Men in Black is a series of American science fiction action comedy films directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, and based on the Malibu / Marvel comic book series The Men in Black by Lowell Cunningham, which was itself based on a UFO conspiracy theory. The first film, Men in Black, was released in 1997, the second film, Men in Black II in 2002, the third film, Men in Black 3 in 2012, and the fourth film a spin-off, Men in Black: International in 2019. Amblin Entertainment and MacDonald/Parkes Productions produced, and Sony Pictures Releasing through its Columbia Pictures label released, all four films.