Christopher B. Stokes has quietly set a major milestone in Hollywood. The powerhouse behind Footage Films has now directed more than 50 movies, making him one of the most consistently active African American directors working today.
While the industry has been rocked by shutdowns, strikes, and budget cuts over the past few years, Stokes never took his foot off the gas. Instead, he doubled down — releasing thrillers, dramas, and streaming hits back-to-back.
“When creating films the objective is to tell diverse, culturally rich stories with high artistic, creative, technical standards. The cinematography and our actors must be flawless.” — Chris Stokes
Chris Stokes, Juanita Stokes at Footage Films’ “Run” Los Angeles Premiere held at the TCL Chinese Theatre on August 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images)
From Music Roots to Movie Hustle
Stokes first made his mark in the music world, discovering and managing hit groups like Immature and B2K, before making the jump to film. His early projects, including House Party 4 (2001) and You Got Served (2004), proved he could move audiences just as powerfully on the screen as he did on the charts.
Building a Streaming Lane
In recent years, he’s carved out a loyal following on Tubi, where his thrillers and suspense films have become fan favorites. His movie Adopted 1 even ranked among the platform’s top three most-streamed originals.
This summer, Stokes made a theatrical splash with RUN (August 29, 2025), premiering in Atlanta, New York, and Los Angeles.
Actress Drew Sidora praised her experience:
“What an honor it’s been starring in movies under the tutelage of the amazing Director Christopher Stokes and the Footage Films family. It’s been one of the best on-camera filming experiences ever.”
Annie Ilonzeh, who stars as Melissa in the sci-fi thriller, added:
“I want to thank Director Chris Stokes for giving actresses like myself, Erica Pinkett, and Erica Mena a chance to prove ourselves in this incredible film.”
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 27: Chris Stokes attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Footage Films’ “Run” at TCL Chinese Theatre on August 27, 2025 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
What’s Next
The work doesn’t stop here. Stokes already has 6–7 new projects lined up, including:
Rockabye (starring Annie Ilonzeh)
Twin (starring Drew Sidora)
Hijack
I Didn’t Do It
Nightshift
Fans can also expect Adopted 2 in October 2025, featuring rising young star Jayden Aguirre, alongside Princess Love and Don Benjamin. Looking ahead, Leave is slated for a theatrical MLK Weekend 2026 release, with Shallett Jefferson (Tyler Perry’s Straw), V. Bozeman (Empire), and Stephanie Barrington.
The Footage Films Blueprint
Founded in 2015, Footage Films has been Stokes’ creative hub. With content ranging from BET+ originals (Sacrifice, Trigger) to streaming platforms like Apple TV+, Prime Video, and UrbanflixTV, the company’s focus is on delivering culturally rich stories that resonate.
From his start in music to his long run in film, Chris Stokes has shown an unmatched ability to keep projects moving and audiences watching. And with his upcoming slate, it’s clear that the work is just getting started.
Breaking Records: Chris Stokes becomes the most prolific African American Director in cinema history. A huge feat with all the challenges filmmakers have been facing over the past seven years between setbacks due to covid-19 and the actor’s strike.
Breaking Records: Chris Stokes becomes the most prolific African American Director in cinema history. A huge feat with all the challenges filmmakers have been facing over the past seven years between setbacks due to covid-19 and the actor’s strike.
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“When creating films the objective is to tell diverse, culturally rich stories with high artistic, creative, technical standards. The cinematography and our actors must be flawless” – Chris Stokes
LOS ANGELES, CA, September 03, 2025 /24-7PressRelease — Christopher B. Stokes, the powerhouse creative mind behind Footage Films, has officially secured his place in history as the African American male film director with the most movies directed to date. With an extraordinary50+ films under his belt, Stokes stands as a trailblazer in both music and film, continuously shaping culture for more than three decades.
