By Jamil Weeks

Jim Crow. The blues. Religion. Exploitation. Mississippi folktales. Sinners is much more than a typical vampire horror flick. Director Ryan Coogler follows in the footsteps of contemporary visionary filmmakers, such as Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve, in providing moviegoers with a uniquely indelible theater experience. Hollywood has drawn the warranted ire from movie fans in recent years for the lack of originality in modern day films. Fortunately for famished cinephiles, Coogler lends his cinematic brilliance to the big screen again for the malnourished to sink their teeth in. In Sinners, there is plenty to digest as we follow twin brothers, Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan), who return home to Mississippi after a hiatus to open their own juke joint. Vampire mythology is used as a vehicle to explore deeper meanings of our society. Coogler delivers a social commentary disguised as a horror film in telling the story of the twins. For those that love a classic vampire movie, all the familiar elements are present in this film. The blood and carnage. The mythology. The fangs. The sexual overtones. Conceptually the story of Sinners may even remind you of prior vampire films, like From Dusk til Dawn or Tales From the Crypt: Demon Knight. However, what Coogler manages in Sinners is to add layers to the story with profound implications of civilization throughout American history.

Some films were made for the in-theater experience, and Sinners happens to be one of them. Shot in both IMAX and Ultra Panavision 70, Sinners entices movie fans back to theaters with rich, lush frames that will make your eyes pop from the picture quality. Shooting in IMAX made Sinners a must-see on the biggest screen possible. For those of us lucky enough to witness Coogler’s genius in IMAX, we got to see the film in the form that was originally intended. On IMAX screens, you get the benefit of shifting aspect ratios between the two formats, engaging the audiences more in the story. The Ultra Panavision shots provide that classic cinematic feel of how movies used to be filmed before digital conquered Hollywood. With both film technologies, moviegoers are being treated to scenes shot in a higher resolution for a more crisp picture quality. These captivating visuals elevate Sinners above generic horror films with a superior presentation that enhances the storytelling.

”If you keep dancing with the devil, one day he’s gonna follow you home” - Jedidiah Moore

In a way, watching Sinners is much like the experience of listening to a Kendrick Lamar album. Mainstream entertainment cleverly embedded with metaphors and symbolism to engross audiences in hidden themes. Coincidentally, music plays a major role in driving the story of Sinners. The blues-inspired original score from Ludwig Göransson helps immerse audiences in 1930s Deep South. Sinners delves into the hypnotic quality of music and how it connects people from different backgrounds. Coogler uses musical expression to add more depth to the characters in the film. Some characters use music as a means of escape from their reality or from social constraints placed on them. Others use music as a manipulation tool to impose their way of life on others for their own personal gain. The human connection is further explored with music in how it connects the past with the future, primarily through the blues. Blues became the blueprint for modern music, like jazz, rap, and rock music, while having roots in gospel and African tribal music. With the story taking place in Mississippi, Sinners draws references from the birthplace of the blues in Clarksdale, Mississippi. The place where legend has it influential blues musician, Robert Johnson, sold his soul to the devil in exchange for fame. The historical context of such a tale provides the perfect setting for the story to take place in Jim Crow South. The oppression black people faced post Civil War which helped to fuel the depressing themes in blues music. Blues also has a connection with sexual desire as expressed through suggestive lyrics from blues songwriters. The seductive quality of the musical genre ties in perfectly with a vampire story since vampires use sexual desire as a means to lure victims at will. The musical contributions to Sinners was an unexpected surprise in a good way, especially in the presence of a state-of-the-art IMAX sound system.

Michael B. Jordan has come a long way and since portraying Wallace in The Wire. Coogler and Jordan have formed into a powerhouse duo, becoming the modern day equivalent to Spike and Denzel. Sinners marks the fifth time the pair have worked together, and the chemistry is only growing. As both Smoke and Stack, Jordan manages to convincingly pull off his best acting performance yet. Despite being twins, there is almost never a moment in the film where you get confused over which twin Jordan is playing in any given scene. Jordan portrays one twin as more serious in handling business and no-nonsense, and the other as more colorful and diplomatic. Smoke appears to be the leader of the pair, taking on big brother responsibilities usually reserved for an older sibling. With the first half of the film, you become completely enveloped in their story as much as you later become invested when the vampires emerge in the story. Jordan’s portrayal of the twins served as the heart of the film. You understand their motivations in their pursuit of the American dream. Sinners is Jordan’s finest hour as an actor.

