As the first half of 2025 wraps up, the film world has a new standout champion: Ryan Coogler's horror sensation Sinners. Unveiled in Letterboxd's Midyear Report on July 5, 2025, Sinners has surged ahead as the highest-rated movie of the year so far, captivating audiences globally with its unique blend of genre-bending storytelling and emotional depth.
Letterboxd, the popular film social network, released its annual Midyear Report highlighting the top-rated films from the first six months of the year. Unlike many lists that focus solely on U.S. release dates, Letterboxd considers worldwide premieres and festival debuts, providing a diverse snapshot of global cinema. Yet, despite this international scope, Sinners emerged as the clear favorite among users, boasting an impressive 4.2 average rating from over 1.84 million viewers on the platform. This rating narrowly surpassed the 4.1 average of the Brazilian film Latin Blood – The Ballad of Ney Matogrosso, securing Sinners the top spot among the 25 highest-rated films.
What makes Sinners so special? For starters, it’s not just a horror movie. Directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as twin brothers Smoke and Stack, the film combines atmospheric 70mm IMAX visuals with stirring musical numbers and emotionally charged moments. Its story, which follows the twins returning to their hometown only to confront a sinister evil, resonates on multiple levels. Letterboxd users have praised its powerful emotional beats and innovative presentation, marking it as a film that’s both thrilling and deeply affecting.
Financially, Sinners has been a blockbuster success, earning just under $280 million domestically and over $364 million worldwide—an impressive feat for an original film outside any franchise. Its critical acclaim is equally notable, holding a near-perfect 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Many critics and moviegoers alike are already hailing it as one of the best films of 2025.
Interestingly, Sinners is one of only two American films in Letterboxd's top five for this midyear period, alongside Eva Victor’s Sorry, Baby, which ranked fifth. The rest of the list is dominated by intimate, realistic portrayals of everyday life, highlighting how Sinners stands out as a genre film that transcends typical horror tropes.
Looking back at recent years, this achievement places Sinners in esteemed company. Previous Letterboxd Midyear Report leaders include Dune: Part Two in 2024, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse in 2023, and the wildly acclaimed Everything Everywhere All at Once in 2022. Notably, the highest-rated live-action films on these lists have often gone on to receive Best Picture Oscar nominations, or even wins, suggesting a promising future for Sinners.
Adding to its trailblazing status, Sinners made history upon its streaming debut on July 4, 2025, on HBO Max (now Max). Warner Bros. Discovery introduced a groundbreaking viewing option: a Black American Sign Language (BASL) version of the film, marking the first time a streaming service has exclusively launched a film interpreted in BASL. This distinct dialect of American Sign Language features its own grammar, rhythm, facial expressions, and cultural nuances, providing a culturally rich and authentic experience for Black Deaf audiences.
Naomi Waibel, WBD's Senior Vice President of Global Product Management, emphasized the importance of this innovation, stating, "Accessibility within streaming is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Our goal at Max is to make these great stories accessible to all audiences in a way that is authentic to the content and the communities we serve. Sinners with Black American Sign Language is an example of how culturally nuanced access can enrich the viewing experience for our audiences.”
The BASL interpretation is delivered by Nakia Smith, a prominent voice within the Black Deaf community, who brings cultural depth and linguistic richness that align closely with the film’s themes and historical context. The project also benefited from the expertise of Rosa Lee Timm, the Director of Artistic Sign Language, who ensured cultural authenticity. Timm has previously directed ASL versions of films like Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and A Minecraft Movie, both exclusive to Max, as well as other ASL-accessible titles like HBO’s The Last of Us and Warner Bros. Pictures’ Barbie and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
The combination of Sinners’ cinematic achievements and its pioneering accessibility efforts underscore its cultural significance. It’s not just a film making waves at the box office or on critics’ lists; it’s setting new standards for inclusivity and representation in media.
Ryan Coogler’s collaboration with Michael B. Jordan continues to prove fruitful, with the actor’s dual performance as the twins Smoke and Stack receiving widespread acclaim. The cast also features Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, and Delroy Lindo, with Coogler producing alongside Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian. Executive producers include Ludwig Göransson, Will Greenfield, and Rebecca Cho.
With its streaming debut, Sinners is now accessible to a broader audience, inviting viewers to experience its layered narrative and groundbreaking accessibility features. Whether it’s through the immersive 70mm IMAX experience or the culturally resonant BASL version, Sinners continues to captivate and inspire.
As the film industry looks ahead to the remainder of 2025, Sinners stands as a testament to the power of innovative storytelling and inclusive representation. It’s a reminder that cinema can be both entertaining and transformative, reaching diverse audiences in new and meaningful ways.
