The list reflects a mix of films and directors that received critical praise for their work, or have made films which have had a lasting influence in american culture and film since their debut. But my larger point is that there was a time, albeit very brief, when heroic black figures were the domain of black directors, and when a black director wasnt hired. The 35 best black movie directors, producers, and screenplay. A director, producer, writer, marketer and film distributor, ava duvernay made her feature film debut with the documentary this in the life. The best 67 female film directors you need to know about. Our panel of critics picks out the filmmakers who are leading the way. Because the movie had an allblack cast, executives told lucas, we dont know how to market a movie like this. Highestgrossing directors in canada and the united states. Variety names 10 directors to watch for 2019 variety. Slate asked more than 20 prominent filmmakers, critics, and scholarsincluding ava duvernay, robert townsend, charles burnett, gina princebythewood, wesley morris, and henry louis gates jr. Winocour wrote the 2015 smash, mustang, and immediately parlayed that into a directing career. Oscar micheaux, ousmane sembene, diop mambety, haile gerima, souleymane cisse, julie dash, charles burnett, spike lee, steve mcqueen. Chiwetel ejiofor and thandie newton in half of a yellow sun.
Topping this list are boyz n the hood, claudine, love jones, precious, set it off, foxy brown, stormy weather, eves bayou, carmen jones, hoop dreams, shaft, malcom x, the color purple, lilies of the field, city of god, whats love got to do with it, and coming to america. You might have to do this as an assistant, or as a producer or writer yourself trying to attach the right director to your project. Two years ago, we published our first list of 10 black directors to watch. A new filmmaker named ryan coogler sat atop that list, and he was joined by justin simien, amma asante whose followup to. Unfortunately, some very talented directors have been pushed aside 50 is a limiting. John singleton after receiving critical acclaim for his first film, boyz n the hood. The history of african americans in film goes back too many years to count but the stories and the. Best black directors list of the greatest african american. Also considered, albeit to a lesser degree, are the popularity, influence and acclaim of their directorial output.
Its even better when the artist behind the scenes are. The 30 best movies made by black directors taste of cinema. H ow africanamericans are depicted on the big screen has changed with a new class of talented writers, directors, and producers who tell stories pertaining to black culture and beyond. Its a really rich time for black british directors in particular. Posted on march 8, 2017 march 25, 2019 by andre watkins. Millions know their voices, but no one knows their names. As black widow is the most widelyexposed and seasoned female hero in the marvel. Also considered, albeit to a lesser degree, are the popularity, influence and. The butler, 12 years a slave, best man holiday, fruitvale station and many others receive critical acclaim and or good box office receipts. Dga quarterly magazine fall 2011 black directors in hollywood. That is the question we address below, where we rank the top directors since 2000 by average metascore. What are the names of famous black movie directors answers.
Bille woodruff has worked with some of the biggest names in. Posted on january 29, 2017 june 5, 2018 by andre watkins. Jan 29, 2017 this list centers more towards africanamerican directors, but also features work from directors from the uk and africa. Film directors are in charge of directing the creative aspects of a film, from start to finish. Fourteen percent of the directors in that coveted group were black, which is a 270 percent increase over 2017 and a 200 percent increase since 2007. Apr 27, 2018 of course, theres one clear thing that pops up when looking at these three names. The black widow movie is already looking at directors. In 2007, a similar number percent of overall speaking roles in the top 100 movies went to black characters, but that percentage rose to 50 percent in films with black directors. The 33 highestgrossing movies directed by black filmmakers from john singleton to f. A whopping 16 black directors helmed projects in the top 100 movies of 2018, which is a record within the entire timeframe of the study, according to daily news. Although we typically stereotype hollywood as unchristian, there are actually many christian directors and producers that work there.
When you make that list you need to know all the names. In previous years, when films had less black directors and perry was the only one consistently. The 35 best black movie directors, producers, and screenplay writers 1. Of the more than 600 major hollywood films released since 2007, less than 7 percent had black directors. Now theres a whole generation of new black directors. Top ten black directors in 2018 blackfilm blackfilm. The 25 best movie directors of the 21st century taste of. She also made her name directing augustine, disorder, and the yet to be released proxima while working primarily in france, winocour has recently made the shift to american film, and seems to be next in line for bigger budgets. After compiling a list of the most famous movie directors, there was no escaping the fact that no women made the list. The secret to a productive crew is a well fed crew. The following is a listing of directors that have made some of the most memorable and acclaimed films of the century thus far.
Clair bourne was born on february 16, 1943 in new york city, new york, usa as st. And the name that shows up most of all is denzel washington. Apr 19, 1996 the 50 greatest directors and their 100 best movies. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries. Peach craft offers an assortment of film production crew craft service packages that are designed to accommodate a production crews most basic to most extravagant budget. These directors are ranked according to how much they influenced the way in which films are directed and to the acclaim they received specifically for their directing. Both, the wrestler and black swan had oscar nominations for three different actorsactresses, including one winner, and black swan was nominated for best picture.
