Ryan Coogler’s Sinners merges cinematic excellence with a commitment to Black storytelling
Image: Warner Bros.
Director Ryan Coogler’s latest genre-bending, period piece Sinners, has stormed to an impressive opening weekend. The original film finished number one at the box office and out-earned initial estimates with a final tally of $48 million domestically and $63.5 million globally. Hailed by many, myself included, as an instant classic, Coogler’s film has also sparked important conversations about creative ownership, the power of intentional storytelling, and the undeniable value of the Black dollar.
In my spoiler-free opinion, Sinners is an excellent film that will leave the audience thinking about it long after they leave the theatre. Dubbed as a vampire horror, and set in Jim Crow-era Mississippi, it follows the Smoke Stack twins Elijah "Smoke" Moore and Elias "Stack" Moore on the opening night of their juke joint. While Sinners certainly doesn’t skimp on the supernatural lore or bloody gore that horror lovers crave, it also seamlessly weaves in unforgettable characters brought to life by an incredibly talented cast.
In arguably his best work to date, Michael B. Jordan’s portrayal of the Smoke Stack twins demonstrates his impressive range and shows a depth to his character work that fans haven’t experienced from him before. The movie is also carried by powerhouse female performances spearheaded by the magnetic Wunmi Mosaku as Annie, and also starring Hailee Steinfeld, Jayme Lawson and Li Jun Li. Delroy Lindo and newcomer Miles Canto round off a collective of remarkable performances.
Sinners is distinctly different from the rest of Coogler’s body of work that includes his award winning debut Fruitvale Station, and the multi-billion dollar earning Black Panther movies. What’s echoed in this film however, is Coogler’s consistent and welcome calling card of well researched, character-driven storytelling, that typically incorporates oddly relatable antagonists. In addition to his over decade-long creative partnership with Michael B. Jordan, Coogler once again collaborates with his longtime friend, composer Ludwig Göransson. For this project, Göransson has crafted an epic score rooted in the Blues, that runs as a powerful and resonant thread throughout the film.
The online discourse following Sinners’ release is reminiscent of the cultural moment that we collectively experienced when Black Panther first graced our screens. The Black community in particular, has taken to social media highlighting the different ways that the film has resonated. From the music (especially that magical juke joint dance sequence scene), to the complex yet relatable romantic and platonic relationships, the entry points and layers of connection are plentiful.
Beyond the storyline, in the lead up to the film’s release, Coogler detailed the reasoning behind his deliberate decision to utilize IMAX film cameras to enhance the audience's viewing experience. In a captivating 10-minute explainer video, Coogler broke down aspect ratios and viewing options for movie goers. The video that made its rounds across social media platforms is being credited for contributing to the 45% of opening weekend viewership that came from movie goers purchasing tickets specifically for premium formats or IMAX screens.
Video: Kodak
Coogler has described Sinners as a passion project, and credited the personal nature of the original film as the reason why he sought to broker an unprecedented ownership deal with Warner Bros. The deal reportedly included clauses that would allow Coogler to receive a percentage of the movie’s gross box office earnings, control of the final cut of the movie, and critically, full ownership of the film after 25 years. This atypical deal is drawing praise among peers and budding creatives of color, driving home the importance of retaining ownership over intellectual property at all levels of the creative process.
What the success of Sinners has proven is that the very essence of cinema as an unparalleled, immersive experience is not yet lost. In a time when bold, authentic stories are often viewed as too risky to fund, Sinners stands as undeniable evidence that these compelling stories not only belong on the big screen, but they also have the potential to thrive there. By backing this film in resounding numbers, audiences have sent a much-needed message to Hollywood: the Black movie dollar holds weight, and our stories, when told “for us, by us” are not just wanted – they're essential.
SHOP THE CHANGEMAKER COLLECTION
