The new movie “Sinners,” directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan, hits theaters this weekend to the eager anticipation of fans of the creative team and fans of horror.
The film is the latest high-profile addition to the tradition of Black American horror, following the footsteps of groundbreaking works that have carved out a space combining social commentary with scares and screams, redefining what horror can be, who its audience is and what it looks like.
The Black Horror Renaissance
“Sinners” obviously walks the path trod by the 2017 movie “Get Out,” directed by Jordan Peele, which didn’t just break box office expectations — it shattered them. This was proof of concept: A Black horror film showed it could terrify audiences, tackle racial trauma and become a box office smash, all at the same time. It opened the gates for films like Peele’s “Us” and the television series “Lovecraft Country,” which reclaimed H.P. Lovecraft’s racism-tainted mythology.
“Sinners” features vampires and is set in an early 20th-century Mississippi marked by the perils and psychological terror of racism. It’s also fruit of the seeds planted by Black literary horror masters such as Tananarive Due, author of the award-winning “The Reformatory,” and Victor LaValle, whose “The Changeling” merged folklore with modern anxieties.
Why Horror Resonates with Black Americans
Horror often serves as a cultural barometer in the U.S., rising in popularity during times of societal tension. The zombie films of the Civil Rights era, the slasher booms during economic downturns, and the psychological horror of post-9/11 America all reflect our collective anxieties.
Horror offers something powerful for Black audiences: the ability to process real-world terror through a fictional frame. When the movie “Tales from the Hood” explored police brutality, gang violence, and domestic abuse through the lens of the supernatural, it wasn’t just entertainment. It was catharsis.
What makes “Sinners” noteworthy is how it continues this tradition while finding new psychological terrain to explore, such as the history and importance of blues music to the world.
Black Audiences and Box Office Power
Black audiences have consistently shown up for horror. According to the Motion Picture Association’s 2023 THEME Report, which tracks demographics and statistics related to movie audiences, Black Americans represent just 13% of the U.S. population but account for nearly 23% of frequent moviegoers.
Horror films with predominantly Black casts have demonstrated remarkable staying power at the box office, too. “Get Out” turned its modest $4.5 million budget into a $255 million worldwide phenomenon, while “Us” earned $255 million against a $20 million budget.
Creative Partnerships That Define Eras
The collaboration between Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan powers “Sinners” and evokes other legendary partnerships between directors and actors. Just as Martin Scorsese found his muses in Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, the ongoing creative relationship between Coogler and Jordan continues to produce stunning work that speaks to the mores and times.
From their initial collaboration in “Fruitvale Station” through “Black Panther” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Jordan and Coogler have established a shorthand that allows for an easy exploration of character and theme — evident from the moment the first “Sinners” trailers hit the Internet.
With this new film, Coogler and Jordan want more than just our attention (and screams). They want us to reflect. The film is landing at a time when the ghosts of America’s past threaten to haunt us anew, and we’re paralyzed with worry about trying to figure out what awful thing could happen next. We’ll be watching monsters in the movie, yes, but we’ll also be watching ourselves jump at shadows and terrors real and imagined.
