---
name: "Ruth E. Carter"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/ruth-e-carter"
fi1m_id: "ruth-e-carter"
imdb_id: "nm0141921"
tmdb_id: 15524
wikidata_id: "Q3942970"
roles: ["Costume designer"]
born: "10 April 1960"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 11
average_fi1m_score: 77
average_over: 11
updated: "2026-10-01T22:42:23.949612+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Ruth E. Carter

## Identity

Ruth E. Carter

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ruth-e-carter
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** ruth-e-carter
- **IMDb ID:** nm0141921
- **TMDB ID:** 15524
- **Wikidata ID:** Q3942970
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_E._Carter, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3942970, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0141921/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/15524

Costume designer. Born 10 April 1960 in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Costume designer
- **Born:** 10 April 1960, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
- **Active:** 1989–present
- **Also known as:** Ruth Carter, Ruthe Carter
- **Frequently works with:** [Ryan Coogler](https://film.one/person/ryan-coogler.md), [Spike Lee](https://film.one/person/spike-lee.md), [Danai Gurira](https://film.one/person/danai-gurira.md), [David Oyelowo](https://film.one/person/david-oyelowo.md), [Delroy Lindo](https://film.one/person/delroy-lindo.md), [Joe Robert Cole](https://film.one/person/joe-robert-cole.md), [Kevin Feige](https://film.one/person/kevin-feige.md), [Lupita Nyong'o](https://film.one/person/lupita-nyongo.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 2 Oscars (2 won · 3 nominated)
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 92 (2), 1990s 72 (3), 2000s 77 (1), 2010s 77 (3), 2020s 72 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 74 across 10 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 7 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 6, Action 4, Adventure 3, History 3, Science Fiction 3, Mystery 2
- **Screen time:** 24 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $3,006m across 10 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_E._Carter, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3942970, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0141921/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/15524

## Coming up

- *The Thomas Crown Affair* (2027-03-04), Costume Design
- *Snoop* (2027-08-05), Costume Design
- *Black Panther 3* (2028-12-13), Costume Design

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Do the Right Thing*](https://film.one/film/do-the-right-thing.md) (93), [*Clockers*](https://film.one/film/clockers.md) (74), [*The Butler*](https://film.one/film/the-butler.md) (66)
- **Netflix:** [*Seinfeld*](https://film.one/tv/seinfeld.md) (90), [*Selma*](https://film.one/film/selma.md) (84)
- **Disney+:** [*Black Panther*](https://film.one/film/black-panther.md) (80), [*Black Panther: Wakanda Forever*](https://film.one/film/black-panther-wakanda-forever.md) (66)
- **HBO Max:** [*Sinners*](https://film.one/film/sinners.md) (79)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Ruth E. Carter is an American costume designer for film and television. Born on 10 April 1960 in Springfield, Massachusetts, she graduated from Hampton University with a BA in 1982 and began her career in theatre before moving into film.

She is known for her work with directors including Spike Lee, John Singleton and Ryan Coogler. Her credits include *Do the Right Thing* (1989), *Malcolm X* (1992), *Amistad* (1997), *Serenity* (2005), *The Butler* (2013), *Selma* (2014), *Black Panther* (2018), *Black Panther: Wakanda Forever* (2022) and *Sinners* (2025).

Carter has received five Academy Award nominations for Best Costume Design, winning twice for the *Black Panther* films and becoming the first African-American to win in the category. Her fifth nomination, for *Sinners*, made her the most-nominated Black woman in Oscar history. She also received a Primetime Emmy nomination for the 2016 miniseries *Roots* and the Costume Designers Guild Career Achievement Award.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, variety.com, apnews.com, ruthecarter.com.*

## On Fi1m (11)

- *Sinners* (2025), Fi1m 79, Costume design — [page](https://film.one/film/sinners.md)
- *Black Panther: Wakanda Forever* (2022), Fi1m 66, Costume design — [page](https://film.one/film/black-panther-wakanda-forever.md)
- *Black Panther* (2018), Fi1m 80, Costume design — [page](https://film.one/film/black-panther.md)
- *Selma* (2014), Fi1m 84, Costume Design, Costume design — [page](https://film.one/film/selma.md)
- *The Butler* (2013), Fi1m 66, Costume design — [page](https://film.one/film/the-butler.md)
- *Serenity* (2005), Fi1m 77, Costume design — [page](https://film.one/film/serenity.md)
- *Amistad* (1997), Fi1m 63, Costume design, Costume Design — [page](https://film.one/film/amistad.md)
- *Clockers* (1995), Fi1m 74, Costume Design, Costume design — [page](https://film.one/film/clockers.md)
- *Malcolm X* (1992), Fi1m 79, Costume design, Costume Design — [page](https://film.one/film/malcolm-x.md)
- *Do the Right Thing* (1989), Fi1m 93, Costume Design, Costume design — [page](https://film.one/film/do-the-right-thing.md)
- *Seinfeld* (1989), Fi1m 90, Costume design, Costume Design — [page](https://film.one/tv/seinfeld.md)

