Ryan Coogler Could Become Seventh Black Filmmaker Nominated for Best Director Oscar
Ryan Coogler’s direction of Sinners is generating oscar buzz, with critics praising his visual style and suspenseful storytelling. A nomination would mark a meaningful milestone: Coogler would become the seventh Black filmmaker ever nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director.
Historically, Black directors have faced significant underrepresentation in this category. To date,only six Black directors have received a Best Director nomination: John Singleton (Boyz n the Hood,1991),Lee Daniels (Precious,2009),Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave,2013),Barry Jenkins (Moonlight,2016),Jordan Peele (Get Out,2017),and spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman,2018). Despite four films directed by Black filmmakers-Shaka King’s Judas and the Black Messiah (2021), Reinaldo Marcus Green’s King Richard (2021), Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction (2023), and Ramell Ross’s Nickel Boys (2024)-receiving Best Picture nominations since Lee’s 2019 nod, none of those directors were individually recognized in the directing category.
Coogler has previously been nominated twice for an Academy Award,as a producer on Judas and the Black Messiah and for co-writing “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. He also helmed a Best Picture nominee with the original Black Panther in 2018. A directing nomination for Sinners would be his first in that specific category.
critical reception supports Coogler’s chances. Sergio Burstein of the Los Angeles Times stated Coogler “constantly dazzles us with a soaring visual display.” Stephanie Zacharek of TIME wrote, ”The key to Sinners is that Coogler folds his ideas into the story subtly, rather than spelling them out Bible-pamphlet style.” Justin Chang of NPR proclaimed, “Coogler builds suspense with shivery assurance.”
Other directors expected to contend for a Best director nomination include chloé Zhao (Hamnet), Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value), Paul Thomas anderson (One Battle After Another), and Jafar Panahi (it Was Just an Accident). Sinners is currently streaming on HBO Max.