Coming off a string of hits that include Creed and Black Panther, Ryan Coogler goes full horror in his vampire film Sinners -- and it's one of the best films he's ever made. A slow-burn approach to characters and setting fully fleshes out the world that the movie's second half is dedicated to burning down, a tricky proposition that only skilled filmmakers can meet. With a perfectly committed cast, stirring music, and a flair for creature effects that would make John Carpenter swoon, the stylish Sinners is proof that the vampire genre still has plenty of life in it.

Boasting a soundtrack of catchy and creative K-Pop riffs, KPop Demon Hunters is an absolute blast (and it's a shame more audiences won't see it on the big screen). The film, which takes cues from the animation stylings of Spider-Verse and anime in equal measure, moves with a crispness that enhances all of the choreography (both in dance scenes and active battles). The characters are all charming, elevating a fairly predictable moral arc by sheer force of charm and style. It's an absolute blast with just enough self-awareness to be funny and more than enough heart to be emotionally effective.