Barry Jenkins Trivia
Barry Jenkins trivia highlights the career of an American filmmaker who debuted with the 2003 short My Josephine before breaking through with his first feature, Medicine for Melancholy, in 2008. That debut feature earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best First Feature, making his rise in independent cinema a strong starting point for both easy and hard questions alike.
Easy Barry Jenkins Trivia
13 questions
These easy Barry Jenkins trivia questions are great for beginners and kids around age 12 and under.
Question 1
On what date was Barry Jenkins born?
Answer: November 19, 1979
Barry Jenkins was born on November 19, 1979.
Question 2
Barry Jenkins is best known as what kind of artist?
Answer: An American filmmaker
Barry Jenkins is an American filmmaker.
Question 3
What was the title of the short film Barry Jenkins made in 2003?
Answer: My Josephine
Jenkins made the short film "My Josephine" in 2003.
Question 4
Which movie was Barry Jenkins's first feature film?
Answer: Medicine for Melancholy
His first feature film was "Medicine for Melancholy," directed in 2008.
Question 5
"Medicine for Melancholy" earned Barry Jenkins an Independent Spirit Award nomination for what category?
Answer: Best First Feature
The film earned Jenkins an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best First Feature.
Question 6
Which 2016 film was directed by Barry Jenkins?
Answer: Moonlight
Barry Jenkins directed the 2016 film "Moonlight.".
Question 7
What Academy Award did "Moonlight" win?
Answer: Best Picture
"Moonlight" won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Question 8
Barry Jenkins helped write what part of "Moonlight"?
Answer: The screenplay
Jenkins co-wrote the screenplay for "Moonlight.".
Question 9
Which 2018 film did Barry Jenkins direct?
Answer: If Beale Street Could Talk
Jenkins directed the 2018 film "If Beale Street Could Talk.".
Question 10
The film "If Beale Street Could Talk" is based on a novel by which writer?
Answer: James Baldwin
"If Beale Street Could Talk" is based on a novel by James Baldwin.
Question 11
What miniseries did Barry Jenkins direct?
Answer: The Underground Railroad
Barry Jenkins directed the miniseries "The Underground Railroad.".
Question 12
In what year was "The Underground Railroad" released?
Answer: 2021
"The Underground Railroad" was released in 2021.
Question 13
For which achievement did Barry Jenkins win an Oscar for "Moonlight"?
Answer: Best Adapted Screenplay
Barry Jenkins won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for "Moonlight.".
Barry Jenkins Family Trivia
12 questions
These family Barry Jenkins trivia questions are built for mixed-age game nights, classrooms, and groups.
Question 1
In which Miami neighborhood was Barry Jenkins raised?
Answer: Liberty City
Barry Jenkins was raised in Liberty City, a neighborhood of Miami.
Question 2
Barry Jenkins graduated from which university?
- A.New York
- B.Florida State University
- C.University of Miami
- D.Florida International University
Answer: Florida State University
He graduated from Florida State University.
Question 3
What subject did Barry Jenkins study at Florida State University?
Answer: Film
At Florida State, Jenkins studied film.
Question 4
What is the name of the production company Barry Jenkins co-founded?
Answer: Strike Anywhere Films
Barry Jenkins co-founded the production company Strike Anywhere Films.
Question 5
Which producer is known as a frequent collaborator of Barry Jenkins?
- A.Adele Romanski
- B.Regina King
- C.Naomie Harris
- D.Janelle Monáe
Answer: Adele Romanski
Producer Adele Romanski is a frequent collaborator of Barry Jenkins.
Question 6
On "Moonlight," which producer worked with Barry Jenkins alongside the film's team?
Answer: Dede Gardner
Producer Dede Gardner worked with Jenkins on "Moonlight.".
Question 7
Which producer teamed up with Barry Jenkins on "Moonlight": Jeremy Kleiner, Alex R. Hibbert, or Ashton Sanders?
- A.Jeremy Kleiner
- B.Alex R. Hibbert
- C.Ashton Sanders
- D.Trevante Rhodes
Answer: Jeremy Kleiner
Jeremy Kleiner worked with Jenkins on "Moonlight.".
Question 8
Barry Jenkins adapted "Moonlight" from work by which writer?
Answer: Tarell Alvin McCraney
"Moonlight" was adapted from work by Tarell Alvin McCraney.
Question 9
How many chapters does "Moonlight" use to tell its story?
Answer: Three chapters
"Moonlight" tells its story in three chapters.
Question 10
In "Moonlight," who plays Chiron as a child?
