Ryan Coogler is a world-renowned movie director, who has achieved tremendous success in a relatively short period. He is best known for directing the critically acclaimed films Fruitvale Station, Creed, and most recently, Black Panther.
Mr Coogler will accomplish three important milestones by the end of the year 2022 that everyone in Hollywood have failed to do, in more than 100 years. The most amazing thing about the director’s coveted milestones is, not many have noticed them – so far.
The first milestone: Directed the third biggest movie with a female lead
His first major milestone will come at the end of 2022, at that point, Ryan Coogler will have created the third biggest movie ever with a female lead (Letitia Wright). Only behind Jennifer Lawrence’s 2013 film, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire film.
Black Panther 2 will eventually pass The Hunger Games: Catching Fire in 2023, near the end of its theatrical run. 2022 was a great year for all-female lead action movies, we saw many familiar faces, and new stars were created too, let’s quickly go down the list:
2022’s best and biggest all-female lead action movies
- Black Panther 2 (Lupita Nyong’o, Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett)
- The Woman King (Viola Davis, Lashana Lynch)
- Everything Everywhere all at Once (Michelle Yeoh)
- The 355 (Lupita Nyong’o)
- Kimi (Zoë Kravitz)
- Prey (Amber Midthunder)
- Black Crab (Noomi Rapace)
Second milestone: Directed the First all-female lead superhero movie
For years we have been promised an all-female superhero movie, by many major film studios. In the past 10 years, we have only seen glimpses of that promise in the Avengers movies. Then Ryan Coogler delivered one to audiences everywhere (US media still hasn’t taken note).
Just read the stellar cast names at the start of Back Panther and let the thought sink in of just how much more we could have had if film studios were bolder. Coogler has just been busting down preconceived notions of what films can look like for years now.
Third milestone: Directed Back to back Billion dollar earning movies
Ryan’s third milestone is equally as impressive, especially considering the circumstances and pressures he must have been working under. There have been less than 100 movies that made more than a billion bucks worldwide.
Only a handful of other directors have had one or more billion-dollar earners; but not back to back. Then as a director, having to do without your main lead character while in a Pandemic and during a worldwide recession, that’s different.
He is Ryan Coogler, put some respect on his name
Coogler’s ability to blend emotion, impactful themes, and gripping visuals have earned him an impressive list of awards and nominations, including Best Picture nominations for both Creed and Black Panther.
Coogler’s success has helped to bring more attention to the importance of diversity in the film industry and has made him one of the most influential directors in Hollywood today. He is an inspiration to many aspiring filmmakers and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
