood to London.

Lifetime gross:$664.9
#1 movie: Mission: Impossible II $215.4

7. Nia Long (22 films)

The Brooklyn born Nia Long has worked with Whoopi Goldberg, Jude Law and Will Smith. She ranks #6.

Lifetime gross: $691,414,242
#1 movie: Big Momma’s House (1999) $117.6

6. Angela Bassett (24 films)

The Oscar, Golden Globe and Emmy nominee has become one of the world’s most highly respected actresses for films like What’s Love Got To Do With It?, Waiting To Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back.

Lifetime gross: $750,045,528 (24 films)
#1 movie: The Score (2001) $71.1

5. Regina King (18 films)
While she is considered one of the most underrated actresses of this generation, her box office numbers proves she is a draw.  According to http://www.the-numbers.com, Her films have grossed more than Kate Winslet, Terrence Howard and Jodie Foster.

Lifetime gross: $1,050,799,524
#1 movie: Jerry Maguire $274,000,000

4. Jada Pinkett Smith (21 films)

Jada Pinkett Smith has a diverse range of films from the hood classic Menace II Society to The Matrix.  She manages to rank at #4.

Lifetime gross: $$1,417,189,353
#1 movie: The Matrix Reloaded $281.6

3. Queen Latifah (28 films)

Queen Latifah is an Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner. Credited for 26 films and starring in 13, Latifah’s biggest paycheck was 10 million for Beauty Shop in 2005. At this rate,  the Newark native could easily become the top black actress of all time.

Lifetime gross: $$1,431,366,338
#1 movie: Ice Age 2 $195.3

2. Halle Berry (27 films)

It might surprise some people that  Halle Berry isn’t the top grossing black actress of all time.  She’s had six movies that grossed over 100 million and received 14million dollars to star in Catwoman, which was an international bomb.  Nonetheless, she was the first black woman to receive this much for a film.

Lifetime gross: $1,592,734,690
#1 movie: X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) $234.4

1.  Whoopi Goldberg (46 films)

The Oscar-winner for Ghost has been a movie star since 1985. She is credited for 46 films and at the peak of Whoopi’s career she was paid 7 million for her role in 1993’s Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit.

Lifetime gross: $1,800,253,561
#1 movie: The Lion King (1994) $312,900,000

All numbers are from http://boxofficemojo.com/, http://www.the-movie-times.com and http://www.the-numbers.com/.

* All numbers are approximate.

While “The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards” is this Sunday, the NAACP announced their 40th Annual Image Award nominations yesterday.  Nominees include Will Smith, Don Cheadle, and Derek Luke.  Also, the five main cast members from “The Secret Life of Bees” all received nominations.  According to NAACP.org:

“The ABC network leads with a total of 24 nominations, followed by CBS with 14, and The CW and NBC both with 10. HBO has 9, with FOX coming in with 7. Television shows ‘Tyler Perry’s House of Payne’ received 6 nominations, followed by ‘Ugly Betty’ with 5 and ‘Everybody Hates Chris’, ‘The Game’ and ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ each with 4.

Columbia Records leads the Recording category with 8 nominations, including 5 for Beyoncé. J Records and Arista both followed with 6 nominations apiece, and Island Def Jam has 4.

In the Motion Picture category, Fox Searchlight received 11 nominations. Sony Music Films/Parkwood Pictures follows with 7 nominations, and Columbia Pictures, Lionsgate and Sony Pictures Classics each have 3.”

The 40th NAACP Image Awards will be hosted by Tyler Perry and Oscar-winner Halle Berry on Thursday, February 12th.  Click here for the complete list of nomiees.