## Complete filmography (64)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Black Panther 3* (2028), Costume Design
- *Snoop* (2027), Costume Design
- *The Thomas Crown Affair* (2027), Costume Design
- *The Pickup* (2025), Costume Design
- *Sinners* (2025), Costume Design — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/sinners.md)
- *Black Panther: Wakanda Forever* (2022), Costume Design — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/black-panther-wakanda-forever.md)
- *Coming 2 America* (2021), Costume Design
- *Dolemite Is My Name* (2019), Costume Designer
- *Above Suspicion* (2019), Costume Design
- *Black Panther* (2018), Costume Design — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/black-panther.md)
- *Marshall* (2017), Costume Design
- *Kidnap* (2017), Costume Designer
- *Keeping Up with the Joneses* (2016), Costume Design
- *Roots* (2016), series, Costume Design
- *Chi-Raq* (2015), Costume Design
- *Da Sweet Blood of Jesus* (2015), Costume Design
- *Selma* (2014), Costume Design — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/selma.md)
- *The Best of Me* (2014), Costume Design
- *Cosmos* (2014), series, Costume Designer
- *Oldboy* (2013), Costume Design
- *The Butler* (2013), Costume Design — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/the-butler.md)
- *Teen Beach Movie* (2013), Costume Design
- *Sparkle* (2012), Costume Design
- *Abduction* (2011), Costume Designer
- *Frankie & Alice* (2010), Costume Design
- *Black Dynamite* (2009), Costume Design
- *Bring It On: Fight to the Finish* (2009), Costume Designer
- *Imagine That* (2009), Costume Design
- *Spread* (2009), Costume Design
- *Meet Dave* (2008), Costume Design
- *Thief* (2006), series, Costume Design
- *Serenity* (2005), Costume Design — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/serenity.md)
- *Four Brothers* (2005), Costume Design
- *Against the Ropes* (2004), Costume Designer
- *Daddy Day Care* (2003), Costume Design
- *I Spy* (2002), Costume Design
- *Baby Boy* (2001), Costume Design
- *Dr. Dolittle 2* (2001), Costume Design
- *Bamboozled* (2000), Costume Design
- *Shaft* (2000), Costume Design
- *Love & Basketball* (2000), Costume Design
- *Summer of Sam* (1999), Costume Design
- *How Stella Got Her Groove Back* (1998), Costume Design
- *Amistad* (1997), Costume Design — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/amistad.md)
- *B.A.P.S* (1997), Costume Design
- *Rosewood* (1997), Costume Design
- *The Great White Hype* (1996), Costume Design
- *Money Train* (1995), Costume Design
- *Clockers* (1995), Costume Design — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/clockers.md)
- *Cobb* (1994), Costume Designer
- *Crooklyn* (1994), Costume Design
- *Surviving the Game* (1994), Costume Design
- *The Meteor Man* (1993), Costume Design
- *What's Love Got to Do with It* (1993), Costume Design
- *Malcolm X* (1992), Costume Design — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/malcolm-x.md)
- *House Party 2* (1991), Costume Designer
- *Jungle Fever* (1991), Costume Design
- *The Five Heartbeats* (1991), Costume Design
- *Mo' Better Blues* (1990), Costume Design
- *Spike & Co. Do It a-Cappella* (1990), Costume Designer
- *Seinfeld* (1989), series, Costume Design — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/tv/seinfeld.md)
- *Do the Right Thing* (1989), Costume Design — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/do-the-right-thing.md)
- *I'm Gonna Git You Sucka* (1988), Costume Design
- *School Daze* (1988), Costume Designer

## Gallery

- ![Ruth E. Carter](https://film.one/media/person/8586/gallery-a92147c070ad.jpg) Ruth E. Carter — Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Ruth_E._Carter_-_Sinners.jpg/1280px-Ruth_E._Carter_-_Sinners.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ruth Carter speaking at the 2018 WonderCon at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.](https://film.one/media/person/8586/gallery-520ea5a0e7ca.jpg) Ruth Carter speaking at the 2018 WonderCon at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Ruth_Carter_%2840188744225%29.jpg/1280px-Ruth_Carter_%2840188744225%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ruth Carter speaking at the 2018 WonderCon at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.](https://film.one/media/person/8586/gallery-8cbc2ba9e9d2.jpg) Ruth Carter speaking at the 2018 WonderCon at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/Ruth_Carter_%2840188823765%29.jpg/1280px-Ruth_Carter_%2840188823765%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ruth Carter speaking at the 2018 WonderCon at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.](https://film.one/media/person/8586/gallery-31707bbae49d.jpg) Ruth Carter speaking at the 2018 WonderCon at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Ruth_Carter_%2840373271734%29.jpg/1280px-Ruth_Carter_%2840373271734%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ruth E. Carter](https://film.one/media/person/8586/gallery-ba36841a9f68.jpg) Ruth E. Carter — Image via TMDB
- ![Ruth Carter speaking at the 2018 WonderCon at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.](https://film.one/media/person/8586/gallery-89ce1961b2bb.jpg) Ruth Carter speaking at the 2018 WonderCon at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Ruth_Carter_%2840373274244%29.jpg/1280px-Ruth_Carter_%2840373274244%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ruth Carter speaking at the 2018 WonderCon at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.](https://film.one/media/person/8586/gallery-5b6529576680.jpg) Ruth Carter speaking at the 2018 WonderCon at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Ruth_Carter_%2841039411552%29.jpg/1280px-Ruth_Carter_%2841039411552%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 2 won, 3 nominated

- 2026: Best Costume Design (nominated), for *Sinners*
- 2023: Best Costume Design (won), for *Black Panther: Wakanda Forever*
- 2019: Best Costume Design (won), for *Black Panther*
- 1998: Best Costume Design (nominated), for *Amistad*
- 1993: Best Costume Design (nominated), for *Malcolm X*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/ruth-e-carter