In 2013, he was included onTime's list of the 30 people under 30 who are changing the world.[5] In 2018, Coogler was named the runner-up ofTime'sPerson of the Year and he was included in the annualTime 100 list of the most influential people in the world.[6] In 2021, Coogler, his wife,Zinzi Coogler, andSev Ohanian founded multimedia production companyProximity Media.[7]
After Saint Mary's College of California canceled its football program in March 2004,[18] Coogler transferred and earned a scholarship toSacramento State, where he had 112receptions for 1,213 yards and 6touchdowns during his four years playing football.[19] He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree infinance in 2007.[20] He then entered a three-year master's program at theUSC School of Cinematic Arts, where he made a series ofshort films,[21][9] graduating with anMFA in film in 2011.[22]
Coogler accepts the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic with the crew ofFruitvale Station at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.
While majoring in finance at CSU Sacramento, Coogler took film classes to explore his passion for filmmaking and worked on several short films titled "Story of a Dollar" and "Eyes Like Mine."[23] While at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Coogler directed four short films, three of which won or were nominated for various awards.[24][25][26]Locks (2009)screened at theTribeca Film Festival and won the Dana andAlbert Broccoli Award for Filmmaking Excellence.[24][citation needed]Fig (2011), written by Alex George Pickering, won theHBO Short Film Competition at theAmerican Black Film Festival, theDGA Student Film Award, and was nominated for Outstanding Independent Short Film at theBlack Reel Awards.[25][26]Gap (2011), written byCarol Lashof, won theJack Nicholson Award for Achievement in Directing.[27] In January 2013, Coogler said he was working on agraphic novel andyoung adult novel about an undisclosed subject matter.[28]
In 2013, Coogler wrote and directed his first feature-length film,Fruitvale Station (originally titledFruitvale), which told the story of the last 24 hours of the life ofOscar Grant (played byMichael B. Jordan), who was shot to death by a police officer at Oakland'sFruitvaleBART station on January 1, 2009. Produced byOscar-winning actorForest Whitaker,[29] the filmpremiered at the2013 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the top Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize in the dramatic competition and was released in theatres on July 20, 2013. Made on a budget of $900,000, the film grossed over $17 million worldwide after itstheatrical run.[30][31][32]
Coogler in 2013
Peter Travers ofRolling Stone calledFruitvale Station "a gut punch of a movie" and "an unstoppable cinematic force".[33]A. O. Scott ofThe New York Times wrote that Coogler's "hand-held shooting style evokes the spiritually alert naturalism ofJean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne".[34]Todd McCarthy ofThe Hollywood Reporter called it "a compelling debut" and "a powerful dramatic feature film".[35] OnRotten Tomatoes, the film received a score of 94% based on 195 reviews, with a critical consensus that reads: "Passionate and powerfully acted,Fruitvale Station serves as a celebration of life, a condemnation of death, and a triumph for star Michael B. Jordan."[36] Ann Hornaday, an American film critic for The Washington Post, compliments Coogler's artistic control of not showing biased or vilifying others in Fruitvale Station, but focusing on reflecting on the history of events the film is based on.[37] The film appeared on severalcritics' top ten lists of the best films of 2013.[38]
Upon release,Black Panther grossed $1.3 billion worldwide and broke numerous box office records, becoming the highest-grossing film directed by an African-American director, theninth-highest-grossing film of all time and thesecond-highest-grossing film of 2018.Black Panther received critical acclaim. Rotten Tomatoes' critical consensus reads, "Black Panther elevates superhero cinema to thrilling new heights while telling one of theMCU's most absorbing stories—and introducing some of its most fully realized characters."[49] In an interview with the female stars from Black Panther by Entertainment Weekly, the general consensus was that their characters were well respected and well written.[50] The film was also noted for itsrepresentation ofAfrican Americans and subject matter related toAfrofuturism.[51] The film was nominated for seven awards at the91st Academy Awards, winning three, and receivednumerous other accolades.Black Panther is the first superhero film to receive anAcademy Award nomination forBest Picture, and the first MCU film to win several categories (those being forBest Costume Design,Best Production Design andBest Original Score).
