Ryan Coogler Says Spike Lee’s ‘Malcolm X’ Is the Most Important American Film

Ryan Coogler has called Spike Lee one of his biggest inspirations and recently declared that his classic film Malcolm X, released in 1992, is the most important American film in history.

During an interview on Carmelo Anthony’s 7 PM in Brooklyn show, Coogler shared how Lee’s epic film greatly influenced his cinematic vision and showed the possibilities of filmmaking.

“I think that Malcolm X is the most important American film ever made. No question,” Coogler said, emphasizing its cultural weight over widely regarded classics like The Godfather and Citizen Kane. “I don’t think they were as important Americans as Malcolm X was.”

Coogler lauded Lee for his direction and for curating an incredible cast that included Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Delroy Lindo, Giancarlo Esposito, and Lee himself. The film for Coogler brought “Malcolm X’s legacy to life.”

“The fact that they made that movie when they did, that it opens like it opens—nothing lights you on fire like that,” he continued.

When it comes to his own film Sinners, Lee praised Coogler’s work, saying he created a brand new genre. Coogler shared that the Oscar winner’s words meant the world to him so much that he shed tear.s

“So for me to give Spike [Lee] a cinematic experience. I’m just paying him back with interest, bro,” Coogler said. “ It meant the world to me to hear him say that. I cried, bro– I had to hide my–he was jumping around like–I was wiping tears out of my eyes, bro. I’m sh*tting in the IMAX theater showing Spike Lee the movie. He likes it?”