Disclosed herein are methods for generating dopaminergic neurons in vitro by inhibiting a pathway component of a TGF-β signaling pathway and overexpressing one or more cell fate-inducing polypeptides in pluripotent cells, causing differentiation of the pluripotent cells into dopaminergic neurons. Also disclosed are methods for treating a neurodegenerative disease in a patient by generating dopaminergic neurons in vitro, and transplanting them into the brain of the patient, such that the dopaminergic neurons are sufficient to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of the neurodegenerative disease.