Black directors lee daniels, antoine fuqua, gina prince bythewood, spike lee and more discuss their movies, and the ability to bring home the bacon. The top ten black actors 1 morgan freeman morgan freeman born june 1, 1937 is an american actor and narrator. The 20 works by black directors all constitute an assemblage of hopes, fears, and celebrationswith an overriding awareness of history. This film from the noted photographer and africanamerican filmmaking pioneer. The 21st century has provided some of the greatest films in cinema history created by master directors around the world. Watching a black womans story on the big screen is always a beautiful moment. This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. A list of well known movie directors at the director chair. Unfortunately, some very talented directors have been pushed aside 50 is a limiting number, but it should be noted that many of these. May 12, 2017 the 33 highestgrossing movies directed by black filmmakers from john singleton to f. A great and mighty walk 1996, american masters 1985 and something to build on 1971. The 25 best films directed by female film directors raindance.
Smith, coauthor of the study, entitled inequality in 1,100 popular films. Redirected from list of highestgrossing directors the following is a nondefinitive list of the film directors with the highest career film grosses. Mar 21, 20 hollywood is the hub for movies and television programming. Gary gray, there are 33 movies from black directors that. The worlds 40 best directors the hollywood blockbuster may be in crisis, but the art of the cinema is as healthy as ever. The following is a listing of directors that have made some of the most memorable and acclaimed films of the century. I have no idea why i chose to put this list together, but i think this provides a good counterpoint to everyone who thinks that the black man is too often misrepresented in movies. This is a list of notable directors in motion picture and television arts. Temptation, diary of a mad black women, do bad all by myself, good deeds, single moms club, and many madea movies.
Black directors, their movies, and the money photos. Highestgrossing movies from black directors indiewire. Film directors direct the artistic and dramatic aspects of a film. Freeman won an academy award in 2005 for best supporting actor with million dollar baby 2004, and he has received oscar nominations for his performances in street smart 1987, driving miss daisy, the shawshank redemption and. The following individuals are african american film directors. The following 200 pages are in this category, out of approximately 270 total. Only directors with at least four films released in the u. Hollywood movies with africanamerican directors have more. Ghana born john akomfrah is known for his experimental documentaries and video installations on the subjects of race, migration, and slavery in the encounters between european colonisers and african subjects. In the 1980s working in london, he helped found the black audio film collective and later. Great movies by black american directors hollywoods diversity problem has been getting some needed attention in recent years, but black american filmmakers have been making great movies since. Great movies by black american directors the new york times. At the end when they are showing the names of the directors,producers,actors, actresses and all of them. Notable films by black directors movies list on mubi.
Here is the list of established black producers who are killing it at the box office and some newer faces of hollywood making great inroads. Only 5 of the topgrossing films since 2007 were directed. Black directors in hollywood by melvin donalson in his account of black film in america, melvin donalson has chosen to skip over the pioneeringbut little seenwork of early auteur oscar micheaux, and begins his survey with the movies of melvin van peebles and gordon parks, among the first africanamerican films to be seen by a large. Spike lee was born shelton jackson lee on march 20, 1957, in atlanta, georgia. Son of danny singleton, a mortgage broker, and sheila ward. The most wellknown black actors in modernday cinema this is my list of all of the wellknown male black actors or blacktors in todays cinema.
May 30, 2016 the 50 greatest films by black directors. All of the activism and attention surrounding the issue of diversity, inclusion, and belonging has shown that the time has come, said dr. The 30 best movies made by black directors taste of. The very best black directors, ranked 1 shawnreynolds added ryan coogler fruitvale station, creed. This includes the story, and potentially with the producer who pays the bills hiring of the crew. Hollywood is the hub for movies and television programming. A lot of african films have been added recently to mubi. See more ideas about african american actors, american actors and actor. Advertisement a whopping 16 black directors helmed projects in the top 100 movies of 2018, which is a record within the entire timeframe of the study, according to daily news. Oct 28, 2018 very time there is an open directing assignment, a list of possible directors is put together. What are the names of famous black movie directors. Rank name highestgrossing film total domestic box office 1 steven spielberg. Total number of blackdirected films among the 1,000 movies on those.
The 50 greatest directors and their 100 best movies. Top 20 films of 2010s by black directors film list consequence. The 100 best black movies of the 21st century the greatest new. Click on read more and the green links which then appear. Hollywood needs more directors like these two that change stimulate our thoughts, rather than the typical recycled movies that come out year after year. It seems like there are only seven or eight famous movie directors. I was always getting them confused with one another, so i made this handy chart. Why there arent more hollywood films by black directors. Variety spotlights 10 filmmakers technically, 11 7 of whom are women with promising futures at event to be held jan. The 35 best black movie directors, producers, and screenplay writers. He was a producer and director, known for john henrik clarke. When star wars director george lucas tried to get funding for his film red tails, about the tuskegee airmen, they said no, he said. Billions and billions of dollars have been spent and made there. Gary gray gray started his career directing music video scenes or.