After honing his craft on acclaimed franchises like Creed and Black Panther, filmmaker Ryan Coogler bursts into new territory with his latest project, the spine-chilling vampire tale, Sinners. Early reviews are unanimous: this cinematic gem is not just Coogler’s best work yet, but also heralded as one of the **top films of 2025**. Critics rave about Michael B. Jordan’s groundbreaking dual performance as twin brothers, the audacious blend of genres, and the innovative musical score that defines the film.
Curious about what sets Sinners apart? Here’s a closer look at what critics are saying.
Is Sinners One of the Best Movies of the Year?
Sinners is a masterclass in filmmaking.
— Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky
It’s one of the best films of the year.
— Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture
The best movie I’ve seen in 2025 so far.
— Matt Singer, ScreenCrush
One of the most devilishly entertaining movies of the year.
— Karl Delossantos, Smash Cut Reviews
Sinners is a bloody, brilliant motion picture.
— William Bibbiani, The Wrap
I’m already prepared to hail Sinners as the movie of the year from this point onwards.
— Jeremy Mathai, Slashfilm
I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun, nor felt so reinvigorated by a major studio genre movie.
— Alistair Ryder, The Film Stage
Why is Sinners a Must-See Film?
Sinners perfectly blends multiple genres to create a movie like you have never seen before.
— Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky
It works surprisingly well due to Coogler’s very specific vision and his ability to deliver on it.
— Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior
The most impressive feat director-writer Ryan Coogler achieves is finding a balance between genre and meaning—and one begets the other.
— Karl Delossantos, Smash Cut Reviews
What sets Sinners apart is its thematic depth. The film’s exploration of duality is masterfully layered.
— Emmanuel Noisette, The Movie Blog
Everything about Sinners is excellent, but where it fully shines is in its story, expertly brought to life by Coogler.
— Britany Murphy, Muses of Media
Sinners is the rare film that possesses you body and soul.
— Lyvie Scott, Inverse
We simply don’t get original blockbusters with this level of passion and on this scale anymore, especially outside of a Christopher Nolan or M. Night Shyamalan production.
— Jeremy Mathai, Slashfilm
What Films Does Sinners Remind Us Of?
In some ways, this is a Black version of Robert Rodriguez’s ’90s head trip From Dusk Till Dawn.
— Peter Bradshaw, Guardian
Sinners gives Coogler an opportunity to delve further into genre along the lines of Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, drawing comparisons to films like Desperado, Machete, and their Grindhouse entries.
— Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior
While obvious comparisons will likely be drawn to From Dusk Till Dawn, Sinners isn’t winking at the audience with grotesque violence or B-movie tropes.
— David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
Sinners also draws inspiration from classics like John Carpenter’s The Thing.
— Aaron Neuwirth, We Live Entertainment
I won’t be surprised if the first wave of critical reactions are similar to those which greeted Us, as audiences may attempt to interpret the film through a singular metaphor rather than appreciating its complexity.
— Alistair Ryder, The Film Stage
How Does Sinners Compare to Coogler’s Other Works?
Ryan Coogler may have just given us his magnum opus… perhaps his masterpiece.
— Karl Delossantos, Smash Cut Reviews
This could be one of Ryan Coogler’s best films to date.
— Emmanuel Noisette, The Movie Blog
His new work, Sinners, feels like a filmmaker liberated.
— Kambole Campbell, Little White Lies
Sinners is Coogler utterly unleashed… He’s unshackled from the comfort of IP or franchise fare.
— Lyvie Scott, Inverse
It’s his most impassioned, spiritually resonant work to date.
— Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture
Coogler solidifies himself as one of the best working today.
— Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky
With Sinners, he ascends to the next level.
— Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction
What About the Action Sequences?
Sinners leads to a number of incredibly satisfying action set pieces, with reactions that could rival the assassination scene in Inglourious Basterds.
— Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior
[It has] tight action sequences that keep you emotionally and physically engaged.
— Emmanuel Noisette, The Movie Blog
Its action is explosive.
— Siddhant Adlakha, Polygon
It’s a rip-roaring thrill ride.
— Jeremy Mathai, Slashfilm
How Visually Striking is Sinners?
Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s cinematography lends the carnage a strange elegance.
— Clarisse Loughrey, Independent
The movie is exquisitely shot, with Arkapaw immersing us in the sunlit splendor and ominous beauty of back-country Mississippi.
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety
Once again, Arkapaw ignites the screen with her stunning shots, offering viewers more than just performances and music to immerse themselves into.
— Britany Murphy, Muses of Media
From an aesthetic standpoint, the film is incredibly self-assured, thanks to Arkapaw’s utilization of celluloid contrast. It boasts the deepest shadows during daylight, infusing each scene with mystery.
— Siddhant Adlakha, Polygon
The cinematography is exceptional, filled with bold compositions.
— Emmanuel Noisette, The Movie Blog
Does it Immersively Capture Its Setting?
Coogler takes his time building the world of Clarksdale, Mississippi, thoughtfully examining its sights and sounds, effectively revealing who the SmokeStack twins are, their origins, and what they fight for.
— Lyvie Scott, Inverse
The world-building is a slow burn, immersive and detailed in a way that’s truly enjoyable to explore.
— Karl Delossantos, Smash Cut Reviews
How is Michael B. Jordan’s Dual Performance?