As the twins return home, you are introduced to the rest of the cast as they get swept up in the twins’ scheme to open their juke joint. Hollywood veteran, Delroy Lindo, steals almost every scene he is featured in. Playing the drunkard, Delta Slim, Lindo is electric in every scene making the most of every second of screen time Coogler has allotted him. Not to be outdone by the fellas, the ladies of Sinners each brought their A-game to the sets. Wunmi Mosaku as Annie and Hailee Steinfeld as Mary play the love interests of the twins. Helping to flesh out the twins’ story by providing some backstory to each twin before they left Mississippi to head up Notth, both actors give Oscar-caliber performances in their supporting roles giving each scene with Jordan more gravity. Jayme Lawson as Pearline also plays the love interest of the cousin of the twins, played by first time actor, Miles Caton. Caton is perhaps the biggest surprise in Sinners. With a singing voice that will steal your heart and captivate your mind, his role plays a central part throughout the film in bringing to life the themes of the story, such as freedom of choice and musical expression. Even characters with minor roles, like Omar Benson Miller as Cornbread or Li Jun Li as Grace Chow, deliver memorable performances. Cornbread is probably the most beloved character in the film and has some of the most popular quotables from the film. Li’s character represents the Chinese population of the Mississippi Delta and shows the alliance black people and the Chinese forged back in the days of Jim Crow. Finally, there is the lead vampire, Remmick, played by Jack O’Connell. O’Connell is magnificent as he plays the seductive Remmick who tries to lure his prey into the darkness with promises of immortality and being part of a family. Coogler could not have picked a better cast as there is no weak link, regardless of how big or small the role is.

Sinners is a passion project of Coogler. Best known for his work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Coogler has shown he is talented enough to hold the reins of a big budget project. Coogler has further demonstrated his directorial excellence with his successful contributions to an already existing IP, with his directorial efforts in Creed in the Rocky franchise. However, after watching Sinners, audiences will be clamoring for more original stories from him, like Fruitvale Station. Perhaps the best piece of marketing for this film was the video of Coogler breaking down the different film formats. The video demonstrated Coogler’s love for filmmaking as well as his expertise. Coogler’s gift is his ability to explore socio-economic issues through thoughtful storytelling and with a keen eye for beautiful visuals that dazzle the eyes. Coogler’s main focus, however, remains on telling a powerful story, choosing to sprinkle the script with black historical allusions that do not come across as “preachy” social commentary. Unlike directors like Spike Lee, Coogler is much more subdued in communicating hidden social messages in his films. With Sinners, Coogler has placed himself in the ranks of other A-list Hollywood directors, with a concentration on Afro-centric stories.

Sinners is the best film of 2025 so far. With an adept cast brilliantly executing Coogler’s vision, Sinners gives a unique twist on the traditional vampire tale. A period film that throws horror, action, and drama into a blender to provide a different type of movie experience than your typical horror film. With an intimate and entrancing story, audiences have left theaters both entertained and educated. With word of mouth quickly spreading, Sinners has taken on a cultural relevance not seen since Jordan Peele’s Get Out. The film has enamored both critics and audiences alike, showing no signs of slowing down at the box office. Coogler manages to entertain and educate audiences with subtle historical nods and metaphorical references. The evidence is in the weekly box office numbers. The film has only seen a 25% drop in its third weekend despite leaving IMAX screens with the arrival of Thunderbolts. The demand for IMAX screenings of Sinners was so high that movie theaters had no choice but to bring it back. In select cities in May (which reportedly are already sold out), Sinners will be brought back to IMAX on a limited basis. Coogler has given fickle movie fans a legitimate reason to venture back to theaters in these uncertain economic times. There are not too many films in the 2020s that people have bragged about going to see in theaters multiple times. If you have not seen this film, I strongly urge you to see this film in theaters. Sinners gives you that rare movie theater experience that you will remember and talk about in later years to family and friends. The type of movie that sparks debate and discourse long after the movie leaves theater screens. The movie is a breath of fresh air for movie fans desperate for more original films. Depending on the success of this film at the box office, Sinners could change Hollywood’s approach to filmmaking in the future. Studios might not be so apprehensive in green lighting passion projects if Sinners turns a huge profit. One thing is for certain. Sinners has firmly established Coogler and Jordan into a formidable powerhouse duo in Hollywood, leaving me anxious for what future projects they have in store for us.