Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violence, language in powerful, transporting monster movie.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Sinners
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 23 parent reviews
Parents say the movie delivers a gripping story with impressive performances and exceptional music, but it is filled with intense violence, sexual content, and strong language that may not be suitable for younger audiences. While some find it to be a masterpiece, others caution that its graphic nature and adult themes warrant careful consideration before allowing teens to watch.
- intense violence
- graphic sexual content
- excellent acting
- appropriate for teens
- strong language
- must watch
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 21 kid reviews
Kids say this film combines cultural themes and horror, appealing to older audiences, specifically those 14 and up due to its violence, sex scenes, and strong language. Many praised the emotional depth, stellar performances, and striking cinematography, although some found the explicit content excessive and distracting, raising concerns about its suitability for younger viewers.
- strong themes
- emotional depth
- explicit content
- age recommendation
- powerhouse performances
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In SINNERS, it's 1932, and Sammie (Miles Caton) barges through the doors of a church, bruised, bloodied, beaten, and clutching a broken guitar. Going back one day earlier, Sammie's cousins—twin brothers Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan)—have returned to Mississippi from Chicago with enough money to open their own juke joint. Stack and Sammie drive into town to find what they need for opening night. Grocery store proprietor Bo Chow (Yao) will provide food, and his wife, Grace (Li Jun Li), will paint a sign. They recruit veteran bluesman Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo) to play piano and Cornbread (Omar Benson Miller) to handle security. Sammie invites pretty Pearline (Jayme Lawson), while an ex-lover of Stack's, Mary (Hailee Steinfeld), invites herself, and Smoke reunites with an old partner, Annie (Wunmi Mosaku). The party starts well, with everyone having a great time. Then Sammie takes to the stage with his special gift: His music is so true that it pierces the veil between life and death. This, unfortunately, invites some unwanted guests.
Is It Any Good?
Ryan Coogler turns to the horror genre with mesmerizing results, delivering a stylish movie with lofty ambitions that's full of music and love and suggests that some monsters are worse than others. With Sinners, Coogler continues on his fearless filmmaking path, looking at what it means to be Black in America but also exploring themes of love, grief, and women's strength; it somehow feels of a piece with movies as disparate as Fruitvale Station and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Sinners begins by creating a community of people who really feel like they have a shared history; they're family, and they belong together, help each other.
From there comes the concept of the performer whose music is so true that it can pierce the boundaries between life and death. To demonstrate this, Coogler creates a nonstop sequence that's so beautiful, so dazzling, so awesome that it's transporting. We feel all of the moving bodies on screen separately, but also as one. It's as if a cosmic community was able to come together and be free for a moment. But then the movie drops its most powerful idea, which, without giving too much away, argues that the definitions of "monsters" and/or "community" are squarely in the eye of the beholder, some inclusive, and some exclusive. Sinners knows which is better and demonstrates this in no uncertain terms. It's an essential movie, perhaps on a level with Get Out.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Sinners' violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
How does the movie demonstrate the idea of community? What about teamwork, courage, and perseverance?
How does the movie depict sex? Is there consent? Trust? Why are these things important?
How are drinking and smoking depicted? Are they glamorized? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?
What can viewers learn about race and racism in 1932 (and today) from this movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 18, 2025
- On DVD or streaming : June 3, 2025
- Cast : Michael B. Jordan , Hailee Steinfeld , Miles Caton
- Director : Ryan Coogler
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s) , Multiracial Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros. Pictures
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Fantasy
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 137 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong bloody violence, sexual content and language
- Awards : Academy Award - Best Picture Nominee , Academy Award - Other Category Nominee , BAFTA - BAFTA Winner , BAFTA - BAFTA Nominee , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Winner , NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : November 20, 2025
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