In 2021, Coogler served as a co-producer alongside Charles D. King andShaka King on theFred Hampton biopicJudas and the Black Messiah, directed by Shaka King,[52] which focused on the betrayal of Hampton (played byDaniel Kaluuya), chairman of the Illinois chapter of theBlack Panther Party in late-1960s Chicago, byWilliam O'Neal (played byLaKeith Stanfield). The film received critical acclaim and received six nominations at the93rd Academy Awards, and earned Coogler, Shaka King and Charles D. King a nomination for Best Picture, the first for an African-American producing team. Also in 2021, Coogler served as co-writer and producer onSpace Jam: A New Legacy, starringLeBron James.[53] The film received generally negative reviews and was a financial failure, grossing $163 million worldwide on a budget of $150 million. One of the negative reviews previously mentioned comes fromRotten Tomatoes, in which the general consensus was thatSpace Jam: A New Legacy could not live up to the originalSpace Jam, even with any effort from Lebron James' humor and acting.[54] Coogler returned to direct and co-write theBlack Panther sequel,Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which was released in the United States on November 11, 2022. It was a critical and commercial success, being nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one.[55][56] Coogler served as an executive producer onCreed II, and wrote the story outline and served as a producer onCreed III.[57]
Coogler collaborated with Jordan for a fifth time onSinners, a supernatural horror film, which was released in April 2025.[58] It received critical acclaim.[59] Autumn Durald Arkapaw, working alongside Ryan Coogler, shot a substantial share of the Imax sequences — about 20 percent of the film — with IMAX MSM 9802 cameras and 50mm and 80mm Panavision lenses that had been originally custom-designed for Nolan and Van Hoytema onOppenheimer (AC Oct. ’23).[60] Coogler negotiated an unprecedented deal with Warner Bros. for the film, which included a provision for full ownership reversion 25 years after the film's release, granting him control over future licensing, royalties, and sequels.[61] The agreement also granted Cooglerfirst-dollar gross participation (earning a percentage of box office revenue immediately) andfinal cut privileges, ensuring creative control.[62] Coogler cited the film's themes of Black ownership and familial legacy—drawing inspiration from his Mississippi-born grandfather's experiences as motivations for the ownership clause.[62] Industry analysts noted the deal challenged traditional studio models, with outlets likeVariety questioning its profitability.[63]
In February 2021, Coogler's production companyProximity Media signed an exclusive five-year deal withDisney to produce content for them, which includes a Disney+ television series based in Black Panther's home country ofWakanda.[74] The new Disney+ television series has been titledEyes of Wakanda and was released on August 1, 2025.[75]
In November 2024,Denzel Washington stated that Coogler has a role for him inBlack Panther 3.[76] In November 2025, Coogler confirmed thatBlack Panther 3 would be his next feature film followingSinners.[77]
Coogler is currently developing a new reboot of the TV seriesThe X-Files.[78] In April 2025, Coogler said theX-Files reboot would be his next project afterSinners,[79] and he began working on the project by October of that year; Coogler said that he chose to work on the project due to his mother's love for the original series.[80]
Black Panther (2018) broke numerous box office records and became the highest-grossing film of all time by an African American director.[81] Many of Coogler's films have received widespread acclaim and commercial success.[82] His work has been hailed by critics for centering on often overlooked cultures and characters—most notably African Americans.[83][84] He frequently collaborates with actorMichael B. Jordan and composerLudwig Göransson, who have, respectively, appeared in and composed all of his films.[85]
Coogler has worked since age 21 as a counselor with incarcerated youth atSan Francisco's Juvenile Hall, following in the footsteps of his father, who has long shared the same occupation.[86] Coogler is also a founding member[87] and supporter of the Blackout For Human Rights campaign, which is committed to addressing racial and human rights violations happening throughout the United States.[88]
In 2016, Coogler marriedZinzi Evans, with whom he has three children.[89][90] The two had known each other since their early teens and began dating during their undergraduate years at Saint Mary's College of California.[91] Evans hasMississippi Delta Chinese ancestry through her father, and the discovery of this heritage inspired Coogler to include the Mississippi Delta Chinese community in his filmSinners.[92][93]
In January 2022, Coogler tried to withdraw $12,000 from his account in aBank of America branch inAtlanta, Georgia. While wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a face mask, he passed the teller his identification and a note stating "I would like to withdraw $12,000 cash from my checking account. Please do the money count somewhere else. I’d like to be discreet."[94] The teller mistook him for a bank robber and asked her supervisor to contact police, who handcuffed and detained Coogler and two of his colleagues who were waiting outside. Once his identity was verified with both his California state ID card and his Bank of America card, Coogler was released and the bank issued a statement of apology. He later stated that "Bank of America worked with me and addressed it to my satisfaction and we have moved on."[95][96][97]
Directed Academy Award performances Under Coogler's direction, these actors have received Academy Award nominations for their performances in their respective roles.
Couch, Aaron (February 22, 2014)."NAACP Image Awards: The Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. The Hollywood Reporter.Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. RetrievedFebruary 22, 2014.
^Kroll, Justin (July 24, 2013)."'Fruitvale Station' Team Eyeing 'Rocky' Spin-Off 'Creed' With MGM".Variety.Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. RetrievedJune 30, 2015.Sylvester Stallone is on board to reprise his role as Rocky Balboa, with Coogler penning the script along with Aaron Covington. Deadline Hollywood broke the news.
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