Before stepping behind the camera, Stokes built an undeniable legacy in music, discovering and assembling chart-topping groups likeImmature(featuring Marques Houston) andB2K(featuring Omarion). His seamless transition into film began with House Party 4 (2001), followed by the cultural phenomenon You Got Served (2004), which reignited the global dance movement and cemented his reputation as a visionary director.
In recent years, he has becomeespecially prolific, spearheading a wave of original thrillers for streaming platforms like Tubi, where he has released multiple titles in a single year. From suspense-driven projects like The Stepmother series to ensemble dramas and psychological thrillers, Stokes has carved out a niche as one of themost active African American directors in contemporary film.
Among his most notable streaming successes. Adopted 1 which is Stokes most streamed and Tubi’s top 3 most streamed original movie of all time, which further demonstrates his ability to captivate audiences in the digital era.
This past weekend, Stokes expanded his mark on the big screen with the theatrical release of RUN, which premiered onAugust 29, 2025, with red carpet screenings inAtlanta, New York City, and Los Angeles.
“What an honor it’s been starring in movies under the tutelage of the amazing Director Christopher Stokes and the Footage Films family. It’s been one of the best on-camera movie filming experiences ever,” – Drew Sidora
Annie IlonzehLead actress who stars as Melissa in RUN, shared her gratitude on the red carpet: “I want to thank Director Chris Stokes for giving actresses like myself, Erica Pinkett, and Erica Mena a chance to prove ourselves in this incredible sci-fi thriller.”
Standing in Historic Company
Stokes’ accomplishment surpasses some of the most iconic names in African American filmmaking history:
2.Oscar Micheaux— Directed and produced over44 filmsbetween 1919 and 1948, often credited as the first major African American feature filmmaker.
3.Spike Lee— Through his company 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, has produced and directed more than35 influential filmsspanning four decades.
4.Tyler Perry— Has directed28 feature filmsunder Tyler Perry Studios, building one of the most successful independent film studios in Hollywood.
With50+ directed films, Christopher B. Stokes now leads this distinguished lineage, setting a new benchmark for output and consistency.
Looking Ahead
Stokes shows no signs of slowing down. He plans to end the year with a homerun as he already has the bases loaded to finish the year strong with 6-7 new films to be completed by 2025.
ROCKABYE– starring Annie Ilonzeha
TWIN– Starring Drew Sidora
HIJACK
I DIDN’T DO IT
NIGHTSHIFT
What’s next? There’s a huge surprise! You spoke out and we Chris Stokes & the Footage Films team listened.ADOPTED 2is already set with an October 2025 release date, starring up and coming kid, super star, Jayden Aguirre , alongside Princess Love & Don Benjamin
LEAVE– is slated for a wide theatrical release onMLK Weekend 2026, starring Shallet Jefferson (Tyler Perry’s STRAW), V. Bozeman (FOX Empire), and Stephanie Barrington.
From music mogul to cultural architect of modern cinema, Christopher B. Stokes continues to set the bar for African American directors, proving that longevity, creativity, and consistency are the keys to lasting impact.
Founding & Vision
Founded in 2015 by veteran writer, producer, and director Christopher B. Stokes, Footage Films embodies his expansive and innovative creative vision . The company’s ethos revolves around capturing the emotional choreography of life—”life documented”—through storytelling across platforms, including motion pictures, TV, digital entertainment, creative programming, and scoring.
Mission & Content Focus
Footage Films aims to tell diverse, culturally rich stories with high artistic, creative, and technical standards. Its content spans streaming platforms, television, and theatrical releases, anchored by a commitment to objective storytelling and emotional resonance.
Signature Projects & Platform Reach
Footage Films has produced a growing catalog of urban and culturally resonant content:
BET+ features include the Original Series Sacrifice and the Original Film Trigger, among others. The company’s works also stream across platforms like Apple TV+, Prime Video, UMC, and UrbanflixTV.
Footage Films stands out as a creative force in contemporary urban entertainment, seamlessly blending storytelling, talent development, and platform-driven content for diverse audiences.
SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers for “Run,” now playing in theaters.
