Sinners: The BEST movie of 2025

“Ain't no love in the heat of the sun (Pale, pale moon)

Keep on working 'tll the dollar's won (Pale, pale moon)

From the crow of the rooster to the morning dove (Pale, pale moon)

Sing my song when the day is done” -(Pale, Pale Moon).

In 2024 writer/director Ryan Coogler had an idea to craft an African American horror film in the form of a period piece set in the Jim Crow era of the 1930s. It’s Ryan Coogler so everyone expected it to be a great film, but I don’t think anyone guessed that not only would the film be great, but would also become one of the most impactful films of its time.

Set in 1932 Mississippi, Sinners tells the story of the Smoke-Stack twins, portrayed by Ryan Coogler regular collaborator Michael B. Jordan, a duo of World War I veterans turned gangsters who have returned to their hometown of the Mississippi Delta after robbing Chicago gangsters and are intent on using their lifted funds to open a juke joint for the African American community from which they come. Many colorful characters join the twins on this journey to crafting a Black man’s heaven on earth including their younger cousin Sammie, portrayed by newcomer Miles Caton, who is the son of a preacher and an aspiring blues musician who the brothers intend to make the juke joint’s main source of attraction.

Once the grand opening of their club commences the vibrant spirit of Sammie’s blues draws the attention of an Irish vampire named Remmick, portrayed by Jack O’ Connell, and his cohorts who seek to convert everyone in attendance of the Smoke-Stack juke joint into vampires as to create a community of oneness and connection. Remmick is the tragic villain and antagonist of the story who wants to be put back in touch with his Irish roots from which he has been disconnected and knows that the spiritual connection that Sammie has through his music is the way. From here the night goes from being a euphoric escape for the Black community to hell on earth as everyone who remains fights to survive.

When I tell you there is so much to unpack with this movie I really mean there’s too much to unpack with this movie. With Sinners Ryan Coogler does a great job at showcasing how coming from a community that is oppressed leads to a never ending quest for freedom or at least something that feels like it. This is shown with both the protagonist and antagonist of the story, African Americans and Irish are the communities in question.

It’s the characters of the story who really bring it home for you including: Hailee Steinfleld as Mary, the white-passing love interest of Stack whom he rejects for her safety, Wunmi Mosaku as Annie, the hoo doo practicing love interest of Smoke, whom he once had a child with that passed away, Delroy Lindo as Delta Slim, a wisdom bearing pianist who loves to drink, Omar Miller as Cornbread, a sharecropping friend of the twins who they hire as security, Jayme Lawson as Pearline, a married singer who takes interest in Sammie and sings for the juke joint, and Li Jun Li and Yao as Grace and Bo Chow, a couple of shopkeepers who the twins hire to decorate their new joint.

Without a doubt the most captivating performances was that of Michael B. Jordan as both Elijah “Smoke” Moore and Elias “Stack” Moore. Michael B does an amazing job at portraying two different people with nearly completely different personalities. He really had you thinking you were watching two different people. Even one of my closest friends watched the film not knowing he was only one person. She actually thought it was just twin brothers. He does a great job with the duality of being very serious with Smoke, but very layback with Stack.

Sinners was released on April 18, 2025. It grossed over 368 million dollars worldwide and received very positive critical praise. With it’s originality Sinners has gone on to become one of the biggest landmark films of the past decade. This is in part due to it being the highest grossing original film of its time, a time period in which franchises generally rule the theatrical landscape. Award season has arrived and Sinners has already become a big win at both the Critics Choice awards and the Golden Globes.

With all the great movies I saw in 2025, especially from my favorite franchises, I have to say that Sinners was without a doubt the best and most defining film of 2025. Ryan Coogler has been one of my favorite filmmakers since I saw his very first film and I love how in this film he gets inspiration from some of my other favorite films like From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) and The Faculty (1998), both from Robert Rodriguez who is one of my all time favorite writers/filmmakers. He also gained influence for the film from the Disney channel original movie Luck of the Irish (2001). I’ve always been a big DCOM fan so that was definitely a plus for me. I also love what Sinners does with its Blues music. I would be lying if I said the film’s song “Pale Pale Moon” wasn’t my favorite song of 2025 and I even took a liking to the Irish folk song “Rocky Road to Dublin” thanks to Jack O’ Connell’s performance as Remmick. The music from this film has also become a big staple on this year’s awards season.

Overall Sinners was the most defining film of 2025 and one of the most defining films of its generation. It has given a newfound hope to the world of original filmmaking and I imagine thanks to its impact that we will see many more like it. Sinners also carries a great message: freedom is what you make of it.

“Last time I seen the sun, last time I seen my brother…and just for a few hours…we was free” - Elias “Stack” Moore.