When a filmmaker like Ryan Coogler is handed a blank cheque by a major studio, it's more than just a financial gesture, it's a cultural moment.

Sinners, Coogler’s first fully original film in years, marks a pivotal turning point not just for him as a director, but for the state of cinema as a whole. And that’s exactly why we need to show up for it.

Coogler has already proven himself a master storyteller, but he’s done so mostly within the confines of established IP. His debut, Fruitvale Station, was a harrowing and deeply human retelling of a real event. His major ascent into Hollywood however came through the Creed series, a spin-off of the Rocky franchise, and then Black Panther, one of the most significant and successful Marvel films to date. In both cases, Coogler brought a level of emotional truth, social commentary, and stylistic vision that elevated what those franchises could be. But make no mistake: they were still franchises.

Now, with Sinners, he’s stepping into uncharted territory - his own territory. This is Ryan Coogler unrestricted, and unbound from brand expectations. That matters. Because original stories are the lifeblood of a healthy cinematic landscape. They’re where risk lives, where new characters and mythologies are born. And when someone as talented as Coogler finally gets the freedom to build something from the ground up, it’s our job as audiences to make sure the industry takes notice.

Original cinema has been under siege for years. Studios have leaned heavily on sequels, remakes, and shared universes. Why? Because they’re "safe." But that safety comes at the cost of innovation. It makes movies feel algorithmic, designed to meet expectations instead of challenge them. Coogler getting a blank cheque to make something original is the exception, but it should be the rule.

There’s also a deeper cultural stake in this. Coogler is one of the few Black directors to be given a consistent platform at the blockbuster level. His voice carries weight not just artistically, but socially. Letting him tell an original story means allowing space for new perspectives, themes, and worlds that don’t come pre-packaged through the lens of existing white-led franchises. Sinners could very well be a defining statement, the kind of film that inspires the next generation of filmmakers to take risks of their own.

So when Sinners hits theaters, it's more than just a movie night. It’s an act of for a kind of filmmaking that’s in danger of vanishing. It’s a way of telling studios: this is what we want. Not just content. Not just IP. But vision. Soul. Cinema.

Ryan Coogler has given us more than enough reason to trust him. Now he’s giving us something entirely new. Let’s show up. Sinners is screening now at The Grosvenor Picture Theatre: Film | Grosvenor Picture Theatre