It may be an understatement to say that the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 served as a paradigm shift for how we navigate our lives, forcing us to confront the world behind an HD screen.

One of the many cultural shifts we’ve witnessed is how people value movie houses and the communal culture of watching films for leisure. As streaming services flock to our smart TVs, no film is truly out of reach.

One could argue that while the cinematic experience remains a unique adventure, technology has become so accessible that living room setups with a good TV and some surround sound can deliver nearly the same excitement and sensation as a theater.

But how did we get here? Is it simply the inevitability of progress that renders traditional cinema outdated? There’s more to it than that.

And allow me to begin with the article’s namesake: Ryan Coogler’s Sinners.

The Age of Film Franchises

Technology is just a small piece of the puzzle, a convenient scapegoat for the decline of cinema. To truly understand why film culture has seen better days, we revisit history.

For as long as I can remember, the past decade has been dominated by two categories: film franchises and biopics. More notoriously, the former.

2012’s The Avengers marked a breakthrough, launching one of the most ambitious crossover projects ever seen. That momentum gave birth to a decade of superhero films, draining our wallets with each new release.

It was called the Age of Superhero Films, but I’d argue it was really the Age of Cinematic Universes. Studios leaned heavily on remakes and franchises, weaving them together to create spectacle for loyal audiences.

The result? A sea of stories that, at best, feel like charming nostalgia acts, and at worst, come off as watered-down knockoffs.

Blaming the economy is one thing, but the minimal effort poured into most Triple-A films nowadays can only be met with audiences lifting a finger to turn on their TV screen, and nothing more.

What Sinners Reminded Us Of

Here’s where Sinners steps in. Did you notice how we referred to the film earlier?

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners.

When was the last time a filmmaker’s name felt like a badge of pride attached to a movie?

Before the Age of the Film Franchise, there was the Age of the Filmmakers.

Films were recognized not for their brand but for the visionary behind the camera: Scorsese. Spielberg. Tarantino. Anderson.

Sequels were rare, reserved only for stories that truly deserved continuation.

Ryan Coogler openly acknowledges his inspirations for Sinners, and they’re more than present; they radiate.

Original characters, the premise of power through song, themes of oppression and release, and a masterful treatment of the supernatural all come together to remind us what cinema can aspire to be.

In an era dominated by predictable franchises, Sinners dares to be bold, intimate, and unapologetically creative. It’s a reminder that film is not just content to consume, but an art to experience, a story to challenge us, and a world to immerse ourselves in.

And yet, for all its gravitas, Sinners doesn’t forget to have fun. Characters drink beers, laugh, and play cards late into the night; moments that feel effortless and lived-in. 

Somewhere between the tension and the magic, there’s a game of Poker or Tongits unfolding, a small, sly nod to the everyday rituals that connect us, remind us of friendship, and make the stakes feel human.

It’s a film that dares to be profound without losing its joy, a delicate balance that too many modern blockbusters have forgotten.

Ultimately, Sinners calls us back to a time when cinema wasn’t about brand recognition or franchise loyalty; it was about the filmmaker’s vision, the story they wanted to tell, and the emotional resonance it left behind.

In celebrating Sinners, we celebrate the audacity of filmmakers who dare to remind us why we fell in love with cinema in the first place.

The Audience Isn’t Gone

What Sinners truly shows us is that the audience hasn’t disappeared.

People still crave the thrill of a story told on the big screen, the shared gasp or laugh in a darkened theater, the heartbeat of cinema that can’t be replicated at home.

Love for film hasn’t died. It’s been biding its time, waiting for theaters to step up their game again.

This era has made one thing clear: viewers are no longer passive consumers of franchise fatigue. They want films that take risks, that surprise them, that remind them why movies were once an event, a ritual, a pulse of culture.

Sinners proves that when a film dares to challenge, innovate, and resonate, audiences respond, not with indifference, but with awe, applause, and a renewed faith in the art form.

Cinema’s future isn’t bleak; it’s patient. And when the theaters reclaim the audacity of storytelling, the audience will be waiting, ready to fall in love all over again.