Biography
John Ridley (born 1965 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an American film director, actor, and writer. Ridley got his start as a stand-up comedian. He eventually was hired as a writer for sitcoms such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Martin. He began to concentrate on writing and wrote his first novel, Stray Dogs, which became the basis the 1997 film U Turn, directed by Oliver Stone. Ridley also provided the original script for the film Three Kings, starring George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cub...
Known For
Complete Filmography
Shirley
2024
Producer, Writer, Director
Shirley Chisholm makes a trailblazing run for the 1972 Democratic presidential nomination after becoming the first Black woman elected to Congress.
DC Fandome 2021
2021
A global live online event uniting DC Comics creations and adaptations with fans around the globe.
Needle in a Timestack
2021
Executive Producer, Writer, Director
Nick and Janine live in bliss until her ex warps time to try to tear them apart by using Nick's old girlfriend. As Nick's memories and reality disappe...
Waiting for Godot
2021
Producer
An experimental exploration of the storied play. Becket’s vision of perpetual uncertainty, anxiety, and loneliness is refracted through our current mo...
Body Cam
2020
Writer
As a police officer investigates the gruesome murder of her colleague, she discovers that a mysterious supernatural force is behind it.
Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982-1992
2017
Director, Writer
An in-depth look at the culture of Los Angeles in the ten years leading up to the 1992 uprising that erupted after the verdict of police officers clea...
Ben-Hur
2016
Screenplay
A falsely accused nobleman survives years of slavery to take vengeance on his best friend who betrayed him.
The 25,000 Mile Love Story
2015
as Narrator
Swiss endurance athlete Serge Roetheli's thirst for adventure and desire to raise money and awareness for children suffering across the globe propelle...
Out of the Furnace
2013
Co-Producer
Two brothers live in the economically-depressed Rust Belt, when a cruel twist of fate lands one in prison. His brother is then lured into one of the m...
12 Years a Slave
2013
Screenplay, Executive Producer
In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty as well...
Jimi: All Is by My Side
2013
Director, Writer, Executive Producer
A drama based on Jimi Hendrix's life as he left New York City for London, where his career took off.
Red Tails
2012
Story, Screenplay
The story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American pilots to fly in a combat squadron during World War II.
Heckler
2007
as Self
HECKLER is a comedic feature documentary exploring the increasingly critical world we live in. After starring in a film that was critically bashed, Ja...
Justice League: Starcrossed - The Movie
2004
Writer
When the Thanagarians visit Earth, Hawkgirl is forced to choose between loyalty to her people and love for her friends on her adopted planet Earth.
Undercover Brother
2002
Screenplay, Executive Producer
An Afro-American organization, the B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D., is in permanent fight against a white organization "The Man" defending the values of the bl...
Three Kings
1999
Story
A group of American soldiers stationed in Iraq at the end of the Gulf War find a map they believe will take them to a huge cache of stolen Kuwaiti gol...
Cold Around the Heart
1997
Writer, Director
A jewel thief moves towards a reunion of revenge with his lover, who pushed him out of their speeding getaway car.
U Turn
1997
Screenplay, Executive Producer, Novel
When a desperate man’s car breaks down in a bizarre desert town while evading vengeful bookies, he becomes entangled in a dangerous love triangle. Cau...
The American Way
N/A
Writer, Director
John Ridley and Jason Blum are partnering on a movie adaptation of Ridley’s recent comic book series “The American Way: Those Above and Those Below.”
Caves of Steel
N/A
Screenplay, Director
Elijah Baley, a New York City detective, is reluctantly partnered with R. Daneel Olivaw, a humanoid robot, to solve the high-profile murder of a “Spac...