Table of Contents
It’s no secret that music is one of the key components to making a film that moves audiences. Ryan Coogler’s movie ‘Sinners’ is no different in that sense. The film made its way into headlines after it hit theaters in April 2025. The music behind the film is one of the key components that made ‘Sinners’ a big hit, and it remains so to this day.
Things to do:
- Subscribe to The Hollywood Insider’s YouTube Channel, by clicking here.
- Limited Time Offer – FREE Subscription to The Hollywood Insider
- Click here to read more on The Hollywood Insider’s vision, values and mission statement here – Media has the responsibility to better our world – The Hollywood Insider fully focuses on substance and meaningful entertainment, against gossip and scandal, by combining entertainment, education, and philanthropy.
The Men Behind The Music
The music was composed by Ludwig Göransson, who has also composed music for films such as ‘Black Panther’ and ‘Oppenheimer’. Göransson composed most of the music for ‘Sinners’ on his 1932 Dobro Guitar. Sammie Moore (Preacher Boy), who is played by Miles Caton, uses the same guitar in the movie. The 1932 Dobro Guitar used to create the music behind the film ‘Sinners’ is one of only three known in the world.
Ryan Coolgler is the man who wrote the movie. ‘Sinners’ is hardly Ryan Coolgler’s first film; he wrote and directed other films such as ‘Creed’ (2015) and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ (2022). In every movie he has directed and written, Michael B. Jordan played a role. Ryan Coogler’s film ‘Sinners’ was captivating and an overall success. He based the movie on his family and their real-life experiences of blackness in the South. Ryan Coogler’s behind-the-scenes on the story behind ‘Sinners’ is touching.
Sinners’ takes place in Clarksdale, Mississippi, during the 1920s. The film illuminates what life would have been like for Black Americans in the Deep South. The blues were an escape for Black individuals during the Jim Crow Era. The setting for the film is critical, as Mississippi is historically one of the most anti-black states in United States history.
WATCH THE TRAILER of the Film and the Revolution: ‘Can I Go Home Now?’
The Children Around the World Continue to Ask the question
This Little Light Of Mine
The very first song we hear in the movie ‘Sinners’ is ‘This Little Light Of Mine’. The song sets up the story with the haunting sound of the church choir singing. The sound of the music, paired with the image of Sammie having survived something horrific, puts the audience on the edge of their seat, immediately drawing them in to figure out what happened and how Sammie got there.
After ‘This Little Light Of Mine’ is played, we cut to the morning before. The music continues from there, with Sammie meeting up with his older cousins, Smoke and Stack. Smoke and Stack are twin brothers played by Michael B. Jordan. Sammie goes off with Stack to collect performers for the grand opening of the ‘Juke Joint’.
Related article: – Want GUARANTEED SUCCESS? Remove these ten words from your vocabulary| Transform your life INSTANTLY
I Lied To You
The next significant music moment in ‘Sinners’ is the moment when Sammie plays at the ‘Juke Joint’. Sammie gets out his guitar and plays a song he wrote for his pastor father. The song is ‘I Lied To You’. Ryan Coogler brought this scene together in such an emotionally charged way. Here is a behind-the-scenes look.
‘I Lied To You’ is arguably the most captivating scene in the entire movie. As Sammie begins to play, we see him and Delta Slim, played by Delroy Lindo, having a conversation in a flashback about the importance of the blues and black culture. Immediately after that, we hear a voiceover discussing how some people are born with the gift of making music that penetrates through the veil and awakens the spirits of the past and the future. At this point in the scene, the music transitions to merge with the sounds of the past, blending into music yet to come. The ‘I Lied To You’ scene draws you in and keeps your eyes glued to the screen as the building burns around the dancing bodies of the patrons at the ‘Juke Joint’.
I Picked Poor Robin Clean
Earlier in the movie, before the ‘I Lied To You’ scene, we meet our antagonist, Remmick. Remmick is played by Jack O’Connell. While there are no major songs during Remmick’s intro scene, the scene is still important to discuss before talking about ‘I Picked Poor Robin Clean’. In Remmick’s opening scene, we see him burning in the sun as he approaches the house of a couple. He convinces the couple to allow him into their home. You can watch the scene here.
After Sammie finishes playing ‘I Lied To You,’ Remmick and the other antagonists meet Sammie, Smoke, and Stack. Three white folks ask for entrance into the ‘Juke Joint’ for drinks and to play their music. The three of them play a folk song called ‘I Picked Poor Robin Clean’. The song adds an eerie feeling to the scene as we don’t know what they have intended for Sammie and the others in the ‘Juke Joint’. Ultimately, they are denied access to the joint and decide to wait outside in case Smoke and Stack should change their minds.
