BHERC founded the First Weekend Club, in March 1997, with the understanding that the box office is critical in determining the fate of new films, as a financial advocate for films by and featuring the talents of African-American men and women – in front of and behind the cameras. The First Weekend Club boasts more than 35,000 members nationwide.

The first weekend is a numbers game and often filmmakers are judged by how well the film does the first weekend. First Weekend Club members pledge to support movies by and featuring Blacks in prominent roles on the first weekend of release and promise to encourage 10 other filmgoers to do the same. “We don’t say ‘you’re watching the wrong movie,’” says Sandra Evers-Manly, BHERC founder and president. “Instead, we advocate broadening the types of movies people go to see. We need to develop a better understanding of the images that influence opinions about African Americans and other people of color, worldwide.”

We encourage you to support films in the first weekend they are released. It makes all the difference!