I've got to hand it to the makers of Guilty 2025 - the film has already made back its production costs with ease, but opinions on its quality are still all over the place.
Hello!
Let's dive in and figure out if this movie is worth watching.
BackgroundRyan Kyle Cugler is a young and talented director and screenwriter who made a splash with his 2018 film Black Panther. That movie was a massive hit in the States, raking in three Oscars and a ton of other awards and recognition. It's no wonder Cugler became a household name and a rising star.
Fast forward six years, and Cugler's back with Guilty, this time not just as director and screenwriter, but also as a producer. You could say Cugler's the whole package when it comes to Guilty 2025.
It's no surprise that Ryan Coogler, a renowned, wealthy, and energetic filmmaker, had the freedom to create movies on his own terms and imagination. He'd already earned the respect and admiration of the industry, so he didn't need anyone's approval.As it happens, Coogler had a deep affection for the film From Dusk Till Dawn (1999) from a young age, and it was a constant source of inspiration for him. Robert Rodriguez, the director of that film, was someone Coogler greatly admired and, without even realizing it, was a bit of a mentor to him.
Fast forward to Coogler having the resources and vision to make his own film in the same genre.
Getting StartedAt the beginning of 2024, rumors started circulating in the film industry that Coogler was gearing up to shoot a new movie through his own production company, Proximity Media. By then, Coogler had already written the script, cast Michael B. Jordan in the lead role, and was set to direct and produce the film.
Warner Bros. spent a whopping $100 million to secure the rights to show Guilty 2025 for 25 years. And get this - the director, Michael Cugler, even got a cut of the profits. What's more, after 25 years, all the rights to Guilty will go back to Cugler.
CastThe cast was handpicked by Cugler himself.
The lead roles of the twin brothers Dima and Pepel went to Michael Jordan, who played both roles solo.
The movie Guilty 2025 also features another main character, Sammy Moore, the guitarist. Miles Keaton did an awesome job playing him - he's a talented guitarist and up-and-coming actor.
I was blown away by Jack O'Connell, a rising star in British cinema, landing the role of the main antagonist. Let me tell you, his performance in Guilty 2025 was top-notch. This guy has a talent that makes you on edge, waiting for his character's next move, and it leaves you chilled to the bone (which is exactly what you want from a horror movie).
Jack is a fun guy, 35 years old, but in Guilty, he looks a lot more serious and older (he really commits to the role). With an extensive filmography, Jack has been active in both TV and film, and his range is impressive – from playing young characters in soap operas to comedic roles in funny movies, and even taking on serious historical dramas and lighthearted rom-coms.
Now that I've seen his portrayal of the villain, I can confidently say it was a standout performance. It's also worth noting that Jack O'Connell is a highly sought-after actor – after Guilty 2025, he's already landed several new roles, with his shooting schedule booked for years to come.
One thing that caught my eye was the fact that Outcasts had a pretty impressive cast, and I'm not just saying that because of the actor's involvement. I mean, a talent like him wouldn't just agree to be in any old film.
The other roles are pretty secondary, but they're still well-played.
MusicMusic is a big deal in Outcasts 2025 – it's almost like a character in its own right. It's got its own life, its own goals, and even a bit of a personality. It influences the characters' decisions and shapes their destinies.
The music in Outcasts was written by Ludwig Emil Tomasson Jöransson, an old buddy of Kugler's.
What's interesting is that Ludwig is Swedish, but he's just as strong, talented, and respected in the blues world as any American-born bluesman. He's got nothing to prove – he's on the same level as the 'natural-born' blues legends that the film's all about.
As a composer and producer, Ludwig has an incredible track record in the music and film industry. His filmography is a testament to his versatility, spanning everything from movies to TV shows and commercial music.Like many blues musicians, Ludwig has a professional handle - 'Ludovin' - and he's got the accolades to match. He's taken home not one, not two, but three Grammys and two Oscars, and that's not even counting the countless other awards he's received from industry organizations.
What's even more impressive is that Ludwig didn't write music for the sake of creativity, but rather had to stay true to historical accuracy. The film Грешники 2025 takes place in the 1930s, so he had to draw inspiration from the music of the time. To do this, Ludwig referenced old vinyl records that had been preserved from that era.By doing so, he not only created an incredible soundtrack for the film, but also managed to bring back to life the music of a bygone era.
I'm excited to see what Ludwig Yoeransson has in store for us in the future - he's still relatively young, only 41 years old.
ShootingThe film Guilty 2025 was shot from April to July 2024, and the locations were Louisiana and New Orleans.
I've noticed that the filmmakers shot some scenes in a 1.4:1 aspect ratio, while others were shot in 2.7:1. You can see this in the photos I've attached to this review - it's hard to see the point of doing this, as it doesn't seem to add anything meaningful to the film.
Kodak also experimented with a new method of shooting memory frames, which you can see in the photos I've attached. It's an interesting technique that allows for a unique perspective and a deeper emotional connection with the character - it's a shame they couldn't have done this with all the scenes.
