John Ridley (born 1965) is an American writer and director.
Ridley was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and grew up in Mequon. His works include the feature films 12 Years a Slave, Red Tails, U Turn, Three Kings, and Undercover Brother; novels The Drift, Those Who Walk in Darkness, A Conversation with the Mann, Love is a Racket, Everybody Smokes in Hell, and Stray Dogs; and the graphic novel The American Way.