Since his debut film Fruitvale Station, Ryan Coogler has become one of the best directors in the film industry. His new film, Sinners, proves he is clearly still on an upward trajectory and only getting better. The film is not only one of the best films of 2025, but one of the best films of the past few years.
Sinners follows Michael B. Jordan in dual roles as Smoke and Stake Moore. Jordan plays both roles with his unmistakable charm and reminds audiences that his partnership with Coogler is one of the best pairings in recent history. The director seems to bring the best out of Jordan every time, but this performance showcases why Jordan is one of the best actors in Hollywood.
The film takes place in the 1930's and follows the twins as they attempt to open up a juke joint for the local community. The lead-up process to preparing for their grand opening during the first 30-minutes of the film are a constant reminder of Jordan's acting ability, and help introduce us to their fellow cast members who are all standouts as well.
Alongside Jordan is newcomer Miles Caton (Sammie) as the younger cousin of the Moore boys, Hailee Steinfeld (Mary), Wunmi Mosaku (Annie), and Delroy Lindo (Delta Slim). The entire cast does such a remarkable job but Caton is the name that'll likely pop up the most throughout the next few months.
This is the first acting role of Caton's career, but he's a natural in front of the camera. He goes through a full range of emotions numerous times throughout the film, and you can feel the pain beyond his eyes as the events within the film play out. He also brings an authentic musical ability that is one of the best parts of the movie with numerous scenes that make it impossible to not want to tap your leg and bop your head along with the music.
Steinfeld and Mosaku also bring heavyweight performances as the love interests of Stack and Smoke respectively. One could argue this is Steinfeld's best performance in nearly a decade, and she manages the balance of lustful lover and devastated daughter well. Mosaku is well known to Marvel fans, but should become more of a household name after her performance as Annie.
Ideally surmised by its title, Sinners follows numerous people who can't seem to stay out of trouble. Both Moore's are thieves on the run from gangsters, Mary can't stop pursuing Stack even though she's married, Slim has a drinking problem, and even the man who sells the juke joint to the Moore's has dark motives.
The film expands on these themes, but its most impactful focus is looking at how racial disparities impact certain communities. Even though the villains featured throughout Sinners are vampires, it serves as an allegory for how music, art, and other forms of entertainment can be taken away from members of the Black community without punishment.
Coogler also does an exceptional job showcasing the power of music to bring people together, and one powerful scene highlights numerous forms of music within the Black community. It could have been easy to switch the focus solely on the villains after their reveal, but Coogler ensures that the message is consistent throughout the entire film and it results in a film with very few slow points.
Sinners also focuses on the idea of finding freedom in one's self. Both of the Moore twins come back to Mississippi for a fresh start. Mary is struggling with her racial identity, Slim is struggling to overcome his alcohol addiction, and Sammie is struggling to escape his father's shadow as the local preacher.
Although we can't expect all of these characters to find a happy ending based on the film's plot, the best part is that you want them to, which isn't very common in most films these days. Whether this is based on the character's performances or Coogler's direction, it doesn't really matter as it makes for a viewing experience that everyone should enjoy in the theater.
Coogler and Jordan will likely continue pairing up throughout the next decade—if not longer—and it'll be interesting to see where their next few films go. They've covered a superhero movie, a true-story adaptation, a sports film, and now a horror/period piece for the ages. It may be impossible to predict what's next for both parties, but Sinners proves they're both at the top of their game and are two of the best in their respective fields.
Sinners is now playing in theaters.