Trivia

Partnered with Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker who agreed to develop and produce his first feature-film project, Fruitvale Station (2013).

Ryan cast his brother Keenan Coogler in his breakout debut film Fruitvale Station (2013). And like Ryan, Keenan was also a standout football player in a Bay Area college.

Is the youngest director to direct a film for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Directed 2 actors to an Oscar nomination: Sylvester Stallone and Angela Bassett.

Member of the 'Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' (AMPAS) since 2016.

Grew up in Richmond, CA in the East Bay area north of Oakland, CA. He attended nearby Saint Mary's College on a football scholarship, then transferred to Sacramento State College. Later he was a graduate student in the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts.

Every movie he's directed features Michael B. Jordan.

Has worked as a security guard, and also with imprisoned youth at San Francisco's Juvenile Hall.

Is an avid comic book fan and his favorite hero is Black Panther and when he was offered to direct the movie based on the character he quickly accepted.

After graduating from USC, the film school paid for his travel and accommodations to the Cannes Film Festival for Fruitvale Station (2013), as a part of their student DEI initiative, even though he was no longer a student, becoming the only person in the film school's history to receive the honor.

Frequently works with composer Ludwig Göransson (Fruitvale Station (2013), Creed : L'Héritage de Rocky Balboa (2015), Black Panther (2018)).

Often includes a scene where the lead character looks out over the landscape of their home town or country (Oakland in Fruitvale Station (2013), Philadelphia in Creed : L'Héritage de Rocky Balboa (2015), Wakanda in Black Panther (2018)).

Films frequently include a protagonist who has a mentor that was an ally of their own absent father (Creed : L'Héritage de Rocky Balboa (2015), Black Panther (2018)).

Frequently works with editor Michael P. Shawver (Fruitvale Station (2013), Creed : L'Héritage de Rocky Balboa (2015), Black Panther (2018)).

Films include a protagonist that has a close relationship with their mother even as they disagree with their son's lifestyle choice (Fruitvale Station (2013), Creed : L'Héritage de Rocky Balboa (2015), Black Panther (2018)).

Frequently works with production designer Hannah Beachler (Fruitvale Station (2013), Creed : L'Héritage de Rocky Balboa (2015), Black Panther (2018)).

Films include a protagonist that has experience in juvenile detention or the prison system (Fruitvale Station (2013), Creed : L'Héritage de Rocky Balboa (2015), Black Panther (2018)).

Frequently works with cinematographer Rachel Morrison (Fruitvale Station (2013), Black Panther (2018)).

Films often include a flashback edited into a sequence when the lead is at their low point, before their comeback (Creed : L'Héritage de Rocky Balboa (2015), Black Panther (2018)).

His lead characters frequently have a verbal altercation with a man from their past, which may escalate into violence (Fruitvale Station (2013), Creed : L'Héritage de Rocky Balboa (2015), Black Panther (2018)).

He has directed one film that has been nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Black Panther (2018).

Films include a lead character that creates an event for the sole purpose of being documented by the media (a press conference) or shared on social media (Fruitvale Station (2013), Creed : L'Héritage de Rocky Balboa (2015), Black Panther (2018)).

His professional career was fast-tracked by the USC film school dean and select faculty members, as a part of Dean Elizabeth Daley's DEI directive, when he was a student in the school's MFA production program.