To no one’s surprise, Michael B. Jordan is incredible in this movie. He beautifully crafts two distinct characters for the twins.
— Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky
B. Jordan’s performance as the enigmatic SmokeStack twins is a standout in his illustrious career.
— Britany Murphy, Muses of Media
A career-best performance.
— Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture
It’s smart, intuitive work.
— Clarisse Loughrey, Independent
It’s wonderfully nuanced work.
— Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
Stellar work.
— Karl Delossantos, Smash Cut Reviews
I will admit that Jordan playing both twins became a little confusing at times.
— Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior
Are There Other Standout Performances?
Delroy Lindo has a standout moment with a deeply emotional monologue, quietly stealing the spotlight.
— Emmanuel Noisette, The Movie Blog
Lindo shines as Slim — but Caton’s Sammie is the true gem to watch.
— Lyvie Scott, Inverse
The real star of the film is 20-year-old Miles Caton, delivering a powerful debut performance as Sammie.
— Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
Viewers will no doubt be captivated by newcomer Miles Caton as well, who impressively holds his own alongside seasoned actors.
— Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky
We also see exceptional work from Nigerian British actress Mosaku.
— David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
The entire ensemble proves Coogler is indeed an actor’s director, eliciting outstanding performances from all.
— Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior
Is Sinners Darker Than Your Average Horror Film?
It’s the rare studio production that engages your intellect while it scares you senseless.
— Matt Singer, ScreenCrush
Sinners is a mainstream horror film that’s rich in weighty, soulful themes — addressing the complexities of sin in Black America.
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety
Yes, it’s a vampire film, but it delves deeper into themes. Coogler crafts a haunting allegory on the virtues we inherit and the vices that lurk in the shadows.
— Lyvie Scott, Inverse
The result is a horror film that feels cultural, resonant, and original, reshaping the vampire mythos through the lenses of music and ancestral trauma.
— Emmanuel Noisette, The Movie Blog
It presents a powerful message about society, illustrating how individuals can weigh each other down while delivering a terrifying vampire story.
— Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky
While Sinners respects the historical context of the South, it never sacrifices the fun inherent in its genre-defying crossover of blues players, sip-sippers, and vampires.
— Kambole Campbell, Little White Lies
Coogler doesn’t reinvent the vampire genre here, but amidst a cinematic environment where messages are often ham-fisted, a thoughtful social satire allowing for audience reflection is refreshing.
— Alistair Ryder, The Film Stage
What’s Unique About Its Vampires?
Ryan Coogler presents a sexy and sweat-drenched vampire flick unlike any other.
— Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior
The vampire design? Refreshingly subtle, eerie, and unique enough to give Sinners its distinct place in the genre.
— Emmanuel Noisette, The Movie Blog
It’s remarkable how Coogler has found a fresh angle on popular tropes, introducing familiar yet different creature designs.
— Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
Coogler explores the metaphorical potential of the vampire similar to Robert Eggers’ recent exploration in Nosferatu.
— Clarisse Loughrey, Independent
The film’s portrayal of vampires is delightfully understated, primarily normal in appearance except for an unsettling glint in their dark eyes — a clever choice that instills paranoia in the film’s more claustrophobic scenes.
— Kambole Campbell, Little White Lies
Is There Too Much Going On?
There’s a lot to unpack here… It’s a blood-drenched mix of arthouse and grindhouse that somehow works.
— David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
Though the two halves might sound disjointed, they are interdependent — you can’t have one without the other.
— Kambole Campbell, Little White Lies
At times, the film can feel overly ambitious and not entirely in control of its competing flavors; however, this “too muchness” also emerges as one of its greatest strengths — grappling with the eternal struggle of assimilation without losing one’s essence.
— David Ehrlich, IndieWire
How Effective Is the Music?
The thrilling turn to its uproarious second half is complemented by a typically inventive score from Ludwig Göransson.
— Kambole Campbell, Little White Lies
Composer Ludwig Göransson delivers a sonic backdrop like no other.
— Lyvie Scott, Inverse
The music is an even more crucial aspect of Sinners than the vampires themselves. Expect a hot and popular soundtrack.
— Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior
Music is as integral to Sinners as its bloodsuckers — blues music serves as the film’s lifeblood.
— Clarisse Loughrey, Independent
The film celebrates the transformative power of music — its ability to connect generations and convey the burdens of grief and joy, making it almost a character in the film itself. Göransson’s score ranks among his finest.
— Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture
Are There Any Issues with the Movie?
For some, the movie could have omitted the supernatural elements entirely, and I admit I’m one of them.
— Peter Bradshaw, Guardian
The film does seem to run a little long, even with a satisfying ending that ties up several loose threads.
— Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior
If Sinners has a flaw, it would be its pacing.
— Lyvie Scott, Inverse
The only real drawback might be pacing.
— Emmanuel Noisette, The Movie Blog
A bold venture like Sinners has its quirks, including two unnecessary post-credit scenes; additionally, the slower pace of the first half might lose some audience engagement before Coogler really sinks his fangs into the material.
— Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture
While the ending leans towards indulgence (with a mid- and post-credits scene), it’s evident that Coogler has more than earned the right to do so.
— Jeremy Mathai, Slashfilm
Sinners unveils its haunting narrative in theaters on April 18, 2025.
Thumbnail image by ©Warner Bros.
