Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan's latest collaboration talented ensemble cast, Sinners represents Coogler's first real step into the realm of horror as either a writer or director. He and Jordan have collaborated on several other occasions, and each time they've produced a critical and/or box office hit, so expectations were understandably high for Sinners.

While Sinners has an official release date of April 18th, 2025, critic reviews are already starting to roll in a week in advance of the wide theatrical release. As expected, the from some of the industry's most respected critics has been exceptional; so far, Sinners has yielded the highest debut Rotten Tomatoes score of Coogler's career. While there will certainly be some fluctuation as more critics see the movie and audiences finally get their first chance to see it, the early scores indicate that it could be one of the best movies of the year.

Sinners Has A 100% On Rotten Tomatoes Right Now

All 36 Reviews So Far Have Rated It Positively

The fifth collaboration between Coogler and star Michael B. Jordan debuted with a stunning 100% Tomatometer Score on Rotten Tomatoes. As a reminder, the Tomatometer score is not a rating based on the average quality score from critics, but rather a ratio of what percentage of critics rate the movie positively (fresh) vs. negatively (rotten). With 36 verified critic reviews already submitted, not a single one has rated the movie negatively, indicating universal praise for the supernatural action horror movie set in the 1930s in the South.

Michael B. Jordan in particular has garnered praise in early reviews for his portrayal of twin brothers; Jordan reportedly gives two fantastic performances in the same movie.

While 36 reviews is still a minuscule sample size compared to what it will look like once all critics gain access to a screening, that is also a significant enough sample size to view as an indicator of overall sentiment. It's extremely rare for any movie or TV show to obtain a 100% at any point in its review cycle, simply because there is usually at least one, if not a few, critics who don't view a project in the same light as everyone else. To achieve 100% with more than 30 reviews logged is almost unheard of.

Why Critics Are Praising Sinners So Much

Smart Social Commentary Is Juxtaposed With A Bloody, Sexy Horror Plot

While it's certainly loaded with the blood and gore of a typical vampire horror movie, Sinners sets itself apart by being much more than a horror film. Its setting in the Jim Crow-Era South naturally yields commentary about the state of race relations both then and now, while also fully embracing the Black music, history and culture of the South. Coogler was a well-established master of playing with profound themes and commentary, particularly as it relates to Black history and culture, and judging by the early reviews, Sinners could be his opus in that regard.

While delving into true emotional and thematic depth, Coogler still manages to weave a captivatingly sexy and terrifying vampire story set in a period and location that feels fresh for that subgenre. Tessa Smith's review on Mama's Geeky designates it as "A masterclass in filmmaking, Sinners is somehow dark, sexy, thrilling, intense, emotional, intriguing, captivating, and terrifying all at once." Brian Truitt of USA Today calls it "a fright fest that’s musical and meaningful, mesmerizing and memorable."

The final feather in Coogler's cap from critics is that he manages to balance the heaviness of its themes with the entertainment of a summer popcorn movie, despite its genre-bending. Siddhant Adlakha of Polygon noted that despite how many different tones are present in the movie that's part-horror, part-historical thriller, is, "...that it’s also one of 2025’s most sharply conceived works of popcorn entertainment." While heavy themes can sometimes weigh down a movie if a moviegoer is looking for sheer entertainment, it sounds like Coogler has found a way to satisfy both elements.

Is There Anything Critics Don't Like About Sinners?

There Are Minor Quibbles About It Being Messy Or Overstuffed

While the overall sentiment leans entirely positive, the critic review scores are not all perfect. While some critics made specific mention of how the movie can feel overstuffed at times, but even where that's the case, they typically back it up with a positive comment. Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair noted that Sinners is "...messy, but always compelling." That seems to be the only real complaint that critics have: there is a ton going on in what is an extremely ambitious film, but at no point does it cross the threshold of being confusing or causing audiences to lose interest.

How Sinners' Rotten Tomatoes Score Compares To Ryan Coogler & Michael B. Jordan's Other Movies

Their Collaborations Have All Been Critical Triumphs

A big reason that the expectations for Sinners were sky-high in the first place is due to the team-up between Coogler and Michael B. Jordan. Every time Coogler has been in the director's chair and Jordan has been in front of the camera, they've created something stylish, captivating, and powerful. Their first collaboration came all the way back in 2013 with the biographical drama Fruitvale Station, which resulted in both men being lavished with accolades for their respective contributions to the film.

Their next collaboration, the boxing drama Creed, was similarly praised. It resurrected the long-dormant Rocky franchise, and kicked off a successful and acclaimed trilogy centered around Jordan's legacy character, Adonis Creed. The pair's most famous (and profitable) collaboration was the revolutionary 2018 superhero movie Black Panther, which earned seven Academy Award nominations, including one for Best Picture. They teamed up for the sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, as well, although Jordan had a very minor role, reprising his original character in a vision sequence.

What's notable about their combined filmography is that Coogler and Jordan have demonstrated their prowess across multiple genres. Fruitvale Station is a heavy, heartbreaking drama, while Creed is an exhilarating and inspirational sports movie. The Black Panther films, on the other hand, are entertaining superhero adventures that crackle with style and energy. Now, they're stepping into the horror genre for the first time together. While it's clear that the duo are capable of a groundbreaking movie any time they team up, the early reviews for Sinners point to this being perhaps their most successful collaboration yet.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes, Mama's Geeky, USA Today, Vanity Fair, Polygon