Sinners is a new film written & directed by Ryan Coogler set to debut in theaters this upcoming weekend. The film stars Michael B. Jordan in a dual role, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, Li Jun Li, and Delroy Lindo. Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover than an evil greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.

Like many other cinephiles, I am a huge fan of Ryan Coogler’s work. This would be his fifth feature film as a director and his first original story. Michael B. Jordan has started in all 5 of his films, the first being what would jumpstart both the actor & filmmaker’s careers. This film was easily one of my most anticipated movies of the year, but what we got here transcended all my expectations.

As per usual, I try to stay away from trailers. I want to go in being surprised, but there’s so much that you can do without having some of it being spoiled. I was worried as more promos came out, more was spoiled. I’m happy to report that was not the case here. Everything that I thought was going to happen completely subverted my expectations in every way imaginable, shocking me to my very core.

What I love about Coogler’s work is his attention to creating a world that we could very well step in. There is detail in every space on the screen. There is also a lot of detail in the world building here. We learn a LOT about these characters. So much so, I wouldn’t be surprised if I learned more on a second watch. With so much attention being put into this, I couldn’t imagine how a story about vampires could work. Guess what? It not only did on an entertainment popcorn level, it also worked on a thematic level.

Just as the vampire story kicks in, it never lets go. I found myself surprisingly emotional at times, because of how much care Coogler put into these characters. I was enthralled in everything that happened on screen, leading to some gnarly violence and a knockout third act that fully makes its themes clear.

When it comes to dual roles played by the same actor, it can often not look realistic. I don’t know how they did it on screen, but Michael B. Jordan genuinely made it seem like he had a twin. What I loved about these characters is how there’s a distinct difference between the two. One wears blue, representing cool and collected, while the other wears red, representing fire and passion. Both characteristics blend in perfectly into who these characters are and how well they balance each other.

Many viewers will recognize Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, and Wunmi Mosaku. They are all great in their own right. The real standout though is Miles Caton who steals the show and makes his character vital to the story. I loved how his element of music drives an important piece to the story. Jayme Lawson is another standout as she pairs well alongside Caton. If you don’t know any of these names after this movie, I promise you will soon after their careers take off from this movie. 

I can’t end the review without mentioning how much of a cinematic achievement this film is. I got to experience this in IMAX, which is the way to see it. From the changes in aspect ratio & gorgeous cinematography to its sound design & fitting score from Oscar winner Ludwig Göransson, this is a film that demands to be seen on screen. If the stars align just right and I have the time, I WILL go see this again in the theater. I think many other viewers will recognize in the theater that this will become an instant classic. Without giving much away, there is a one-take sequence that blew my mind. I didn’t understand what was going on at first. By the end of it, it became one of my all-time favorite one-take scenes.

Overall, Sinners is a cinematic achievement that will become an instant classic. Filmmaker Ryan Coogler brings this story to life with authenticity while Michael B. Jordan realizes his vision with two perfect performances. I can’t wait for more people to see it, and I certainly can’t wait to see it again. This feels like a real promising start for 2025!

VERDICT: 5/5 (Perfect)