Posted on by Ricky Riley

11 Black Male Directors Besides Spike Lee Who Have Established A Respectable Career Behind The Camera

John-SingletonJohn Singleton

Notable Works: Boyz n the Hood (1991), Higher Learning (1995), Poetic Justice (1993), Baby Boy (2001),  2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)

Impact: Singleton may be the most successful Black director on the list. He has been nominated for two Oscars for his work on Boyz n the Hood. Singleton was the youngest person to be nominated for Best Director. At the time, he was only in his early 20s. He also created a reboot of Gordon Parks’ Shaft starring Samuel L. Jackson.

 

hughes-4The Hughes Brothers

Notable Works: Menace II Society (1993), Dead Presidents (1995), Book of Eli (2010)

Impact: Albert and Allen Hughes make up a dynamic filmmaking duo known as the Hughes brothers. They were among the Black filmmakers in the 1990s. Their movies make money. For example, Menace II Society was made for only $3 million, but it made $30-plus million.

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38 Replies to “11 Black Male Directors Besides Spike Lee Who Have Established A Respectable Career Behind The Camera”

  1. So you don't think lee Daniels counts. Definitely the most prolific black director of the moment. How many acclaimed movies and highly rated tv shows does he have to make to get on your list?

  2. You made my point for me. Lee Daniels get recognized for his work. He get to go to the awards ceremonies and get the chance to create a TV show. They didn't. These directors don't get enough credit. I wanted to highlight them and some films/TV shows that is in the public zeitgeist.

  4. I'm familiar Carl Franklin as an acclaimed Actor that exdpanded his talents behind the camera, I can say that the on set of Indenpdant films , if we take opportunity to view new films that will certainly empower new BLACK directors to challenge the a'list directors!!

  6. Spike is more vital to Black Cinema than Lee Daniels. He was the originator. Without Spike there would not have been a Lee Daniels, F. Gary Gray, John Singleton or the many others on this list. And I did not mention anything about Lee Daniels. He directed two films that are noteworthy but he is no where near Spike Lee who has been making films for almost 40 years now. You like Lee Daniels that is cool. Empire is a good show but Spike started all of this. That is film class 101.

  16. Ricky Riley No Spike did not start all of this. It really starts with the LA Rebellion at UCLA, and before them, Melvin Van Peebles, and before him, a little film from Chicago called The Cry of Jazz by Ed Blanton and before that Oscar Micheaux, Spencer WIlliams and the sisters of the silent film era, Maria P. Williams, Eloyce King Patrick Gist, Tressie Souders, Harlem photographer James Van Der Zee's Sister, Madame E. Touissant Welcome. Spike stood on the back of these pioneers to get to where he is.

  17. That's correct but Spike is the first Black super star director. Hollywood saw that his movies made money and it open the doors for other people.

    And Melvin van Peebles is on the second page of this very list along with Mario van Peebles.

    The other directors you mentioned were vital to the history of film but you can't believe they lead to Black directors directing Hollywood films directly.

    Spike Lee led directly to people like Keenan Ivory Wayans, Reginald Hudlin, and other Black directors. After the success of Do the Right Thing, Black cinema exploded.

    In what other decade since 1900 has there been an explosion of Black films directed by Black people. The only answer is 1990. Why is that? Most Blaxploitation films were directed by white dudes like Jack hill, so the 1970s can't be.

    There were more male and female Black directors working in '90s than ever in the 100 years films were around.

    Thank you for the comment but Spike is important and the people you mentioned are forgotten legends. Who knows that could be another listicle.

    Peace.

  22. No this list is complete. It make no sense to create 1 list with 100 directors when I can create 10 lists with 10 directors. That's like asking Apple to create one iPhone that can last a lifetime. Bad business. Thanks for the comment.

  25. Kinda why these lists are dumb…always a struggle with the ones you leave off-Reggie Hudlin, Kevin Sullivan, Denzel Washington, Darnell Martin, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Ava DuVerney…etc.etc.

  26. Don't know what you mean by dumb.

    Ava duVarney and Gina Prince-Bythewood is on a list I did earlier this week

    https://blerds.atlantablackstar.com/2015/05/28/8-amazing-black-female-directors-who-have-established-a-respectable-career-behind-the-camera/2/

    https://blerds.atlantablackstar.com/2015/05/28/8-amazing-black-female-directors-who-have-established-a-respectable-career-behind-the-camera/3/

    I guess highlighting black excellence isn't a good thing?

    There will be more content like because this is a website that focuses on the excellence of black people doing great things in mostly white industries. So it really isn't dumb. Well, not to me.

  27. Ricky Riley Your article heading refers to a "respectable career behind the camera…" and you list Mario Van Peebles (no disrespect) rather than Charles Burnett. Burnett has long borne the dubious distinction of being, as critic Armond White observed, “the least well-known great American filmmaker.” If you're going to create a list to educate and inform, dig a little deeper.

  30. I wrote almost 200 lists in past two years. I will probably write 100 by the end of this year. You like Charles Burnett and I can respect that. Burnett is a great director and he deserve more recognition. He will be on a future list more than likely. Taking shots like "dig deeper" and using Armond White as a source isn't helping anyone.

    Van Peebles isn't bad director. I think he did some great early work. He just didn't get any real opportunities. So thank you again for your comments.

  31. No. Shaft had a remake, Black dynamite was based off of Shaft, Richard Roundtree became a star actor, Gordon Parks was famous for his photography. People knew Parks and Shaft became an American icon. How many people are going to know Ed Blanton off hand.

  32. Ricky Riley not taking shots. I just happen to think your list is off the mark and somewhat inconsistent based on your head-line. You used the word "established". Obviously, we have a different definition of that word.

  35. Plz add me to list of female directors, 1987 "unspoken conversation". I am a student of the late Kathleen Collins-Prettyman and was Apprentice script supervisor on "Alma's Rainbow", directed by Ayoka Chenzira and co-starred Isaiah Washington. Ava mentioned Kathy and Ayoka in her speech for "Black Girls Rock". Also add Jessie Maple to female directors list. She is a pioneer! Excellent mentor. Thx so much!

  36. Ricky Riley This would be an interesting article topic. Why is it that highlighting black excellence raises so much objection? I guess because its not done enough so black people feel so overlooked that any attempt to look is never enough. But rather than attack you we should be helping and supporting you, right? I find that the less I respond to the nays and the more I focus on the work the less nays I hear.

  37. #RickeyRiley I think you did well with this list……some of these people are making ridiculous points…..i disagree with several of your choices….but I understand where you were going…….some of these directors have very suspect dramatic skills but they have hits….lots are of directors have amazing skill but have not found a project that puts them on the map….like having a world renowned voice but no hit record!

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