Answer: Alex R. Hibbert
Alex R. Hibbert plays the child version of Chiron in "Moonlight.".
Question 11
Which actor plays the teenage version of Chiron in "Moonlight"?
Answer: Ashton Sanders
Ashton Sanders plays teenage Chiron.
Question 12
When Chiron grows up in "Moonlight," which actor plays his adult version?
Answer: Trevante Rhodes
Trevante Rhodes plays the adult version of Chiron.
Fun Barry Jenkins Trivia
13 questions
These fun Barry Jenkins trivia questions highlight surprising moments and playful facts for game-night groups.
Question 1
Before bigger spotlights found him, Barry Jenkins was one of the writers of which 2008 film?
Answer: Remigration
Barry Jenkins was one of the writers of the 2008 film "Remigration.".
Question 2
If you dropped a pin on the map of "Medicine for Melancholy," which city would it land in?
Answer: San Francisco
"Medicine for Melancholy" is set in San Francisco.
Question 3
Which performer stars in "Medicine for Melancholy" alongside its intimate San Francisco story?
Answer: Wyatt Cenac
Wyatt Cenac stars in "Medicine for Melancholy.".
Question 4
Name the co-star of "Medicine for Melancholy" who appears with Wyatt Cenac.?
Answer: Tracey Heggins
Tracey Heggins stars in "Medicine for Melancholy.".
Question 5
"Medicine for Melancholy" borrows its title from a story collection by which author?
Answer: Ray Bradbury
The title "Medicine for Melancholy" shares its name with a Ray Bradbury story collection.
Question 6
What is the name of the 2017 short film that Barry Jenkins both wrote and directed?
Answer: Dear Beautiful
Barry Jenkins wrote and directed the 2017 short film "Dear Beautiful.".
Question 7
Barry Jenkins didn’t just visit "The Underground Railroad" once or twice—he directed how many episodes?
Answer: 10 episodes
Jenkins directed all 10 episodes of "The Underground Railroad.".
Question 8
Whose novel served as the basis for "The Underground Railroad"?
Answer: Colson Whitehead
"The Underground Railroad" is based on a novel by Colson Whitehead.
Question 9
Which streaming home released "The Underground Railroad"?
Answer: Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video released "The Underground Railroad.".
Question 10
In "The Underground Railroad," who stars as Cora?
Answer: Thuso Mbedu
Thuso Mbedu stars in "The Underground Railroad" is Cora.
Question 11
Which actor appears in "The Underground Railroad" as Ridgeway?
Answer: Joel Edgerton
Joel Edgerton appears in "The Underground Railroad" is Ridgeway.
Question 12
For directing "The Underground Railroad," Barry Jenkins picked up a major prize from which guild?
Answer: Directors Guild
Barry Jenkins won the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series for "The Underground Railroad.".
Question 13
Which major award did "The Underground Railroad" win for Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television?
Answer: Golden Globe
"The Underground Railroad" won the Golden Globe for Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.
Funny Barry Jenkins Trivia
13 questions
These funny Barry Jenkins trivia questions highlight playful moments, odd facts, and inside jokes.
Question 1
Barry Jenkins has directed titles that sound like a very dramatic shopping list: one with "Medicine," one with "Moonlight," and one with what railway-flavored word?
Answer: Railroad
Among Jenkins-directed titles, one includes the word "Railroad.".
Question 2
His first feature film wastes no time with suspense. What word does its title start with?
Answer: Medicine
Jenkins's first feature title begins with the word "Medicine.".
Question 3
Barry Jenkins has an Oscar-winning film title that already sounds half-lit by the sky. Which word in it is the celestial giveaway?
Answer: Moon
His Oscar-winning film title includes the word "Moon.".
Question 4
If you were alphabetizing Jenkins projects and hit the train aisle, which word appears in one of his titles?
Answer: Railroad
One Jenkins project title includes the word "Railroad.".
Question 5
One Barry Jenkins project title contains an animal word fit for a roar. Which one is it?
Answer: Lion
One Jenkins project title includes the word "Lion.".
Question 6
Which character is at the center of a Barry Jenkins-directed film: Simba, Mufasa, Timon, or Scar?
- A.Scar
- B.Mufasa
- C.Simba
- D.Timon
Answer: Mufasa
Jenkins directed a film centered on a character named Mufasa.
Question 7
Barry Jenkins went from tiny indie energy to the big castle logo world. What major company does that leap point to?
Answer: Disney
He moved from a tiny indie debut feature to directing a major Disney franchise film.
