Nichols, Jeff, 1978-

Jeffrey Ryan Nichols (born December 7, 1978) is an American filmmaker, director, screenwriter, and producer. His films are characterized by their Southern United States backdrop and Americana ambience, slice-of-life depictions of rural and working class characters and the study of their struggles, American masculinity, and the cultural clash between traditionalism and modernism. He is also known for his longstanding collaboration with actor Michael Shannon, who has appeared in all of his feature films to date. After studying filmmaking at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Nichols moved into the independent filmmaking scene with Shotgun Stories (2007). He went on to direct the critically acclaimed films Take Shelter (2011), Mud (2012), Midnight Special (2016), Loving (2016), and The Bikeriders (2023).