If Ryan Coogler ever wanted to trade in his director’s chair for a podium and a chalkboard, we’d all gladly enroll.
If there’s one thing Ryan Coogler is going to do, it’s show up with intention—and that goes for how you watch his movies, not just what you’re watching. The Sinners director just teamed up with Kodak to drop what feels like a full-on cinematic masterclass, and trust—it’s worth your time.
In the newly released 10-minute video, Coogler breaks down every single format Sinners will be shown in and what makes each viewing experience unique. But this isn’t your run-of-the-mill promo piece. This is Coogler as student-turned-professor, bringing that film school energy with a side of geeky joy—and making you want to sprint to the nearest IMAX theater.
“I’m really excited to announce that Sinners was captured on film,” he says, holding up a strip like it’s sacred. “That’s a format I fell in love with when I was in school.”
And that love comes through loud and clear.
A Visual Walk Through Film History
Coogler starts from the ground up, introducing us to different formats the way a DJ might introduce classic records. There’s Super 8, the grainy old-school home movie look. Then Super 16mm, which Coogler used on Fruitvale Station, calling it “very close to my heart.”
As the film width increases, so does the resolution—and the impact. He explains that wider film gives you more detail and a shallower depth of field, which changes the emotional feel of every frame. In simpler terms: it just hits different.
By the time he gets to 35mm (used on a long list of cinematic greats), it’s clear he’s building up to something bigger.
And then? We get to the crown jewel: 65mm film.
Go Big or Go Home
Coogler shot Sinners using both Ultra Panavision 70 and IMAX film cameras—making it the first film ever to blend the two massive formats.
Let that sink in.
Ultra Panavision 70 gives you that ultra-wide 2.76:1 aspect ratio (used in classics like Ben-Hur and Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight), while IMAX film shoots in a towering 1.43:1 ratio, expanding the image vertically. When you combine the two? You’re looking at a film experience that’s practically bursting out of the frame.
“It will literally be one of the biggest films to ever be put to screen,” Coogler notes.
So… What’s the Best Way to Watch?
Coogler knows not everyone will get the same theater setup—which is why he breaks down all the different ways to experience Sinners:
- Standard Digital (DCP) – Most common projection in theaters. Clean, reliable, but not quite the same as celluloid.
- IMAX Digital (1.90:1 & 1.43:1) – Offers select scenes that expand to fill the screen vertically. One of Coogler’s preferred formats.
- 4DX – For the adrenaline junkies. Moving seats, mist, wind—basically a theme park in a theater.
- ICE (Immersive Cinema Experience) – Side panels extend the action beyond the center screen.
- ScreenX – Expands the image across three screens for a panoramic experience.
- Dolby Cinema – Deep contrast, rich blacks, and top-tier sound. A horror movie’s best friend.
- 70mm Film Projection (5-perf) – Ultra Panavision at its purest. Rare, but breathtaking if you can find it.
- 15-perf IMAX 70mm Film – The holy grail. There are only a handful of theaters in the world showing Sinners this way. If you’re near one, you go.
No matter which option you choose, you’ll be stepping into something Coogler intentionally designed for that format. It’s not just about watching a movie—it’s about feeling it.
Why This Matters
There’s something powerful about watching a filmmaker who’s just as passionate about how we experience a film as he is about making it. Coogler isn’t simply promoting a movie—he’s advocating for a style of watching that’s quickly becoming a lost art.
“Movies are shot at 24 frames per second,” he says, threading film between his fingers. “Those perfs [perforations] on the side? That’s the rhythm. That’s the heartbeat of cinema.”
Sinners is already turning heads for its genre-bending story and standout performances (with Michael B. Jordan portraying twin brothers), but it’s this peek behind the curtain—the craft, the care, the format—that takes it to another level.
Whether you catch it on film, in IMAX, or at your local theater, Sinners was made to be experienced—not just watched. Definitely not just streamed.
At a time when most folks are hitting play from the couch (no judgment), Coogler’s devotion to the big screen feels like a love letter to cinema. He’s not just preserving the moviegoing experience—he’s elevating it.
Because for him, it’s never just about the story. It’s about the medium. The method. The magic. And that’s what makes this one feel different.
The Bottom Line
Sinners opens in theaters April 18, and however you choose to see it—whether in digital, Dolby, or on that rare, glorious 70mm film—just make sure you do. And if you’re curious where to catch the specialty formats, head to the official IMAX website or check out Kodak’s breakdown.
Ryan Coogler isn’t just giving us a new horror story—he’s inviting us into the craft behind the curtain.
Now that’s a director who knows how to leave a mark.
Sinners hits theaters April 18. Get your tickets. Do your research. And if Coogler’s film class taught us anything—it’s that how you see a movie matters just as much as what you’re seeing.
I saw Sinners in IMAX and let me tell you—it lived up to the hype. Coogler didn’t just make a movie, he gave us an experience. Go big or go again.
