"Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners': A Frighteningly Familiar American Narrative Unraveled"

Sinners represents the most ambitious project undertaken by Ryan Coogler to date and has garnered the highest acclaim of his career. Even the iconic Spike Lee acknowledges its brilliance. Over the past 12 years, Coogler has crafted award-winning narratives like Fruitvale Station, revitalized the Rocky franchise with Creed, and redefined expectations for blockbuster adaptations with Black Panther—Marvel's first Oscar-winning title. Crucially, Coogler confronts the outdated Hollywood notion that films centering on Black narratives struggle to find success internationally.