Question 8
Which full title proves Barry Jenkins can direct both melancholy and monarchy?
Answer: The Lion King
Jenkins has directed both a feature with "Melancholy" in the title and one with "Lion King" in the title.
Question 9
The title "My Josephine" keeps things personal right away. What is its first word?
Answer: My
"My Josephine" begins with the word "My.".
Question 10
"Dear Beautiful" opens like a very flattering letter. What word begins that title?
Answer: Dear
The title "Dear Beautiful" begins with the word "Dear.".
Question 11
Barry Jenkins has a project titled "Chlorophyl." In plain science-class terms, that word refers to what?
Answer: green pigment
"Chlorophyl" refers to the green pigment used in photosynthesis.
Question 12
Grammar pop quiz with cinematic side effects: in "Medicine for Melancholy," how many words come after "for"?
Answer: three words
The title contains three words after the preposition "for.".
Question 13
Among Barry Jenkins's narrative feature films, which title wins the marathon for length?
Answer: If Beale Street Could Talk
"If Beale Street Could Talk" is the longest title among his narrative feature films.
Hard Barry Jenkins Trivia
14 questions
These hard Barry Jenkins trivia questions are for expert fans who want a real challenge.
Question 1
Barry Jenkins adapted "Moonlight" from an unpublished work by Tarell Alvin McCraney. What was the title of that source piece?
Answer: In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue
"Moonlight" was adapted from McCraney's unpublished work "In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue.".
Question 2
For which Golden Globe category did Barry Jenkins personally win for "Moonlight"?
- A.Best Motion Picture – Drama
- B.Best Original Score
- C.Best Screenplay
- D.Best Director
Answer: Best Screenplay
Barry Jenkins won the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay for "Moonlight.".
Question 3
Which major British film honor nominated Barry Jenkins for Best Director for "Moonlight"?
Answer: BAFTA
Jenkins received a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Director for "Moonlight.".
Question 4
At the Golden Globes, "Moonlight" took home which top film prize?
- A.Best Motion Picture – Drama
- B.Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
- C.Best Director
- D.Best Screenplay
Answer: Best Motion Picture – Drama
"Moonlight" won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama.
Question 5
Which critics group awarded Barry Jenkins Best Director for "Moonlight"?
- A.Los Angeles Film Critics Association
- B.National Board of Review
- C.The National Society of Film Critics
- D.New York Film Critics Circle
Answer: The National Society of Film Critics
The National Society of Film Critics gave Barry Jenkins its Best Director award for "Moonlight.".
Question 6
Before "Moonlight," which Jenkins feature earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Director?
Answer: Medicine for Melancholy
Barry Jenkins received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Director for "Medicine for Melancholy.".
Question 7
Name the festival where "Medicine for Melancholy" had its premiere in 2008.?
Answer: Toronto International Film Festival
"Medicine for Melancholy" premiered at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival.
Question 8
Roughly how much did Barry Jenkins spend to make his first feature?
Answer: About $13,000
Barry Jenkins's first feature was made on a budget of roughly $13,000.
Question 9
Who served as cinematographer on "Moonlight"?
- A.James Laxton
- B.Nicholas Britell
- C.Tarell Alvin McCraney
- D.Bradford Young
Answer: James Laxton
The cinematographer of "Moonlight" was James Laxton.
Question 10
Who composed the score for "Moonlight"?
- A.Mica Levi
- B.Nicholas Britell
- C.James Laxton
- D.Alex Somers
Answer: Nicholas Britell
Nicholas Britell composed the score for "Moonlight.".
Question 11
On "The Underground Railroad," Barry Jenkins held what top creative leadership role beyond directing?
Answer: Showrunner
Barry Jenkins served is showrunner on "The Underground Railroad.".
Question 12
"The Underground Railroad" brought Jenkins a nomination from which awards body for directing?
- A.Primetime Emmy
- B.Golden Globe
- C.Peabody Awards
- D.Directors Guild of America
Answer: Primetime Emmy
"The Underground Railroad" earned Barry Jenkins a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
Question 13
By winning the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, Barry Jenkins became the first Black filmmaker to do what exactly?
Answer: Win the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay
Barry Jenkins was the first Black filmmaker to win the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Question 14
Which Independent Spirit Award category did "Moonlight" win?
- A.Best First Feature
- B.Best Feature
- C.Best Director
- D.Best Screenplay
Answer: Best Feature
"Moonlight" won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Feature.
Download PDF
Get the generated PDF file for printing, classroom rounds, or offline use.
Download printable trivia PDF