Ryan Coogler Explains Why He Turned Down Invitation to Join the Academy: “I’m Not Good at Judging Things”

Ryan Coogler Explains Why He Turned Down Invitation to Join the Academy: “I’m Not Good at Judging Things”

Ryan Coogler is opening up about a career decision that quietly surprised many in Hollywood.

According to a new interview shared by journalist Philip Lewis, the Black Panther director revealed that he was invited to join the Academy in 2016 — and declined the offer. And no, it wasn’t out of bitterness toward the Oscars.

“It’s not out of animosity,” Coogler explained, saying at the time he was stretched thin with commitments to his film school and unions. He also admitted he simply doesn’t enjoy the responsibility that comes with voting. “And I’m not good at judging things, bro. The act of ‘Hey, pick the best thing’ is very stressful for me, even when there’s no stakes involved.”

The timing of his comments is especially notable as awards buzz continues to swirl around Sinners, which is shaping up to be a major Oscar contender. However, as the article points out, neither Coogler nor Michael B. Jordan has ever been nominated by the Academy for directing or acting, and no Black filmmaker has ever won the directing Oscar.

Despite the prestige tied to awards season, Coogler says he’s far more drawn to the everyday grind of filmmaking than Hollywood’s glamorous side. “People see the tuxedo, they see the red carpet, but it’s real blue-collar folks making these movies happen,” he said, adding that he truly fell in love with filmmaking once he realized that, at its core, “it’s a job.”

For Coogler, the art, the crew, and the work itself still matter more than trophies — even when the Oscars come calling.