The Main Character

Why Ryan Coogler Deserves His Flowers: A Shoutout to Black Excellence

Haitia

A Legacy in Motion

“Go stand in a place where you are most uncomfortable, until you’re there long enough that it is.” – Ryan Coogler

With the recent success of his newest release, Sinners, I believe it’s only right to give this man his flowers. From the gut-wrenching brilliance of Fruitvale Station to the vibrant world-shifting legacy of Wakanda, Ryan Coogler, the Oakland, California native, has consistently delivered stories that move us, inspire us, and represent us. 

The Debut That Shook Us

At the young age of 25, Coogler tore into our hearts with his directorial debut, Fruitvale Station. This award-winning film set the tone for the kind of filmmaker Coogler would become. A raw, emotion-driven, and empathetic creative mind. Coogler did not dramatize the story of Oscar Grant, he honored it. Coogler gifted Oscar Grant the primary thing that Black men are too often robbed of, both on and off the screen: humanity. He highlighted the fact that Oscar Grant was more than just a hashtag, which many media outlets had attempted to reduce his story to. This film exhibited vulnerability, complexity, and educated many on a very important life that was taken way too early. Fruitvale Station was not simply a film – it was a statement, and it was a glimpse of what greatness was soon to come from the filmmaker.

Enhancing The Franchise

Following Fruitvale Station, Coogler stepped into the ring to work on CREED, the spin-off to the well-known Rocky franchise. CREED told the story of Adonis Johnson, the son of Apollo Creed, a young man in a battle to claim his identity outside of his father’s legacy while also giving honor to the Creed name. This film gave viewers everything that we needed: the emotion, the quest for healing from generational trauma, plus some heartwarming Black romance. Punch after punch, viewers watched the transformation of Adonis Creed from a lost and hurt young boy trying to find himself to a healed, well-rounded, and hard-working man.

Though CREED was attached to the Rocky name, Coogler made this film unique in the sense that it was able to stand alone while still paying respect to the legacy that came before. If this film had no connection to the Rocky franchise, it would have still been the game-changer that it is.

Into The Marvel Universe

Then came the masterpiece: Marvel’s Black Panther, starring the late great Chadwick Boseman – the man who will forever be our Black Panther. Black Panther was a celebration of Black excellence and Black power. For so many individuals, this was the first time we would see a superhero and a world of people who looked like us who were thriving and living by merit.

His follow-up, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, carried the weight of grief and legacy, honoring T’Challa and Chadwick in a way only Ryan Coogler could do. In both Black Panther movies, we must acknowledge and appreciate the creativity that crafted such monumental films. From the incorporation of African heritage to the soundtrack, the phenomenal cast members, and the art, these films shook the world.

A Filmmaker with A Purpose

Aside from directing, Coogler is further known for producing multiple other films, such as CREED III, and the Oscar-winning Judas and the Black Messiah.

Ryan’s work is unapologetic and authentically reflects the lived experiences of diverse backgrounds. In a world where the lives of Black men and women are frequently told through the lens of people who can’t relate or don’t understand our struggle, Coogler provides nuance. 

His work gives us joy, hardship, good, bad, ugly, pretty, but most importantly, it gives us reflection. Ryan Coogler isn’t just making movies – he’s building a legacy. He’s inspiring the new wave of storytellers, showing young Black boys and girls, and future creatives, that our stories matter and are valued. 

Ryan Coogler is rewriting the narrative one film at a time.

Decorated N Deserved

Too many wins to name, but here are a few!

  • Fruitvale Station (2013)
    • African American Film Critics Association (2013)
      • Best Picture
      • Best Director
    • New York Film Critics Circle Awards (2014)
      • Best First Film
    • Independent Spirit Awards (2014)
      • Best First Feature
    • National Board of Review (2013)
      • Best Directorial Debut
    • Gotham Independent Film Awards (2013)
      • Breakthrough Director
    • Sundance Film Festival (2013)
      • Grand Jury Prize – U.S. Dramatic
      • Audience Award – U.S. Dramatic
  • Creed (2015)
    • Los Angeles Film Critics Association
      • New Generation Award
    • African American Film Critics Association
      • Best Director
  • Black Panther (2018)
    • NAACP Image Awards
      • Outstanding Motion Picture
      • Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
      • Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture
    • Black Reel Awards
      • Outstanding Director
    • Satellite Awards
      • Auteur Award
    • Online Film Critics Society
      • Special Achievement Award
    • Saturn Awards
      • Best Director
  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
    • NAACP Image Award
      • Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
  • Sinners (2025)