As a pedagogical tool, film can help adult learners understand diverse narratives and disrupt ideology domination, specifically regarding Black women. Despite the increase in visibility in Hollywood, Black women remain negatively depicted in films. The negative depictions often minimize or simply ignore the development or self-actualization of their characters. The purpose was to examine the depictions and adult development of Black women's characters in American films. Based on our oppositional gaze of 12 Black female-led American films, four themes emerged: #noBlackgirlmagic, the transition from object-to-subject, the lies you tell, and hair it is. Practical implications for educators across the adult and higher education landscapes are discussed. [For the full proceedings, see ED648717.]