David Ayer (born January 18, 1968) is an American filmmaker known for making crime films that are set in Los Angeles and deal with gangs and police corruption. His screenplays include Training Day (2001), The Fast and the Furious (2001), and S.W.A.T. (2003). He has also directed Harsh Times (2005), Street Kings (2008), End of Watch (2012), Sabotage (2014), and The Beekeeper (2024). In 2016, he directed the superhero movie Suicide Squad from the DC Extended Universe, and then the urban fantasy film Bright (2017) for Netflix. He has twice collaborated with actor Shia LaBeouf: first with the World War II drama Fury (2014), then the crime thriller The Tax Collector (2020). He has also collaborated with his friend Cle Shaheed Sloan who has appeared in four of his films.
Known For
The Beekeeper
(2024)
Director
Bright
(2017)
Director
Suicide Squad
(2016)
Director
Fury
(2014)
Director
Sabotage
(2014)
Director
The Tax Collector
(2020)
Director
Street Kings
(2008)
Director
Harsh Times
(2005)
Director
End of Watch
(2012)
Director
Levon's Trade
(2025)
Director
Full Filmography
Directing
Harsh Times
(2005)
Director
Street Kings
(2008)
Director
End of Watch
(2012)
Director
Sabotage
(2014)
Director
Fury
(2014)
Director
Suicide Squad
(2016)
Director
Bright
(2017)
Director
The Tax Collector
(2020)
Director
The Beekeeper
(2024)
Director
Levon's Trade
(2025)
Director
Acting
Training Day
(2001)
First Russian Hitman (uncredited)
Street Kings
(2008)
NLR member in County Jail (uncredited)
The Long Shadow of Dirty Harry
(2008)
Self
A Moral Right: The Politics of Dirty Harry
(2008)
Self
The Business End: Violence in Cinema
(2008)
Self
The Evolution of Clint Eastwood
(2008)
Self
The Craft of Dirty Harry
(2008)
Self
DC Films Presents Dawn of the Justice League
(2016)
Self
Joker: Put on a Happy Face
(2020)
Self
Writing
U-571
(2000)
Screenplay
Training Day
(2001)
Screenplay
The Fast and the Furious
(2001)
Screenplay
Dark Blue
(2002)
Screenplay
S.W.A.T.
(2003)
Screenplay
Harsh Times
(2005)
Writer
End of Watch
(2012)
Screenplay
Sabotage
(2014)
Writer
Fury
(2014)
Writer
Suicide Squad
(2016)
Writer
Bright
(2017)
Writer
The Tax Collector
(2020)
Screenplay
Levon's Trade
(2025)
Writer
Production
Training Day
(2001)
Co-Producer
The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing
(2004)
Production Consultant
Harsh Times
(2005)
Producer
End of Watch
(2012)
Producer
Sabotage
(2014)
Producer
Fury
(2014)
Producer
Bright
(2017)
Producer
Ready for War
(2019)
Executive Producer
Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)
(2020)
Executive Producer
Bosco
(2024)
Executive Producer
Levon's Trade
(2025)
Producer
Crew