Black directors are making movies across all genres. Whether it’s through comedy, drama or action, these filmmakers are telling stories that deserve our attention.
Award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay will go down in cinematic history thanks to everything from the Martin Luther King Jr. biopic “Selma” to the Central Park Five dramatization “When They See Us” to Disney’s “A Wrinkle In Time.” Don’t let time keep you from historical epics like Spike Lee’s “Malcolm X.” The great filmmaker and producer displays style, pizzazz and personality in cheeky comedies like “Do The Right Thing,” as well as a serious edge through movies like “BlackKkKlansman.” While rising actor John David Washington received plenty of praise for his portrayal of the determined detective, he still has big shoes to fill following his father, Denzel Washington. He may be best known for his work in front of the camera, but his directing talent has shined through with films like “Antwone Fisher,” “The Great Debaters” and “Fences.”
Steve McQueen (unrelated to the King of Cool) delivers powerhouse dramas, whether it’s in the Academy Award-winning “12 Years A Slave” or the tensely wrought thriller “Widows.” Independent filmmaker Barry Jenkins shows unique perspectives through the LGBT drama “Moonlight” and his adaptation of James Baldwin’s “If Beale Street Could Talk,” while comedians like Jordan Peele make way for satirical yet harrowing commentary on horror movies like “Get Out” and “Us.”
Be on the lookout for Ryan Coogler, who has dazzled audiences with the Oscar Grant III biopic “Fruitvale Station,” the “Rocky” spinoff “Creed” and Marvel Studios’ first black superhero movie “Black Panther.” Whether you want to see Michael B. Jordan take to the ring or try to take over Wakanda, there’s a fast-paced film just waiting to be added to your queue.