I’m not going to say there haven’t been good movies released in 2025. I will say that after watching Sinners, I left my seat a little pissed off that it took nearly four months to see something this good. Sinners has skyrocketed not only to the top of my horror list, but also to the top of my must-watch list for the year. There’s still a lot of 2025 left, but this will be hard to beat.
Have you ever walked out of a theater with that buzzing feeling, like you just experienced something awesome? That’s how I felt after watching Sinners.
Director Ryan Coogler’s latest movie is bold and beautiful. It approaches the horror genre in ways that feel fresh. It is both scary and soulful. The film is set in 1930s Mississippi, and Coogler does not shy away from what that setting means. This is not just a backdrop. It is the beating heart of the story. You feel the weight of Jim Crow, of economic desperation, of lives shaped by racism and struggle. But more than that, you feel the resistance, the culture, the music and the spirit of the people. Every frame feels soaked in Southern sweat and sorrow.
What stands out is how Coogler uses music to move the story forward and give depth to the characters. I often complain about lazy world-building in movies. Here, I have no complaints. The film blends blues, culture, religion, history and evil, both supernatural and real. Through stories passed down, through the rhythm of life, through the ghosts that live in the notes, you get a sense of how music became both a refuge and a record. The soundtrack blends old-school blues, ambient textures and a touch of country to create something that feels timeless.
It is in this rich, layered world that Coogler gives us a dual performance from Michael B. Jordan, who plays twin brothers Smoke and Stack. The brothers return to their hometown only to find both the evil they have always known and something even darker. Jordan is already well known for his roles in Creed and Black Panther, but Sinners might be one of his finest performances yet. He fully commits to both roles. Playing twins is not new, but Jordan does something truly impressive here. Smoke and Stack are two distinct individuals, with separate struggles, personalities and emotional arcs.
While Jordan’s performance grounds the film, the rest of the cast is just as important. Miles Caton, making his film debut as Sammie, is a revelation. He brings charm, vulnerability and depth. His character becomes the emotional center of the film in many ways. Wunmi Mosaku, who plays Annie, delivers a commanding and graceful performance as a matriarchal figure. When she is on screen, she fully owns the moment. If you are not sure where you have seen her before, she plays Hunter B-15 in Loki.
Hailee Steinfeld also makes a strong impact in a more understated role. She brings warmth and grounded emotional intelligence to every scene. Her chemistry with Caton is especially compelling, with moments that feel sincere and layered.
One of the most remarkable things about Sinners is that while it is definitely a horror film, it is also just a really good movie. If you stripped away the supernatural elements, what remains would still be worth watching. But don’t do that. The horror elements are where the film comes alive.
The way the film shifts into horror reminded me of one of my long-time favorites, From Dusk Till Dawn. That movie starts off as a gritty crime drama with rich characters and sharp dialogue, and then veers into full-blown horror chaos. Coogler handles the shift with more subtlety. The early scenes carry a slow-burning sense of unease that builds beautifully and pays off.
That slow build shows in how the scares are delivered. Coogler avoids the all-too-common mistake of overusing jump scares. Yes, there are a few, but they are not the focus. The result is a more immersive experience. Coogler is not just trying to scare the audience. He is diving into themes like generational trauma, cultural memory, survival and identity. The horror in Sinners does not offer escape from reality. It digs into it. Once the shift happens, the film goes all in. The fear is symbolic, rooted in African American folklore and spiritual tradition. The scares land hard because they mean something. They are connected to real history, real pain and the burdens we carry, whether we want to or not. This is horror that stays with you. Not just because it is creepy, but because it feels personal.
Visually, Sinners is stunning. The scenes in the Mississippi cotton fields are particularly powerful. They are beautifully shot, full of texture and depth. But here is what matters most. The film does not linger on pretty imagery just for the sake of showing it off. Some movies hold a shot forever just because it looks good. Sinners does not fall into that trap. It keeps moving. Every frame has purpose, building the story or shaping the mood. It is visual storytelling that stays focused on the bigger picture.
At the end of the day, Sinners feels like a film made with deep love — for horror, for music, for history and for storytelling. It is the kind of movie you want to talk about the moment the credits roll. For me, it is a solid 9.5 out of 10.
