A newly published Variety piece, written by Clayton Davis, makes the claim that “Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ Is the First Oscar Movie of 2025.”
Yeah, Davis is kind of right, and it’s not like 2025 has given us any other significant contender. It’s certainly very hard to imagine “Sinners” not getting Best Picture nominated, and given its musical components, Coogler’s film could very easily end up with a nom tally in the double digits.
I’m not part of the herd that’s calling Coogler’s film a “masterpiece.” No way. “Sinners” is a great film, but falters in its last 20 minutes, succumbing to genre theatrics that just come off as half-assed, and beneath the beautifully assembled first 100 minutes.
Now, with all that said, the narrative behind “Sinners,” not to mention the all-encompassing media hype, will be impossible to ignore for Academy voters. The film has earned critical acclaim and significant box office success in the U.S. and these days, that’s more than enough to warrant Oscar buzz.
The film, a genre-blending Southern vampire horror-musical set in 1932 Mississippi, has grossed over $163M globally, marking it the top-performing original film of the decade. Critics have lauded “Sinners” for its innovative storytelling and artistic vision. The film has also received an "A" CinemaScore, a rare achievement for a horror film, indicating strong audience approval.
In terms of awards potential, “Sinners” is generating buzz in several categories. Michael B. Jordan's dual performance is being considered for Best Actor, while Delroy Lindo's supporting role is gaining awards momentum. The film's costume design, led by Oscar-winner Ruth E. Carter, and Ludwig Göransson's score, are also seen as strong contenders for nominations.
It’s come to the point where genre doesn’t even matter anymore. If Oscar was once known as being hesitant in nominating horror, the newly revamped Academy voting membership, filled with younger voters, certainly proved a change was afoot these last 10 years. “Get Out” started it, and “The Substance” sealed it. Horror is no longer seen as a limiting for awards prospects.
Suffice to say it, despite its early release, “Sinners” will very likely maintain momentum throughout awards season.
Remember when, back in August, we learned “The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth” would be playing in only around 350 U.S. theaters, "maybe fewer"? Well, it's fewer. A lot fewer.