Michael B. Jordan. Hailee Steinfeld. Ryan Coogler. The first trailer. I don't need to explain why "Sinners" was my most anticipated horror film of the year and 4th overall of 2025. It had no chance of disappointing, but I was shocked at how unbelievably fantastic it was. It's easily one of the best theatrical offerings of the decade, which will go down as a classic.
Before reading on, if you haven't seen the second trailer, don't. It didn't ruin my experience, but it spoiled elements that would have been better if they had saved them for the movie. I warned about this in my "Companion" review, and I'm not assuming that the marketing ruined it for everyone like I did with that gem. Please avoid the second trailer if you can, and I believe you will only benefit from that decision.
Let me start with Ryan Coogler. I've only seen "Black Panther" and nothing else from his filmography. However, the fact that one superhero movie can make me confident that Coogler can make something special is remarkable. Coogler did a phenomenal job with his direction, making even its most out-of-place scene feel vital to its story. Granted, he wrote the outstanding, Oscar-worthy screenplay, meaning the directing would be memorable in the best ways possible.
Next, the actors were sensational. Although Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, and a debuting Miles Caton were the standouts, the rest of the performances were equally magnificent. One of them was Jack O'Connell, who makes for a menacing antagonist as Remmick.
The film utilizes its 2-hour and 17-minute runtime perfectly. It's a horror, no doubt, but I was amazed at how much time it spent developing the characters and how the party came to be. As a plus, there were so many sensational scenes that I don't think I'll be able to tell you which I would consider to be the best one. Then again, this is a spoiler-free review, so I'd refrain from doing so, but the point remains. One would be the ending; that's all I can tell you!
Finally, this movie is rooted deeply in music, especially about, no spoilers, Caton's Sammie. I was amazed at how focused this movie was on music and its influence and effect on us and our culture. It was inspirational.
Overall, "Sinners" is why we go to the movies. We may go for new entries of our favorite franchises, good or bad, but we crave creativity, and this film was wholly unique. Additionally, it felt like a throwback to flicks by iconic directors such as Scorsese and Tarantino in execution. IMAX is the format I'd recommend you see it in, and they didn't waste it in the slightest.
Technically, this is how you make a movie! No doubt it's a 10/10 masterpiece thanks to the acting, directing, screenplay, cinematography, and Michael P. Shawver's superb editing.
For the enjoyment score, I've heard the term "we are so back" used for films that revive hope that cinema still has infinite potential, especially in this era of sequels and reboots. I felt we never left, but seeing how far superior "Sinners" is to many of my favorites of the decade, "Anora" included, makes me wonder why we don't have more movies like this. If it makes more than "A Minecraft Movie" this weekend, which it has a chance but isn't guaranteed, then we can comfortably say that "we are so back." The enjoyment score is an easy 10/10 that's the definition of a must-watch, and one that people will remember as a decade-defining triumph!
