Black Belts (2023)

KJ, an offbeat middle schooler and martial arts movie nerd from Compton, challenges the top dojos in South LA, wearing his uncle’s old black belt. But when his former fighter dad gets too involved, both learn there’s more to life than keeping your guard up.

Released Sept. 29, 2023 20 min 11+

Genres: Drama, Family, Short

Keywords: mdblist.imdb-short, mdblist.disney-plus-original, imdb.2020s, imdb.teenage-boy, imdb.looking-at-one-s-self-in-a-mirror, imdb.african-american, imdb.boy + 62 more, imdb.21st-century, imdb.coming-of-age, imdb.long-haired-male, imdb.family-relationships, imdb.sitting-on-a-toilet, imdb.shop, imdb.alliteration-in-title, imdb.teenage-protagonist, imdb.african-american-stereotype, imdb.two-word-title, imdb.knocking-on-door, imdb.teenage-girl, imdb.shop-owner, imdb.coming-of-age-drama, imdb.reference-to-robin-hood, imdb.man-wears-glasses, imdb.kung-fu, imdb.african-american-protagonist, imdb.telling-someone-to-shut-up, imdb.shirt-lifting, imdb.mother-son-relationship, imdb.talking-to-oneself-in-a-mirror, imdb.teen-drama, imdb.training, imdb.man-wears-a-kimono, imdb.character-says-shut-up, imdb.drawing, imdb.video-call, imdb.freeze-frame, imdb.teenager, imdb.workshop, imdb.old-man, imdb.cctv, imdb.martial-arts, imdb.hit-on-the-head, imdb.father-son-relationship, imdb.reference-to-batman, imdb.gong, imdb.man-wears-shorts, imdb.security-camera, imdb.ethnic-stereotype, imdb.character-says-i-love-you, imdb.kung-fu-training, imdb.telephone-call, imdb.man-wears-sweatpants, imdb.crying-boy, imdb.fight, imdb.crying-man, imdb.violence, imdb.knocked-unconscious, imdb.lying-on-the-floor, imdb.father-patronizes-son, imdb.character-says-i-m-sorry, imdb.male-male-hug, imdb.crying, imdb.patronizing, imdb.color-in-title, imdb.crying-male, imdb.father-son-conflict, imdb.bechdel-test-failed, tmdb.short-film, imdb.black-color-in-title