A still from Sinners (Image via Warner Bros.)

Sinners ending explained: What happens in the final battle?

Modified Apr 18, 2025 18:43 GMT

Sinners premiered in theaters on April 18, 2025, marking the directorial debut of Ryan Coogler for this unique supernatural horror film. Set in 1932 during the Jim Crow South, the movie explores themes of survival, racism, and supernatural horrors intertwined with blues music.

The story follows twin brothers, Smoke and Stack (played by Michael B. Jordan), who come back to their Mississippi Delta hometown after World War I. Though their party quickly becomes fatal as vampires attack the club, hoping to take advantage of a musician's unusual supernatural talent, they want to create a juke joint for the local Black population.

Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers. Reader's discretion is advised.

The last minutes are full of mayhem and bloodshed as the movie approaches its climax. The film's real danger comes not from the vampires by themselves but from the KKK's racism, which causes the final catastrophe.

In the final battle of Sinners, Smoke and Sammie defeat the vampire leader Remmick, but Smoke is mortally wounded while fighting off a racist Klan posse, ultimately dying in peace as he reunites with his deceased family.

Sinners follows the story of twin brothers Smoke and Stack, who are veterans returning home to start anew, but the opening night of their juke joint turns into a deadly night of survival.

The final battle of Sinners: Smoke vs. Remmick

The battle in the final act is an intense confrontation. Smoke and Stack are fighting for their lives inside the juke joint, with Remmick, the vampire leader, leading his horde of undead.

Smoke finally stakes the vampire in an emotional and physical confrontation with Remmick, building the scene. But the tale goes on. The KKK, under Hogwood's leadership, is about to complete what they started even after Remmick's death, the greatest threat still on the horizon.

Smoke, determined to protect his family and community, prepares for a final showdown against the racist forces. As the Klan members arrive, Smoke manages to eliminate them in a quick and efficient display of violent justice.

The battle ends with Smoke mortally wounded, yet at peace with the presence of his deceased family members. His death marks the end of a tumultuous journey, but the price of peace comes at the ultimate cost—his life.

Music as a double-edged sword

Sammie, a gifted blues musician, is central to the conflict in Sinners, as his music holds the power to connect the spiritual world with the living. His ability to summon spirits through his guitar draws the attention of Remmick and his vampire horde.

Sammie battles with his musical talent all through the movie, particularly after his father cautions him about the risks it poses. Remmick's wish to control Sammie depends on his music, since the vampire thinks it can enable him to contact the spirits of his lost loved ones.

As the final battle between Sammie and Remmick unfolds, Sammie’s refusal to abandon his music proves to be crucial. Sammie’s act of smashing his guitar over Remmick’s head delivers a decisive blow that weakens the vampire.

Ultimately, Smoke arrives just in time to stake Remmick, but it is Sammie’s music that serves as both a weapon and a link to the past, solidifying the importance of his gift.

Also Read: Does Michael B. Jordan’s new movie Sinners (2025) have a post-credits scene? Explained

The real villain: Racism’s last stand

Although Sinners spends most of its running time fighting vampires, the Klan's unrelenting bigotry represents the real enemy of the movie. With time, it becomes obvious that the people are under more than simply vampire danger.

Hogwood's Klan assault reflects the insidious and ongoing threat Black Americans experienced during the Jim Crow era. Smoke and his crew have to face the hateful and dangerous forces of racism, endangering their survival even after they vanquish the vampires.

The final moments of the film emphasize the devastating impact of these bigoted forces. While Smoke succeeds in killing the Klan members, it is clear that these hate-driven ideologies are more difficult to defeat than the supernatural evil they have just faced. This grim reality underscores the film’s message about love, survival, and the need for resistance against such hatred.

The true meaning of Sinners

A still from the movie: The true meaning (Image via Warner Bros.)

The deeper themes in Sinners are shown in Smoke's death and Sammie's survival. Despite the horrors he's seen, Sammie cherishes his family, especially his mother and Smoke.

Sammie's decision to keep playing music after all the death and destruction shows the power of love and family. These emotions balance the film's horror, giving it a bittersweet but redeeming ending.

The film suggests a new phase in Sammie's life as he goes forward. The post-credits scene shows Sammie to be a successful blues musician by 1992. In a surprising turn, Stack and Mary, who survived the vampire assaults, come back to locate Sammie.

Stack's revelation that he struck a deal with Smoke to spare Sammie’s life raises the possibility of more to this narrative. A sequel is still possible, which opens the door for upcoming exploits.

Stay tuned for more updates on Sinners and other movies as the year progresses.

About the author

Rajan is an Entertainment Writer at Sportskeeda with previous experience of 5 years in writing about the genre. While he has a Bachelor's degree in Computer Application, it was his passion for the domain that led him to pursue a career in the field. He firmly believes that research is key when reporting on any topic, and glances through a wide array of articles to produce informative and accurate content.

Rajan admires Robert Downey Jr., Bob Dylan, and John Mayer since he feels they are the best at their trade. He is passionate about music and has had the opportunity to interact with popular Bollywood music directors A. R. Rahman, Pritam and Vishal-Sekhar.

If he could go back in time, he would jump at the opportunity to be part of Coldplay's hit track, 'A Sky Full of Stars.'

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