Release DateThe film premiered on April 18, 2025, in the US and Canada. I found it interesting that the creators organized a festival in Mississippi in May, which is where the story takes place in the movie.
They screened the film for free several times at this event, and I think it's great that they wanted to share their work with the community. The creators even talked to locals who had lived in these areas for a long time, and they seemed to really enjoy the film.
This makes me think that the historical accuracy of the film is spot on. I've heard that the director and other crew members were really impressed with how well the film was received by the locals.
Of course, the real test of a film's success is its box office performance. As of November 2025, the film has raked in around $370 million globally.
People involved in accounting for the movie Guilty believe the film's maximum costs were around $200 million.That means Guilty 2025 has already more than paid for itself and made a good profit.
Plus, the costs for the movie are already over, and the revenue will continue to flow in for a significant amount of time.
Fans voted for the movie Guilty with their dollars.
ReviewsA reputable organization like Rotten Tomatoes collected reviews from around 500 critics and calculated the percentage of positive reviews: 97%. That's a significant result.
Metacritic, another trusted source, looked at the reviews from 50 critics. The result: 84%. That's also very good for the movie Guilty.
PostTrak's statistics revealed an astonishing 92% of positive reviews. I've been checking other critics, websites, and organizations, and the trend is clear: everyone's raving about this film. Crime 2025 has got the thumbs-up from critics, and I'm not surprised. Journalists love to write vividly, using colorful language to describe the film. They're not holding back on the superlatives, calling out scenes as 'frenetic', 'aromatic', 'intoxicating', and 'wonderful' (I'm starting to feel a bit self-conscious listing them all).IndieWire, a respected organization of film critics, has included Crime 2025 in their list of the hundred most outstanding films of the 2020s. And if that's not enough, the film has already received a slew of awards and nominations (the list is growing by the day). It's not the Oscars or Grammys, but it's still a testament to the film's quality. So, it's safe to say that Crime 2025 is a great, well-crafted film.Opinions and impressionsI've noticed that our domestic audience is a far cry from the Mississippi plantations, blues, and problems that come with that kind of exoticism. Especially not a hundred years ago.
When it comes to Guilty, we tend to expect one thing, but get something entirely different. It's clear from our viewers' comments and reviews: there's no uniform adoration.
A significant portion of our viewers didn't take to Guilty 2025, and I think there are valid reasons for that.
The originality of the movie Guilty is pushed by the producers as a definite plus, but you could say it's achieved not by breaking new ground or introducing cutting-edge concepts, but by simply mixing genres. Horror, mystery, action, ethnic saga, and musical film – all that's in there. Plus, a love story and a classic tragedy.It's also worth noting that Ryan Coogler, with his relatively limited life and professional experience, couldn't possibly create something groundbreaking and amazing. Not even with all the critical acclaim and box office numbers.
I think changing the way we look at the movie Guilty 2025 could help our viewers see something interesting in it.But why should the viewer adjust to something they don't like? They shouldn't have to.
I liked the movie Guilty, and I'll try to tell you, my reader, why I liked it.
Ryan Coogler has often cited 'From Dusk Till Dawn' (1996) as an inspiration for his work. Given that, it's only natural to draw a comparison between the two films. They're both genre-bending, after all.I think 'Sinners' (2025) is a more grounded, more logical, more vibrant, and more meaningful film than 'From Dusk Till Dawn' (1996). It's also more skilled at crafting characters and imagery, and significantly more musically harmonized and packed with depth.
It's not just horror and action that we find in this film. There are interesting character transformations, shifts in meaning, and even a reevaluation of reality. Maybe without the horror and gunfire, this film would have looked just as good. It would have been a historical drama or something like 'The Green Mile' (1999).To be honest, 'Sinners' (2025) is a pretty interesting film. And it's got plenty of ideas and layers of understanding.
One of our local mystics once wrote:
A fairy tale is a lie,
But it contains a hint...
I've got to say, the movie Guilty 2025 is a real departure from what I expected – there's no sleazy, dirty, or deceitful content. Even the villains are proud and honest in their wickedness. And the so-called guilty characters? They're actually kind-hearted and noble, often committing wrongdoings out of love for someone or something.
Dear reader, I'd love to hear your thoughts on Guilty. Maybe you've seen the movie already, or maybe you're still holding out for a first viewing. Either way, it'd be awesome to hear your comments on this review – it might give me a fresh perspective on the film.And if you're curious, I've got reviews on some other movies that I think are worth checking out:
The Shawshank Redemption (1994) [check it out here],
The Postman (1997) [check it out here],
The Wolf of Wall Street (1990) [check it out here],
The Book of Eli (2010) [check it out here],
Geronimo: An American Legend (1993) [link here].
The Green Mile (1999) [link here]
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) [link here]
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) [link here]
Well, that's it for me. I hope you found some great movies to watch. Have a blast and stay entertained!