Related article: #metoo Revolution: Powerful Questions That Need Answers
Rocky Road To Dublin
One of the creepier scenes in ‘Sinners’ happens after everything goes wrong. In an almost ritualistic fashion, Remmick and everyone he has turned into vampires sing ‘The Rocky Road To Dublin’. Sammie and Smoke witness the scene. They watch everyone dance around Remmick, who stands in the center of a giant circle. The scene haunts the audience as the serious threat of harm to our protagonist looms around the corner.
It is after this scene that all hell breaks loose. The previous song, ‘I Picked Poor Robin Clean,’ comes back into play as the vampires taunt what is left of the group. Then, a fight breaks out between the two groups.
Related article: In-Depth Analysis | The Unexpected Queerness of ‘Bob’s Burgers’: Why the Show is an Animated Ally
The Final Song
The final major song of ‘Sinners’ ties us back to the beginning, as ‘This Little Light Of Mine’ brings us back to the church. Everything unfolds the same as we saw at the start of the movie, only this time, we understand Sammie and what he has been through. The final touch wraps the story together and can only be described as artistically beautiful.
In conclusion, ‘Sinners’ is a film wrapped in layers of art and history. The music enhances the messages found throughout, bringing us back to the Jim Crow era. The cast and crew enjoyed making the film; their commentary can be found here. ‘Sinners’ 2025 can be streamed on MAX, and the album can be found on YouTube.
By Sage Rhien
Click here to read The Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase’s love letter to Cinema, TV and Media. An excerpt from the love letter: The Hollywood Insider’s CEO/editor-in-chief Pritan Ambroase affirms, “We have the space and time for all your stories, no matter who/what/where you are. Media/Cinema/TV have a responsibility to better the world and The Hollywood Insider will continue to do so. Talent, diversity and authenticity matter in Cinema/TV, media and storytelling. In fact, I reckon that we should announce “talent-diversity-authenticity-storytelling-Cinema-Oscars-Academy-Awards” as synonyms of each other. We show respect to talent and stories regardless of their skin color, race, gender, sexuality, religion, nationality, etc., thus allowing authenticity into this system just by something as simple as accepting and showing respect to the human species’ factual diversity. We become greater just by respecting and appreciating talent in all its shapes, sizes, and forms. Award winners, which includes nominees, must be chosen on the greatness of their talent ALONE.
I am sure I am speaking for a multitude of Cinema lovers all over the world when I speak of the following sentiments that this medium of art has blessed me with. Cinema taught me about our world, at times in English and at times through the beautiful one-inch bar of subtitles. I learned from the stories in the global movies that we are all alike across all borders. Remember that one of the best symbols of many great civilizations and their prosperity has been the art they have left behind. This art can be in the form of paintings, sculptures, architecture, writings, inventions, etc. For our modern society, Cinema happens to be one of them. Cinema is more than just a form of entertainment, it is an integral part of society. I love the world uniting, be it for Cinema, TV, media, art, fashion, sport, etc. Please keep this going full speed.”
More Interesting Stories From The Hollywood Insider
– Want GUARANTEED SUCCESS? Remove these ten words from your vocabulary| Transform your life INSTANTLY
– A Tribute to Martin Scorsese: A Complete Analysis of the Life and Career of the Man Who Lives and Breathes Cinema
– Do you know the hidden messages in ‘Call Me By Your Name’? Find out behind the scenes facts in the full commentary and In-depth analysis of the cinematic masterpiece
– A Tribute To The Academy Awards: All Best Actor/Actress Speeches From The Beginning Of Oscars 1929-2019 | From Rami Malek, Leonardo DiCaprio To Denzel Washington, Halle Berry & Beyond | From Olivia Colman, Meryl Streep To Bette Davis & Beyond
– In the 32nd Year Of His Career, Keanu Reeves’ Face Continues To Reign After Launching Movies Earning Over $4.3 Billion In Total – “John Wick”, “Toy Story 4”, “Matrix”, And Many More
Author
You might also like…
Sage is a writer at heart, discovering her passion for writing at the young age of 12. She hopes to publish a few novels someday and write movies. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s in Film and Television Writing at the Los Angeles Film School. Sage aligns with the Hollywood Insider belief that active and engaging content is an excellent tool for bringing people together. And by writing for Hollywood Insider, she can use her voice to encourage other creators to persevere and shed light on perspectives that may otherwise go unnoticed.
Sage is a writer at heart, discovering her passion for writing at the young age of 12. She hopes to publish a few novels someday and write movies. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s in Film and Television Writing at the Los Angeles Film School. Sage aligns with the Hollywood Insider belief that active and engaging content is an excellent tool for bringing people together. And by writing for Hollywood Insider, she can use her voice to encourage other creators to persevere and shed light on perspectives that may otherwise go unnoticed.
