The highly anticipated film Sinners, directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Ryan Coogler, premiered in South African cinemas on April 18, 2025. This genre-blending horror-western stars Michael B. Jordan in a dual role and is now showing nationwide at Ster-Kinekor and Nu Metro cinemas. With its gripping storyline, stunning visuals, and powerful performances, Sinners promises to be a cinematic experience you won’t want to miss.
Set in 1932 Mississippi, Sinners follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack (both portrayed by Michael B. Jordan) as they return to their hometown to start anew. Their plans take a dark turn when they confront a supernatural evil lurking beneath the surface of their community. Jordan is joined by Oscar nominee Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Benson Miller and Delroy Lindo.
The horror epic has one of the highest combined critic and audience Rotten Tomatoes scores…ever. Sinners has a 98% score from +223 critics, and a 97% score from several thousand confirmed viewers on the site. It’s tied with The Godfather (97%, 98%), above Parasite (99%, 95%), above more or less every beloved Disney or Pixar movie that often attract sky-high critic and audience scores. Critics are calling it Ryan Coogler‘s best work yet, with reviewers praising its storytelling, music, and performances. Legendary director Spike Lee described the film as “the greatest experience” he’s had in a theater in years, highlighting its black cinematic power and Coogler’s “magnificent artistry as a storyteller.”
Where can you watch it?
Sinners is now playing in theaters nationwide. You can catch it in IMAX 70mm format at select Ster-Kinekor and Nu Metro locations. Check the official websites or visit your nearest cinema for showtimes and ticket availability.
Watch Sinners at Ster-Kinekor now.
Watch the Sinners TRAILER HERE.
Ryan Coogler’s best work yet
Let’s be honest, if there’s one filmmaker who’s earned the right to drop a passion project this bold, it’s Academy Award-nominated director Ryan Coogler. The man redefined the modern superhero genre with the cultural juggernaut that is Black Panther (2018), one of the highest-grossing blockbusters of all time, and followed it up with the emotionally charged sequel, Wakanda Forever (2022)—both among the most layered and satisfying entries in the Marvel canon.
Before that, Coogler lit up the ring with the knockout Rocky spin-off Creed (2015), proving he could take an iconic franchise, pay tribute to its roots, and still carve out a film that stood proudly in its own league. So when you hear he’s cooked up something personal, you pay attention. But nothing could’ve prepared us for just how audacious, genre-defying, and wildly unpredictable Sinners would be. It’s not just a film—it’s a full-on cinematic swing, best seen in IMAX. And somehow, Coogler makes every frame feel both intimate and epic.
About the film
Ryan Coogler‘s vision is sharp, his direction assured, and visually? This thing is a total knockout. Shot gorgeously on 70mm film, the screen pulses with a hypnotic palette of fiery reds and golden hues that practically radiate heat. The vibe is just as rich sonically—the soundtrack oozes danger and raw emotion, leaning into the blues but swerving into unexpected sonic detours.
Set across a single, tension-charged day and night in 1930s Mississippi, Sinners is without a doubt one of 2025’s most daring cinematic swings. With a reported $90 million budget—a big investment for an original, R-rated story—Warner Bros. backed the film on Coogler’s terms. That included an incredibly rare deal where the rights to the film will revert to Coogler after 25 years, something we haven’t seen since Quentin Tarantino’s pact with Sony for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
And once again, the Ryan Coogler–Michael B. Jordan combo proves unstoppable. This duo has redefined what character-driven blockbusters can be, first through the emotionally resonant Creed, and then by shaking the Marvel universe with Black Panther. In Sinners, Jordan delivers a haunting and magnetic dual performance that flexes his range like never before. Critics are already calling it some of his best work, and audiences are loving it too—CinemaScore came back with an impressive “A” rating, which is no easy feat, especially for a horror film.
This isn’t just a movie—it’s an event. And it proves that when Coogler and Jordan team up, they don’t just make films, they make moments that shift the culture.
The film is produced by Coogler and frequent collaborators Sev Ohanian and Zinzi Coogler. The executive producers are Ludwig Göransson, Will Greenfield and Rebecca Cho.
Coogler’s behind-the-camera artisans include his “Black Panther” franchise collaborators: director of photography Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Oscar-winning production designer Hannah Beachler, editor Michael P. Shawver, Oscar-winning composer Ludwig Göransson, and Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter.
Warner Bros. Pictures presents A Proximity Media Production, A Ryan Coogler Film: “Sinners.” The film is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, in theaters only nationwide from April 18, 2025, and internationally beginning March 2025.
