Ryan Coogler's ‘Sinners,’ praised as a vampire horror masterpiece, tops 2025 ratings

Ryan Coogler's new movie, ‘Sinners,’ has burst onto the scene, claiming the honor of the highest-rated film of 2025. Critics are heaping accolades on the director of ‘Black Panther’ for his foray into vampire horror territory, with a spotless 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie will premiere in theaters on April 18, 2025.
‘Sinners’ has impressed critics with its flawless combination of breathtaking visuals, intense horror, engaging characters, and complex plot. The film's distinctive look is enhanced by its sole use of IMAX film cameras, making it the sole film this year to use the format.
Early reviews highlight the film's overall effect. One critic, @NextBestPicture, called ‘Sinners’ "an otherworldly cinematic journey from the genius of Ryan Coogler. What starts off as an intense Southern gangster period drama quickly becomes an intense struggle for survival and soul liberation against an unforgiving family of blood-sucking vampires. And it's totally rad! The bluesy, visceral score is as much a part of the narrative as the dark, atmospheric IMAX imagery." This reaction reflects the general critical consensus, praising Coogler's mastery of creating such an original and rich cinematic universe.
Critics praise ‘Sinners’ as a fun and accessible experience. One critic wrote, "Sinners is a cool, thrilling movie that's fun to watch and easy to understand. It proves that Ryan Coogler is one of the greatest directors working today, whether he has constraints or complete freedom."
The film, written and directed by Coogler, features Michael B. Jordan as twin brothers Smoke and Stack, who return to their hometown seeking a fresh start, only to confront an unforeseen evil. The supporting cast is made up of Hailee Steinfeld as Mary, Miles Caton as Sammy, Jack O'Connell as Remmick, Wunmi Mosaku as Annie, Jayme Lawson as Pearline, Omar Benson Miller as Cornbread, Li Jun Li as Grace Chow, Delroy Lindo as Delta Slim, Yao as Bo Chow, Lola Kirke as Joan, and Peter Dreimanis as Bert.
Directed by Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, and Ryan Coogler, and executive produced by Ludwig Göransson, Will Greenfield, and Rebecca Cho, ‘Sinners’ is set to deliver an exciting cinematic experience. The movie is estimated to gross over $40 million in its first weekend domestically against a production cost of $90 million. The official summary states, "Twin brothers (Michael B. Jordan) trying to escape their dark past return to their hometown to begin anew, only to find that an even darker evil awaits to greet them back."
With ‘Sinners’ soon to make its debut, early reactions indicate that it will not only live up to but surpass expectations, cementing Ryan Coogler as a visionary filmmaker.