Award-winning director Ryan Coogler and famed actor Michael B. Jordan have teamed up again to make an outstanding film.
Sinners has performed amazingly at the box office and has surpassed the fan favorite A Minecraft Movie, released two weeks prior. Coogler is an exceptional filmmaker and producer known for directing movies such as the Black Panther series, Fruitvale Station, Rocky spin-off Creed, and Creed III. He has also produced Judas and the Black Messiah and Space Jam: A New Legacy. Coogler is known for casting Jordan in his films; he has starred in the Black Panther series, Fruitvale Station, and the Creed trilogy. With the 2025 release of the horror thriller, southern-bound film Sinners, Coogler and Jordan have created yet another unforgettable and distinctive film.
Sinners follows the story of two twin brothers, Smoke and Stack, both played by Jordan, and their return to their southern hometown of Clarksdale, Miss., in 1932. The story unfolds all within 24 hours. They plan to open a “juke joint,” a place for people to gather, drink, and listen to live music. Their younger cousin, Sammie, is a talented musician with a special voice for the Blues. He was gifted a guitar from the twins and was asked to join them at their juke joint and perform his music. The twins gather other characters to help them get their juke joint running and fill in needed jobs. The film takes a dark turn once night hits, when bloodthirsty Irish vampires show up due to Sammie’s desirable voice when performing the Blues.
In the Sinners official trailer, Annie, played by Wunmi Mosaku, says, “There are legends of people with the gift of making music so true, it can conjure spirits from the past and the future. This gift can bring fame and fortune. But it also can pierce the veil between life and death.” According to Roger Ebert, the film presents countless deeper messages. It primarily focuses on African folklore, America’s racial history, decimated Black families, Black freedom, Black-owned properties, the importance of ancestors and kin, and the binding power of music. Coogler shares many complementary concepts of the characters doing questionable acts to represent the title “Sinners.” According to Screen Rant, the title represents the characters’ flaws, as they have all sinned in different ways.
The film has an amazing supporting cast featuring Hailee Steinfeld as Mary, Wunmi Mosaku, Jack O’Connell as Remmick, Jayme Lawson as Pearline, Omar Miller as Cornbread, Delroy Lindo as Delta Slim, and Miles Caton as Sammie. Sinners was 20-year-old Caton’s first role. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Caton said, “I grew up in church, in a family full of musicians, so that’s something that has been ingrained into my life and everything that I do since I was a kid – The culture of it means a lot to me. To be able to have this experience—to do research and learn about the blues and the story behind it, was special for me.”
This cast has chemistry on and off the screen. Many expressed love for Jordan and Steinfeld’s chemistry, as Stack and Mary play each other’s love interest. Steinfeld’s fiancé, football star Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, shared his opinions on the film. According to Marca, Allen said, “It was amazing. It was a different world. A great experience. I’m excited and proud of her. It’s getting really good reviews. It’s a fantastic movie…so go see it.”
Coogler uniquely decided to simultaneously shoot Sinners on an IMAX camera with Ultra Panavision 70, according to IndieWire. Coogler mentions in an interview with Kodak, the camera and film company, that the film was shot with two different aspect ratios, and this is the first time that a movie has been released combining these two. Sinners cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw was the first female DP to shoot 15-perf IMAX 65mm, according to IndieWire. An IMAX 1:43:1 ratio theater is how the movie was intended to be seen. Unfortunately, not all states have an IMAX theater, but there are many other ticket options for this vampire thriller.
Sinners has performed extremely well at the box office with 98 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. According to Forbes, Sinners has the highest combined critic and audience Rotten Tomatoes scores ever. It is also the first horror movie in history to earn an “A” on CinemaScore. The film had a phenomenal Easter opening weekend, earning $48 million domestically and $63 million globally. According to Collider, it has domestically become one of the 100 highest-grossing horror films in box office history in just five days. Sinners was produced on a $90 million budget. Since its release, the film has made $161.6 million worldwide and is only expected to keep making more money from its intrigued audience.
Rotten Tomatoes and critic reviews have named this one of the best horror films, specifically of 2025. Coogler and Jordan teamed up to make an extraordinary film with a fantastic supporting cast and film team. With its unique plot and story line to its production and direction, Sinners continues to bring in high numbers and do incredibly well with movie lovers.
