‘Sinners’ With Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, and Wesley Morris
August 18, 2025 · Sinners (2025) · Action · Drama · Horror · 2:59:03 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Van LathanAgrees with the prayer hands take and categorizes celebrities into 'prayer hands celebrities and regular celebrities', praising YG for not giving him prayer hands▶ 23:35
Most Rewatchable Scene
Wesley MorrisWhen she gets off the train - her first scene where she confronts Smoke after seeing Sammy▶ 1:21:45
Great Shot Gordo Award
Van LathanInitially suggests the scene where Smoke comes in talking about the children, camera follows their daughter across the restaurant to retrieve her mom, but then agrees the ending is probably the overall winner▶ 1:55:10
Who Won the Movie
Wesley MorrisMichael B. Jordan — Suggests the movie would have been satisfying if it had just been Michael B. Jordan kills all the vampires, implying Michael B. Jordan won the movie▶ 2:01:17
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsThe fight scene - 8 people against 50 vampires but it plays like 8 on 8, doesn't make sense how they didn't all get bitten right away▶ 2:05:48
Van LathanAgrees with Bill's fight scene critique, calls it 'The blade conundrum' - vampires don't attack effectively as a group, they retreat when they could finish killing, like Mary leaving the juke joint early▶ 2:06:06
Den of Thieves Benihana Award
Van LathanClarksville and the American South - praised the beautiful, textured, gorgeous depiction of a place he's connected to, discussing the brutal beauty of the South with old general stores and cotton fields▶ 2:13:18
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsLudwig used 1932 Dobro Cyclops resonator guitar; Coogler influenced by From Dusk Till Dawn and The Faculty; cast twin double Percy Bell; shot Clarksdale scenes in Donaldsonville, Louisiana; working title was 'grilled cheese'; Remick's backstory places him in 5th-7th centuries; Robert Johnson crossroads legend connection▶ 2:22:36
Van LathanPersonal anecdote about Donaldsonville, Louisiana filming location - dated girl from there, boarded horses there, commented on local high school▶ 2:24:20
Wesley MorrisRhiannon Giddens served as Americana music consultant (same person Beyoncé consulted for Cowboy Carter); Kingfish Ingram appears with Buddy Guy in end band scene; film used Irish culture consultant and other specialized consultants▶ 2:23:23
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsRyan Coogler — Ryan Coogler is at Apex Mountain - has maximum power and juice as a director right now▶ 2:26:01
Van LathanMichael B. Jordan — Agrees Coogler has unprecedented power (could get $250M sight unseen); sees this as beginning of Michael B. Jordan's prime, not peak▶ 2:26:32
Wesley MorrisMichael B. Jordan — Agrees this is the moment for Michael B. Jordan to get really interesting offers, but sees it as beginning of prime rather than peak▶ 2:29:16
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsThe Good Doctor - envisioning him as a Spock-like figure providing logical analysis about the vampires while annoying the other characters▶ 2:49:52
Wesley MorrisSamuel L. Jackson — Sam Jackson - stating 'Sam Jackson made this movie' and referencing his role in Snakes on a Plane▶ 2:50:27
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsDid Josh Allen enjoy this movie? What did Stack and Mary do for 60 years and how many people did they bite?▶ 2:53:25
Wesley MorrisWhat are Stack and Mary musically driven to do now that they're dressed like Keith Sweat and Salt-N-Pepa? How did they survive the 70s and 60s, and did they have favorite restaurants?▶ 2:54:17
Best Double Feature
Bill SimmonsFruitvale Station — Fruitvale Station (paired with Black Panther to follow Ryan Coogler's journey)▶ 2:56:39
Movies Referenced (40)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creed (2015) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 12 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Wesley Morris | ▶ 15:55 |
| Blade (1998) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Van Lathan, Wesley Morris | ▶ 2:06:06 |
| Black Panther (2018) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 16:05 |
| Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | ▶ 2:35:22 |
| Dracula (1992) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Wesley Morris | ▶ 2:29:55 |
| From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan, Wesley Morris | ▶ 1:51:04 |
| Let Me In (2010) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan | ▶ 2:41:04 |
| Wall Street (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | ▶ 54:38 |
| Malcolm X (1992) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 2:35:36 |
| Nosferatu (2024) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Wesley Morris | ▶ 2:30:21 |
| Rambo (2008) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:53:28 |
| Side Effects (2013) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Wesley Morris, Van Lathan | ▶ 0:56 |
Directors Referenced (10)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steven Spielberg | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Wesley Morris, Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | Schindler's List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Saving Private Ryan | ▶ 1:05:25 |
| Joel Schumacher | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Wesley Morris | The Phantom of the Opera, 8MM | ▶ 1:09:57 |
| Paul Grinder | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Wesley Morris | District 9 | ▶ 2:19:58 |
| Jack O'Connell | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | ▶ 1:27:25 | |
| Robert Eggers | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | The Lighthouse, The Witch, Nosferatu | ▶ 1:04:17 |
| Spike Lee | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, She's Gotta Have It | ▶ 1:23:40 |
| Anson Jew | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | Wonder Woman | ▶ 2:43:59 |
| Ari Aster | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Hereditary, Midsommar | ▶ 1:04:17 |
| Michael Mann | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | The Insider, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans | ▶ 1:03:50 |
| Tom Brady | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Hot Chick | ▶ 33:00 |
Actors Referenced (68)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee Remick | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 30 | Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | The Omen, Anatomy of a Murder, Days of Wine and Roses | ▶ 26:19 |
| Delroy Lindo | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 15 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris, Van Lathan | Sinners, Get Shorty | ▶ 44:59 |
| Michael B. Jordan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Wesley Morris, Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | Black Panther, Creed, Fruitvale Station | ▶ 16:17 |
| Michael B. | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 12 | Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 52:18 | |
| Will Smith | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris, Van Lathan | Men in Black, I Am Legend | ▶ 53:54 |
| Brad Pitt | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Van Lathan | Fight Club, 12 Monkeys, Mr. & Mrs. Smith | ▶ 57:46 |
| Sean Baker | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | An American Werewolf in London | ▶ 1:04:17 |
| Alicia Goranson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | Boys Don't Cry | ▶ 1:14:03 |
| Omar Benson Miller | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | 8 Mile | ▶ 1:18:36 |
| Anthony Edwards | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Wesley Morris | Top Gun, Zodiac | ▶ 59:17 |
| Holy Fuck | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 1:51:26 | |
| Miles Caton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | Sinners | ▶ 1:11:14 |
Writers Referenced (6)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Coogler | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 54 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris, Van Lathan | Black Panther, Creed | ▶ 4:40 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:34:45 | |
| Malcolm X | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | Malcolm X | ▶ 2:35:36 |
| Damien Chazelle | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Whiplash, La La Land, First Man | ▶ 1:04:17 |
| James Baldwin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | ▶ 2:10:53 | |
| Nancy Meyers | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Wesley Morris | It's Complicated, Something's Gotta Give, Private Benjamin | ▶ 2:01:48 |
Cinematographers Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joan Rope | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:40:14 | |
| Albert J. Dunk | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 2:04:51 | |
| Christophe Dural | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | La Femme Nikita | ▶ 2:00:23 |