Review + Everything about Sinners, the new film by Michael B. Jordan!

Sinners is an American film that premiered in theaters on April 17, 2025. Directed by Ryan Coogler, it brings his collaboration with Michael B. Jordan back to the big screen, as seen in Black Panther (2018) and Creed (2015), now expanding into the horror subgenre.

The film has already grossed $161 million (R$916 million) worldwide in just its first few weeks of release, earning excellent reviews from specialized media. Alongside Jordan, the cast includes Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O'Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Benson Miller, Delroy Lindo, Li Jun Li, and Lola Kirke.

The film follows the story of Soot and Smoke, portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, twin brothers who return to their hometown to open a blues bar. Once there, they must confront a long-buried past. As they try to grapple with these issues, they face racism, the consequences of years of slavery, and a supernatural threat.

Sinners explores human relationships on the margins of segregation in the 1930s and their implications for the residents’ lives. An intense thriller, featuring supernatural and historical elements.

Official Trailer

Sinners is set in 1932, in the Mississippi Delta, southern United States, about 70 years after the end of slavery. It was a time when racial segregation and violence against Black people were commonplace. The film addresses the brutality of the Ku Klux Klan and the oppression that African Americans endured, reflecting the reality of a society marked by inequality. Working conditions and wages were not proportional to the effort required—usually much lower than those of whites—and were almost always limited to farm work, such as in cotton fields.

Besides addressing racism, the film also delves into Black roots, including references to Hoodoo traditions—a form of folk magic practiced by some Black communities to achieve specific goals through spells, rituals, and the use of magical objects like herbs, roots, and amulets.

Coogler was inspired by stories from his uncle and grandfather, who listened to a lot of blues and were passionate about music. The twins are inspired by the director's friends, reflecting their dynamic and partnership. The film explores the rich culture of the blues and its significance for the Black community, treating music as a form of resistance and highlighting the influence of Delta Blues on American culture.

The element of vampirism is employed masterfully, creating a powerful analogy for oppression and the search for power and identity. Vampires, portrayed as outsiders and threats, represent a malevolent force that invades the community and attempts to appropriate its culture and vitality. In the film, the vampire is inspired by folklore, mainly Eastern European, as well as traditions like Hoodoo.

The film uses the horror genre, much like Get Out (2017) and Us (2019) by Jordan Peele, Candyman (1991) by Bernard Rose, and Candyman (2021) by Nia DaCosta. It exemplifies structural racism and the cultural erasure of the Black population, confronting both the violence and fears experienced. Moreover, it explores resistance through art and celebrates Black culture.

The genre is also used to honor Black culture and history, contributing to fairer and more nuanced representation in cinema, seeking to recover and revalue ancestry.

The production uses gothic elements to critique a racist society and addresses the pursuit of identity and belonging among the Black population, who are constantly erased both culturally and socially.

Some of Coogler's influences and inspirations, in addition to those already mentioned, for this film and others in his career, come from directors like:

Spike Lee: His films consistently address topics such as racism, poverty, violence, cultural identity, and the history of the Black community in the United States, as seen in BlacKkKlansman (2018) and Malcolm X (1992).

John Singleton: His works addressed themes connected to the African-American experience in urban settings, including violence, racism, and identity. He explored Black masculinity, the impact of trauma, and the struggle for survival in harsh contexts, in films like Boyz n the Hood (1991) and Rosewood (1997).

Steve McQueen: As an actor and director, he explores themes such as racism, slavery, and violence against minority groups, as in 12 Years a Slave (2013) and Widows (2018).

Ava DuVernay: She spotlights social issues in her films, such as racism and injustice, telling both real and fictional stories about the Black struggle for rights and equality, through titles like Selma (2014) and 13th (2016).

Critics welcomed Sinners very positively, with many praising the film for its original plot, performances, and historical context. They note that it addresses themes like racism, blues, and horror extremely well, and also commend the direction, cinematography, and effects.

It received an A grade from CinemaScore, a site that records audience opinions after screenings. It is the first horror film to receive such a rating in 35 years.

Rotten Tomatoes: 98% approval from 342 reviews.

IMDB: 8.2/10 from 55 thousand reviews.

Letterboxd: 4.2/5 (stars) from 610 thousand reviews.

The film impresses with its truly original plot, exploring important themes like racial segregation, racism, and inequality. With just the right amount of horror, it even appeals to those who don't usually enjoy the genre. Michael B. Jordan delivers an intense and captivating performance. Coogler's direction excels with the soundtrack and stylization à la Quentin Tarantino.

Sinners continues to screen in theaters nationwide, significantly boosting its box office performance and receiving strong approval from both critics and audiences.

So don’t wait - go watch this incredible film in theaters. Until next time!