Ryan Coogler continues to cement his legacy in Hollywood history. With just five films under his belt, Coogler has entered the prestigious ranks of the top 25 highest-grossing directors at the domestic box office, according to The Numbers. His films have collectively grossed over $1.52 billion, placing him at #24 on the all-time list.
But it’s how he got there that’s even more impressive.
Of everyone in the Top 25, Coogler has directed the fewest films. Yet his per-film domestic average sits at an astounding $305 million, which places him as having the second highest average among the Top 25—just behind J.J. Abrams, who averages $314 million per film over seven releases.
Coogler’s directorial resume includes Fruitvale Station, Creed, Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Sinners—each a commercial and cultural touchstone.
He’s also now one of only two Black directors to ever cross $1 billion in domestic box office. The other? Tyler Perry, who ranks #57 with $1.01 billion across 32 films, averaging about $31.6 million per film.
Other Black directors on the list include:
- Tim Story (#70) – $889 million from 20 films
- F. Gary Gray (#78) – $837 million from 14 films
- Antoine Fuqua (#80) – $821 million from 23 films
With a career spanning from Fruitvale Station to Wakanda Forever to the recent breakout Sinners, Ryan Coogler is proving that a powerful story told well—and told authentically—can resonate across borders, genres, and generations. In five films, he’s not only reshaped modern storytelling, he’s redefined what box office power looks like.