The film currently boasts a perfect score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and an impressive 83 on Metacritic, based on fifteen reviews. Notable praise has come from outlets such as IndieWire (B+), Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, USA Today (3.5/4), The Independent (4/5), Little White Lies, Vanity Fair, Screen, and Slash Film (9/10).
This marks Coogler’s first non-IP project since his acclaimed debut with Fruitvale Station in 2013. Set in the 1930s, Sinners follows twin brothers Elijah and Elias (played by Michael B. Jordan) as they attempt to escape their troubled pasts in Capone-era Chicago. They return to their hometown, where slavery has recently been abolished but the KKK still poses a threat.
With a budget of $100 million and filmed in 65mm, Sinners features an impressive team both in front of and behind the camera. Ludwig Göransson (Oppenheimer) composed the score, while Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Black Panther) handled cinematography. Alongside Jordan, the cast includes Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, Delroy Lindo, and newcomer Miles Caton. This film offers Coogler a chance to demonstrate his creative prowess beyond the confines of his Marvel projects.
