Ryan Coogler explains turning down Academy invite as ‘Sinners’ positions him for major Oscar breakthrough

Ryan Coogler explains declining Academy membership years ago due to workload and discomfort

Ryan Coogler said his decision nearly a decade ago to turn down an invitation to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was not motivated by resentment over past Oscar snubs. In a new interview with The New York Times, the Sinners director explained that his demanding schedule and discomfort with judging others’ work played a bigger role in his refusal.

“It’s not out of animosity,” Coogler told the publication, noting that his commitments to filmmaking, union involvement and his film school leave him little time to take on additional responsibilities. He added that ranking creative work is stressful for him, saying, “The act of ‘Hey, pick the best thing’ is very stressful for me.”

Coogler said he enjoys awards season mainly because it gives him time to reconnect with collaborators, but emphasized that the glamour surrounding the Oscars does not appeal to him. He highlighted the behind-the-scenes labor of filmmaking, calling it “real blue-collar folks making these movies happen.”

The Academy invited Coogler to join in 2016 after the success of Creed, which earned Sylvester Stallone an acting nomination even as the film was overlooked in the best picture, director and actor categories. His earlier film Fruitvale Station also received no Oscar recognition, and although Black Panther made history with seven nominations — including best picture — Coogler was again missed in the best director race.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter in 2021, Coogler said he prefers involvement in labor organizations over awards-focused groups, though he acknowledged the exposure that Academy membership can bring.

Coogler is now positioned for another major Oscar run with Sinners, which is expected to compete in top categories including best picture, best original screenplay and potentially best director. He previously earned an Oscar nomination in 2022 as a producer of Judas and the Black Messiah.