Something that is often painfully absent from the modern film landscape is big-budget blockbuster projects that feel like someone’s actual vision has been realized onscreen. So many of the most successful blockbusters of the past decade are ones that actively feel as if they have been market-tested to death, methodically and coldly reconfigured by a variety of parties to appeal to have the broadest market appeal possible.
Which is why when a filmmaker is able to cohesively and palpably put something original, idiosyncratic, and distinctly their own on the screen in such a large format, the result is flat-out palpable. You can feel it in your very bones, and that is very much the case with Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners.”
MY TOP 5 THINGS ABOUT “SINNERS”
5. A Night at the Movies You’ll Never Forget
Sinners is a riotous, rollicking good time at the theater. It’s a big-budget action-horror blockbuster about cosmic music powers, cultural appropriation, spiritual dilemmas—and, yes, oral sex—in equal measure. Within its two-hour-plus runtime, Coogler and team deliver something so cohesive, satisfying, and layered that it practically screams love-letter to the moviegoing experience itself.
4. An Unexpectedly Powerful Character Drama
What’s most shocking about Sinners is the confidence and bravado behind its craft. Aside from a brief prologue, the first hour is nearly genre-free, focusing instead on rich character development and world-building. Thanks to impeccable production design, gorgeous cinematography, evocative editing, and a stellar score, this section feels like a standalone period piece. By the time the horror kicks in, the emotional groundwork laid makes every brutal moment feel 10x heavier.
3. Music That Transcends Reality
This movie is soaked in music—both through Ludwig Göransson’s unforgettable score and the in-universe musical numbers that power its soul. The synchronization between sound and visuals is breathtaking. As a surprise blues musical, Sinners shines brightest during Sammie’s club performance in Act 2: a scene so transcendent, it encapsulates the film’s spiritual and cinematic ambitions in one unforgettable moment.
2. Horror With Legacy
When the genre elements finally crash in, Coogler unleashes hell. The film’s back half blends the best of The Shining, Night of the Living Dead, The Thing, and more, yet still feels original. The horror sequences are crafted with tension and purpose, and the final act is a jaw-dropping explosion of spectacle and stakes. Somehow, this outpaces even Coogler’s Black Panther work in terms of impact.
1. A Cast That Elevates Everything
Across the board, the ensemble delivers. Each actor flexes their range—balancing first-half drama with second-half chaos. Michael B. Jordan stuns in dual roles as twins Smoke and Stack, while newcomer Miles Caton gives a breakout performance that demands attention. The acting here doesn’t just support the story—it elevates it to something unforgettable.
RGM GRADE
(A)
Sinners is not only the greatest film of the year thus far, but it will be a strong contender for the title come the year’s end. It’s a big, bold, unapologetic, and idiosyncratic work that is massively entertaining and incredibly well-made.
