In a world where self-interest and toxicity often take center stage, Ryan Coogler’s wife, Zinzi Evans, is a reminder of what unwavering support really looks like.
Before the box office records and global acclaim, the couple were just two college students with a shared dream, one writing screenplays in Microsoft Word and the other believing in his talent enough to invest in it.
According to sources, Evans showed up and showed out for Coogler by paying for his first movie writing software that cost $300 when he couldn’t afford it.
“My wife, she was my girl at the time, [and] they had a software where you could write screenplays. I was trying to write in Microsoft Word. It’s impossible because your format gotta be right,” the Black Panther director said during an interview with Hot 97.
“I was broke, playing football on the little scholarship money. And my wife scrapped together some cheese and bought me Final Draft, which is the software that you write your movies on. And she got me that.”
That $300 investment planted the seed that would eventually lead to the creation of Black Panther, which according to Time Magazine, became the highest grossing film in the U.S in 2018.
It was also named the highest-grossing solo superhero launch of all time, the highest-grossing film by a Black director, and the highest-grossing film starring a primarily Black cast.
In addition to Black Panther, Coogler also directed Creed, which has become a fan-favorite franchise.
Now, his latest film Sinners is turning heads across the industry with numerous Box Office critics and reviewers calling it the best film of 2025 and of the entire 2020s decade.
The vampire thriller has also officially become the highest-rated vampire film in Rotten Tomatoes history, maintaining a perfect 100% score across 45 critical reviews.
Sinners also marks Coogler’s first venture into the pure horror zeitgeist, showcasing his versatility across genres while maintaining his distinctive voice and thematic concerns.
It also continues the film director’s impressive streak of critical successes, following his previous acclaimed works Fruitvale Station (94%), Creed (95%), Black Panther (95%), and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (84%).
“I’m blessed to have found this medium that I can work out deep philosophical and existential questions that I may be struggling with while contributing to an art form that means so much to my family,” Coogler said during a Q&A event for the film.
“Each film brings me closer to understanding myself and the world around me.”
We can’t wait to see what he creates next.
