As Hollywood intensifies its praise of the film Sinners, Christian leaders are renewing calls for spiritual discernment, warning that unprecedented awards recognition does not neutralize what they describe as deeply troubling spiritual themes.
The nominees for the 2026 Academy Awards were announced Thursday morning, and Sinners emerged as the most-nominated film in Oscars history, earning a record 16 nominations, including Best Picture. The milestone surpasses the previous 14-nomination record held by All About Eve, Titanic and La La Land.
Directed by Ryan Coogler, the supernatural thriller stars Michael B. Jordan and Wunmi Mosaku, all three of whom received individual nominations in directing, writing and acting categories. The film’s awards momentum follows its earlier success at the Golden Globes, where it won two trophies after receiving seven nominations.
But while the entertainment industry celebrates Sinners as a landmark achievement, Dr. Kynan Bridges, senior pastor of Grace & Peace Global Fellowship, says Christians should be alarmed by what the film promotes beneath its cinematic polish.
“I want to tell you the shocking truth about the recent Ryan Coogler film called Sinners,” Bridges said in a video message recorded when the film was in theaters. “The truth of the matter is the film is disturbing.”
Artistic Praise, Spiritual Concerns
Bridges acknowledged the film’s technical excellence and commercial success, noting its massive popularity and critical acclaim. However, he warned that craftsmanship does not sanctify worldview.
“Skill is skill,” Bridges said. “I’m not taking away from the cinematography or the angles. But what I’m concerned about is the idolatry of demonic belief systems and the promotion of sensuality and perversion.”
The film follows twin brothers returning to their hometown to open a juke joint while facing threats from the Ku Klux Klan and supernatural forces, including vampires. Bridges said the story is layered with symbolism that should not be dismissed as mere fiction.
“The elements in the film and the symbolism in the film represent a departure from Christianity and Judeo-Christian ethics into African spiritism, voodoo, hoodoo, witchcraft,” he said. “These things were deified and glamorized. They were glorified in this film.”
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Music, Ancestral Worship and Spiritual Portals
One scene in particular raised concern for Bridges, involving music portrayed as a gateway to the spiritual realm.
“There’s a scene in the film where the main character is singing a blues song, but the song opens up a spiritual portal,” he said. “All these ancient ancestral performers manifest themselves. That’s not harmless symbolism. That’s necromancy. That’s divination.”
Bridges also pointed to comments from Coogler in which the director discussed feeling the presence of deceased relatives through jazz music.
“This is necromancing, y’all,” Bridges said. “It’s divination.”
He warned that ancestral worship is being repackaged as empowerment, discouraging discernment.
“We’re being sold the spirit of ancestral worship under the guise of black identity, under the guise of black empowerment,” Bridges said. “No matter what is done, as long as it’s called empowerment, people think it’s good. That is dangerous.”
A Rejection of Christ
At its core, Bridges said, Sinners communicates a message that directly opposes the gospel.
“The essence of the movie Sinners is the rejection of Christ,” he said. “The main character is a preacher’s son who rejects the call of God, rejects ministry, rejects Christ, and chooses the world.”
While the film fell short in categories such as best screenplay and best director at earlier awards shows, Bridges said its growing cultural influence only heightens the need for vigilance.
“This film is an ode to the old adage that art imitates life,” he said. “This is where we are now.”
He concluded with a warning that Christians cannot afford to passively consume culture simply because it is celebrated.
“The demonic is not something we play with,” Bridges said. “It’s something we warfare against in the spiritual realm.”
“There is a rejection of Christianity. There is a rejection of God,” he added. “And I believe this is the problem we are facing right now.”
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine.
