F. Gary Gray

Felix Gary Gray (born July 17, 1969) is an American filmmaker, music video director, and actor. Gray directed Friday, Set It Off, The Negotiator, and Straight Outta Compton, as well as the remake of The Italian Job. Gray was born in New York. He began his career in 1989 when he appeared uncredited in the satire comedy film Major League. Three years later, he directed the music video for Ice Cube's "It Was a Good Day." The video is a literal adaptation of the lyrics. He would go on to direct subsequent videos for Ice Cube, as well as artists such as Cypress Hill, Outkast, Dr. Dre, and Queen Latifah. At 24, Gray directed his first film, the urban comedy Friday with rapper-producer Ice Cube and Chris Tucker. Next he directed the film, Set It Off, with Jada Pinkett and Queen Latifah. He then went on to direct The Negotiator. The film starred Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey and Oscar nominee Samuel L. Jackson, and earned Gray both Best Film and Best Director awards at the 1998 Acapulco Film Festival. Gray is also known for The Italian Job, an action-thriller starring Academy Award winner Charlize Theron and Oscar nominee Mark Wahlberg. Gray garnered the Best Director award at the 2004 Black American Film Festival for his work on the film, which surpassed the $100 million mark in the domestic box office. His next film was A Man Apart, a violent action thriller starring Vin Diesel. He would later direct Be Cool, an adaptation of Elmore Leonard's novel of the same name. ...

The Italian Job (2003)

HeistEnjoyableAction-packedAdventurous

Charlie Croker pulled off the crime of a lifetime. The one thing that he didn't plan on was being double-crossed. Along with a drop-dead gorgeous safecracker, Croker and his team take off to re-steal the loot and end up in a pulse-pounding, pedal-to-the-metal chase ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  Mark Wahlberg  •  Charlize Theron  •  Jason Statham  •  Edward Norton

Charlie Croker pulled off the crime of a lifetime. The one thing that he didn't plan on was being double-crossed. Along with a drop-dead gorgeous safecracker, Croker and his team take off to re-steal the loot and end up in a pulse-pounding, pedal-to-the-metal chase ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  Mark Wahlberg  •  Charlize Theron  •  Jason Statham  •  Edward Norton

Be Cool (2005)

Disenchanted with the movie industry, Chili Palmer tries the music industry, meeting and romancing a widow of a music executive along the way.  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  John Travolta  •  Uma Thurman  •  Vince Vaughn  •  Cedric the Entertainer

Disenchanted with the movie industry, Chili Palmer tries the music industry, meeting and romancing a widow of a music executive along the way.  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  John Travolta  •  Uma Thurman  •  Vince Vaughn  •  Cedric the Entertainer

Friday (1995)

FunnyBrilliantEnjoyableEpic

Craig and Smokey are two guys in Los Angeles hanging out on their porch on a Friday afternoon, smoking and drinking, looking for something to do.  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  Ice Cube  •  Chris Tucker  •  Nia Long  •  Tommy Lister Jr.

Craig and Smokey are two guys in Los Angeles hanging out on their porch on a Friday afternoon, smoking and drinking, looking for something to do.  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  Ice Cube  •  Chris Tucker  •  Nia Long  •  Tommy Lister Jr.

Set It Off (1996)

HeistViolentAction-packedDramatic

Four inner-city Black women, determined to end their constant struggle, decide to live by one rule — get what you want or die trying. So the four women take back their lives and take out some banks in the process.  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  Jada Pinkett Smith  •  Queen Latifah  •  Vivica A. Fox  •  Kimberly Elise

Four inner-city Black women, determined to end their constant struggle, decide to live by one rule — get what you want or die trying. So the four women take back their lives and take out some banks in the process.  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  Jada Pinkett Smith  •  Queen Latifah  •  Vivica A. Fox  •  Kimberly Elise

The Negotiator (1998)

Action-packedFast pacedViolentBrainy

The police try to arrest expert hostage negotiator Danny Roman, who insists he's being framed for his partner's murder in what he believes is an elaborate conspiracy. Thinking there's evidence in the Internal Affairs offices that might clear him, he takes everyone ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  Samuel L. Jackson  •  Kevin Spacey  •  David Morse  •  Ron Rifkin

The police try to arrest expert hostage negotiator Danny Roman, who insists he's being framed for his partner's murder in what he believes is an elaborate conspiracy. Thinking there's evidence in the Internal Affairs offices that might clear him, he takes everyone ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  Samuel L. Jackson  •  Kevin Spacey  •  David Morse  •  Ron Rifkin

A Man Apart (2003)

Action-packedSuspensefulViolentThought provoking

When Vetter's wife is killed in a botched hit organized by Diablo, he seeks revenge against those responsible. But in the process, Vetter and Hicks have to fight their way up the chain to get to Diablo but it's easier said than done when all Vetter can focus on is ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  Vin Diesel  •  Larenz Tate  •  Timothy Olyphant  •  Geno Silva

When Vetter's wife is killed in a botched hit organized by Diablo, he seeks revenge against those responsible. But in the process, Vetter and Hicks have to fight their way up the chain to get to Diablo but it's easier said than done when all Vetter can focus on is ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  Vin Diesel  •  Larenz Tate  •  Timothy Olyphant  •  Geno Silva

Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

Action-packedGrippingSmartPowerful

A frustrated man decides to take justice into his own hands after a plea bargain sets one of his family's killers free. He targets not only the killer but also the district attorney and others involved in the deal.  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  Gerard Butler  •  Jamie Foxx  •  Leslie Bibb  •  Colm Meaney

A frustrated man decides to take justice into his own hands after a plea bargain sets one of his family's killers free. He targets not only the killer but also the district attorney and others involved in the deal.  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  Gerard Butler  •  Jamie Foxx  •  Leslie Bibb  •  Colm Meaney

Straight Outta Compton (2015)

GrippingPowerfulClassicDramatic

In 1987, five young men, using brutally honest rhymes and hardcore beats, put their frustration and anger about life in the most dangerous place in America into the most powerful weapon they had: their music. Taking us back to where it all began, Straight Outta ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  O'Shea Jackson Jr.  •  Corey Hawkins  •  Jason Mitchell  •  Neil Brown Jr.

In 1987, five young men, using brutally honest rhymes and hardcore beats, put their frustration and anger about life in the most dangerous place in America into the most powerful weapon they had: their music. Taking us back to where it all began, Straight Outta ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  O'Shea Jackson Jr.  •  Corey Hawkins  •  Jason Mitchell  •  Neil Brown Jr.

The Syndicate (2015)

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate teams up with F. Gary Gray, award-winning director of the Universal Pictures biopic Straight Outta Compton. Illustrated by LucasFilm-Certified comic book artist Pop Mhan, this animated short follows the story of the Industrial Revolution ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  Paul Amos

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate teams up with F. Gary Gray, award-winning director of the Universal Pictures biopic Straight Outta Compton. Illustrated by LucasFilm-Certified comic book artist Pop Mhan, this animated short follows the story of the Industrial Revolution ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  Paul Amos

The Fate of the Furious (2017)

When a mysterious woman seduces Dom into the world of crime and a betrayal of those closest to him, the crew face trials that will test them as never before.  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  Vin Diesel  •  Jason Statham  •  Dwayne Johnson  •  Michelle Rodriguez

When a mysterious woman seduces Dom into the world of crime and a betrayal of those closest to him, the crew face trials that will test them as never before.  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  Vin Diesel  •  Jason Statham  •  Dwayne Johnson  •  Michelle Rodriguez

Men in Black: International (2019)

The Men in Black have always protected the Earth from the scum of the universe. In this new adventure, they tackle their biggest, most global threat to date: a mole in the Men in Black organization.  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  Chris Hemsworth  •  Tessa Thompson  •  Rebecca Ferguson  •  Liam Neeson

The Men in Black have always protected the Earth from the scum of the universe. In this new adventure, they tackle their biggest, most global threat to date: a mole in the Men in Black organization.  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  Chris Hemsworth  •  Tessa Thompson  •  Rebecca Ferguson  •  Liam Neeson

M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand

Planned live action movie based on the M.A.S.K. original TV Show.  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST: 

Planned live action movie based on the M.A.S.K. original TV Show.  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST: 

R. Kelly: The R. in R&B - The Video Collection (2003)

This DVD/CD combination package features all of R. Kelly's biggest music videos from the first 10 years of his career, and one of the most potent new videos: "Thoia Thing." The bonus CD contains 5 tracks.  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray  •  Bille Woodruff  •  R. Kelly  •  Christopher Erskin  •  Hype Williams  •  Lionel C. Martin  •  Millicent Shelton  •  Director X.  •  Kim Watson  •  David Nelson
CAST:  R. Kelly  •  Garcelle Beauvais  •  Céline Dion  •  Michael Clarke Duncan

This DVD/CD combination package features all of R. Kelly's biggest music videos from the first 10 years of his career, and one of the most potent new videos: "Thoia Thing." The bonus CD contains 5 tracks.  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray  •  Bille Woodruff  •  R. Kelly  •  Christopher Erskin  •  Hype Williams  •  Lionel C. Martin  •  Millicent Shelton  •  Director X.  •  Kim Watson  •  David Nelson
CAST:  R. Kelly  •  Garcelle Beauvais  •  Céline Dion  •  Michael Clarke Duncan

Setting it Straight: Making ‘Set it Off’ (2009)

Documentary about the making of "Set it Off."  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jeffrey Schwarz
CAST:  Vivica A. Fox  •  Kimberly Elise  •  F. Gary Gray

Documentary about the making of "Set it Off."  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jeffrey Schwarz
CAST:  Vivica A. Fox  •  Kimberly Elise  •  F. Gary Gray

Muscle (2024)

Vin Diesel will star in and produce the action-comedy “Muscle”  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  Vin Diesel

Vin Diesel will star in and produce the action-comedy “Muscle”  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  Vin Diesel

Lift (2024)

An international heist crew, led by Cyrus Whitaker, race to lift $500 million in gold from a passenger plane at 40,000 feet.  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  Kevin Hart  •  Gugu Mbatha-Raw  •  Vincent D'Onofrio  •  Billy Magnussen

An international heist crew, led by Cyrus Whitaker, race to lift $500 million in gold from a passenger plane at 40,000 feet.  (more)

DIRECTION:  F. Gary Gray
CAST:  Kevin Hart  •  Gugu Mbatha-Raw  •  Vincent D'Onofrio  •  Billy Magnussen