Marques Houston is on a mission to bring more Black audiences to theaters.
That goal has served as his north star as the CEO of Footage Films, a production company where he executive produces and writes the majority of the titles.
Footage Films is thrilled to announce the upcoming theatrical release of its new sci‑fi thriller “Run,” arriving exclusively in select theaters on August 29 2025 Directed by Chris Stokes and co‑written by Stokes and actor Marques Houston, “Run” blends alien‑invasion suspense with human drama and aims to bring audiences back to the big screen
In the film, bride‑to‑be Melissa (Annie Ilonzeh) leaves her fiancé at the altar and escapes on a weekend trip with her friends. The getaway turns into a fight for survival when they discover a mutilated body and learn that aliens have invaded the country. Stranded between extraterrestrial attackers and their own fractured relationships, the women must rely on each other to survive.
“Run” features a strong ensemble cast including Annie Ilonzeh, Marques Houston, Erica Mena, Erica Pinkett, Drew Sidora and Ken Lawson Houston notes the movie balances thrilling sci‑fi action with a personal love story, centering on Melissa and her would‑be groom navigating their feelings amid chaos Director Chris Stokes says the creative team wanted to craft a suspenseful survival story with an urban ensemble rarely seen in mainstream sci‑fi. Early reactions praise the film’s character development and ensemble chemistry.
Tickets will be available through Fandango ahead of the August 29 release. For more information, visit the official site at runofficialmovie.com. For press inquiries or additional details, please contact runonlyintheatres@gmail.com. Follow Footage Films and “Run” on social media for behind‑the‑scenes content and updates. Experience the story on the big screen – if you see them, run.
The alien invasion thriller Run is headed to the big screen this summer.
Footage Films has officially set an August 29, 2025 theatrical premiere date for the upcoming sci-fi thriller, directed by Chris Stokes and marks a pivot from the team that helped build Tubi’s urban film audience to one aiming to re-engage that same audience in theaters.
The film stars Annie Ilonzeh, Marques Houston, and Erica Mena, alongside Erica Pinkett, Drew Sidora, Ken Lawson, Claudia Jordan, and Obba Babatundé.
The story follows Melissa (Ilonzeh), who leaves her fiancé Andre (Houston) at the altar. To help her regroup, Melissa’s best friends convince her to take a weekend girls’ trip to a secluded cabin. What starts as a much-needed escape turns into a nightmare when one of them is found mutilated in the woods. Things spiral further when news reports reveal a nationwide alien attack—forcing the women into survival mode as they fight to make it out alive.
New film from director Chris Stokes combines alien invasion horror with survival thriller elements LOS ANGELES, CA – August 18, 2025 – Footage Films has just announced the upcoming limited theatrical release of “RUN [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35719293/],” a sci-fi thriller that puts a deadly twist on the classic girls’ trip gone wrong. The film will hit select theaters nationwide on August 29, 2025.
Directed by Chris Stokes and co-written by Marques Houston, “RUN” stars Annie Ilonzeh, Marques Houston, Erica Mena, Erica Pinkett, and Drew Sidora in a heart-pounding story that begins as a simple getaway and transforms into a fight for survival.
Los Angeles–Cue the dance moves and singing: Tubi is honoringBlack History Monthwith an all-new original musical drama “Howard High.”
The movie, which will premieres on FOX’s free streaming service Feb. 4, is a modern-age “Bring It On” and follows a high school musical group that must compete against a rival school in order to save their arts program, while also battling issues from the inside.Stars of the castMarquesHoustonandChrissy Stokestold FOX Television Stations Group “Howard High” wasoriginally a TV series, but made into a movie for Tubi audiences.
UrbanFlix greenlights new series! Footage Films & Director Christopher B. Stokes Continue To Illuminate The Screen With Brian White In The New Series “Foster Law”
Footage Films & Director Christopher B. Stokes Continue To Illuminate The Screen With Strong African American Leading Ladies In The Thriller “Always And Forever” Available November 20th In Limited Theaters And On Demand
