By Lexx Thornton
At just 38, Ryan Coogler has become the first Black director to have four films gross over $100 million domestically. His films include:
Creed (2015) – $109.8 million
Black Panther (2018) – $700.4 million
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) – $453.8 million
and his latest film, Sinners. His newest horror film “Sinners” has earned $283.4 million worldwide, including $215.4 million domestically. The film is on track to potentially gross over $300 million worldwide. It has also become the highest-grossing R-rated film released in April.
This accomplishment places Coogler ahead of other prominent Black directors such as F. Gary Gray, Jordan Peele, and Tim Story, each of whom has directed three films that crossed the $100 million mark domestically. Sinners, a genre-blending vampire thriller set in 1930s Mississippi, stars Michael B. Jordan in dual roles and has received critical acclaim, holding a 98% critic score and 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Coogler’s consistent box office success underscores his significant impact on the film industry, particularly in bringing diverse stories to mainstream audiences.
Ryan Coogler stands apart from other prominent Black directors like Tyler Perry, Jordan Peele, and F. Gary Gray in several distinct ways. Coogler has Critical and Commercial Blockbuster Success, Franchise-Level Impact, Artistic Range & Depth, as well as Historic Industry Impact. Coogler bridges mainstream spectacle and deep storytelling like few others in modern Hollywood, not just among Black directors, but filmmakers overall.
