These four directors have shaped modern film with stories that are bold, personal and impossible to ignore. This One Gotta Go card puts them together: Spike Lee, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay and Jordan Peele. Each one has a style you can spot within minutes of a film starting, and each one has inspired new filmmakers.
Three directors keep making movies, and one is removed from film history. Think about the films that moved you, the ones you recommend to everyone and the director whose work you know least. Then make your pick and share the film that made you a fan.
Spike Lee vs Ryan Coogler vs Ava DuVernay vs Jordan Peele
A. Spike Lee
Spike Lee has made films for decades, including Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X, and won an Oscar for the screenplay of BlacKkKlansman. He is a pioneer. His style is bold and sometimes divisive, which makes him a candidate for the cut for some viewers.
Keep it if: You think Do the Right Thing is a masterpiece and that Spike opened doors for so many filmmakers.
B. Ryan Coogler
Ryan Coogler directed Fruitvale Station, Creed and Black Panther, bringing big audiences to personal stories. He is a modern hitmaker. His career is younger than Spike Lee's, which some use as a reason to cut him on legacy alone.
Keep it if: You loved Black Panther and Creed and think Coogler makes blockbusters that still feel personal.
C. Ava DuVernay
Ava DuVernay directed Selma, the documentary 13th and the series When They See Us, telling powerful stories about justice. Her work is important. Some viewers know her TV work more than her films, which makes her a possible cut.
Keep it if: You think her work changes how people see history and justice, and it stays with you long after.
D. Jordan Peele
Jordan Peele moved from sketch comedy to horror and won an Oscar for writing Get Out, then made Us and Nope. He created a new kind of social thriller. If horror is not your genre, he might be the easiest cut.
Keep it if: You love smart horror with deeper meaning and cannot wait to see what Peele makes next.
Our take
This one is tough, and there is no wrong answer, but we would cut Jordan Peele, mostly because his films sit in one genre, while the other three have worked across many kinds of stories. Spike built the path, Coogler brought it to blockbusters and DuVernay used it to change conversations. The most fun debate usually comes down to Spike against Coogler, since it is a legend against a modern star. Ask everyone to name the film from these four they would show a friend first. A double feature makes a great tiebreaker.
How to play this card with friends
- Read the four choices out loud.
- Everyone picks the one they'd eliminate at the same time.
- Explain your pick. This is where the fun starts.
- Use the follow-up questions below to keep it going.
Follow-up questions to keep the debate going
- Which director has the most consistent body of work?
- What is the best film from these four directors?
- Which director should make a movie together with another?
- What director would you add to this card?
Want more debates like this? Get the One Gotta Go card game for game night, family dinners and road trips. Shop the decks.
Black Excellence in Film: quick answers
Did Jordan Peele win an Oscar?
Yes. Jordan Peele won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Get Out at the 2018 ceremony. He was the first Black screenwriter to win that category. Get Out was also nominated for Best Picture and Best Director.
What movies has Ryan Coogler directed?
Ryan Coogler directed Fruitvale Station, Creed, Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, along with Sinners in 2025. He often works with actor Michael B. Jordan, who has starred in several of his films. Many fans consider Creed and Black Panther two of the best films of their kind.
