All About Ryan Coogler
American director, producer, and screenwriter Ryan Coogler has been a powerful force in the film industry for years. He has brought the world some iconic films, and his journey to get to the top is just as admirable as them.
From The Bay
Coogler was born in Oakland, California but ended up moving around. During his youth he had a passion for football and became the wide receiver at Saint Mary's College of California on a football scholarship. At this time, he also began taking creative writing and was encouraged to try screenwriting after his classwork was praised. In 2004 the director transferred to Sacramento State University after the football program at his previous school was canceled.
He ended up graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance in 2007. School didn’t stop there as he entered a master's program at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where he created a series of award-nominated short films and in 2011 graduated with an MFA in film. During his years in college his short film had won a number of awards including the Dana and Albert Broccoli Award for Filmmaking Excellence, the Jack Nicholson Award for Achievement in Directing, and more.
Debut Film
Coogler’s first feature film Fruitvale Station debuted in 2013; it told the story of an Oakland man named Oscar Grant who was killed by police brutality. It was a success, winning both the top Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. It made over $17 million on a $900,000 budget.
This was also actor Michael B. Jordan’s debut as his film muse. The director released his second film in 2015 titled Creed, starring Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan. This Rocky spin off received widespread acclaim and won a number of awards including the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor, the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actor, and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting
Actor in a Motion Picture and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Wakanda Forever
In 2018 he made history as the first African American Marvel Studios director following the release of Black Panther, starring Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan. The film became the highest grossing film directed by an African American director and the ninth highest grossing film of all time, bringing in $1.3 billion worldwide.
The acclaim didn’t stop there as it is also the first MCU to win multiple Academy Award categories. Similar to the original, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) did well both critically and commercially, once again receiving an Academy Award. In 2021 Coogler co-produced the Fred Hampton biopic Judas and the Black Messiah starring Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield, which earned six Academy Award nominations.
Most recently Coogler directed supernatural horror film Sinners, once again starring Michael B. Jordan. The film was immediately loved by audiences and critics alike, earning a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. It recently won two awards at the 2026 Golden Globes.
Those were just some of the major works of Ryan Coogler, but there is a much richer discography to explore as well. His artistic eye and attention to detail will keep him in the game for many years to come.
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