“I believe in cinema.”
That's the beating heart of Ryan Coogler's open letter to moviegoers, a raw thank-you note to fans who propelled Sinners to an 8MWednesdayanda8MWednesdayanda64M domestic total. But here's the twist: buried in his gratitude is a Rolodex of influences so wild, it's like a film school syllabus fired from a cannon.
Theatrical or Bust
Coogler doesn't just thank fans—he evangelizes for theaters. “I believe it's a vital pillar of our society,” he writes, doubling down on cinema as a communal lifeline. It's a defiant stance in the streaming era, echoing Nolan's IMAX crusades but with more heart than hardware.
The Sinners Inspiration Playlist
Then comes the mic drop: a list of 40+ influences, from Spike Lee to Stephen King (yes, the horror maestro). The lineup is a chaotic mix of icons (Scorsese, Spielberg) and curveballs (Robert Rodriguez? Eudora Welty?). Coogler's taste is Tarantino-level eclectic—but where QT name-drops grindhouse, Coogler nods to Barry Jenkins' intimacy and Boots Riley's satire.
Why It Matters:
- Auteur DNA: Like Fincher citing Butch Cassidy for Social Network, Coogler's list hints at Sinners' hidden layers.
- The New Guard: With Nia DaCosta and Shaka King in the mix, he's passing the baton.
This isn't just a thank-you—it's a manifesto. Coogler's fighting for theaters and flexing cinema's connective tissue. As studios chase IP, he's stitching together a legacy of rebels and poets.
Next time you watch Sinners, listen for the echoes of John Singleton's streets or DuVernay's defiance. Because Coogler didn't just make a movie—he built a shrine.
“Would you risk skipping the theater? (He'd say don't.)”
