When Does 'Sinners' Take Place? A Timeline Breakdown Of the Oscars History-Making Blockbuster

Published 01/29/2026, 3:15 AM EST

Like legends and blues across timelines in history, Sinners has drawn in both fans and critics' attention alike, becoming an instant classic and earning its victory lap. Making a historic local legend of its own and dominating the Oscars, this horror film established itself as one of the greatest works in the genre, owing to its lore being deeply rooted in narrative brilliance and creative excellence.

The film’s ingenious alchemy of vampirism, race related history, and atmospheric tension propelled it into the pop culture discourse amid the awards season, with its intricate timeline being the center of attention. 

Everything to know about the timeline of Sinners

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Sinners establishes its historical setting through its depiction of Mississippi during the 1930s. It highlights the existence of race-based segregation, economic problems, and cultural diversity. The story follows twin brothers Elijah Smoke Moore and Elias Stack Moore, both played by Michael B. Jordan, who return to their hometown to open a juke joint but instead confront supernatural horrors and entrenched racism. 

According to Ryan Coogler's reflections on the movie's lore, per Proximity Media, the twins had been separated for three years before they went to Chicago. Sinners begins with the twins reuniting after their time in Chicago. 

"It was like a three-year run when the twins basically broke up... They ki---- their father, hid out in Mary's mom's place, then went to New York and joined the military. Went to fight in France, came back, and they went back home for a little bit," Ryan Coogler told Proximity Media.

During this timeline in the backstory, Stack and Mary went to Little Rock, and Smoke and Annie got their home. Soon after disaster struck their respective families, the brothers abandoned their partners and fled to Chicago, per Coogler.

Additionally, in the post-credits scene, Stack and Mary reunite with Stack and Smoke's cousin Sammie, who became a successful blues musician flash-forward to almost 60 years later. The film uses 1930s Mississippi as the base of its cultural identity, which shape the film's emotional core and thematic atmosphere.

Vampirism in this period functions as a narrative device through which the story presents horror elements that reflect how people experienced exploitation and segregation in their daily lives, deftly depicted by the stellar cast.

Oscar 2026 Nominations: 'Sinners' Creates History With 16 As 'One Battle After Another' Follows Closely

A web of complex timelines needs an equally adept set of thespians who can glide through the plot intricacies as smoothly as rhythm and blues.

Who plays who in Sinners? A detailed cast breakdown

In Sinners, Michael B. Jordan plays both the Moore twins, Elijah "Smoke" and Elias "Stack." Miles Caton immortalizes the role of Sammie Moore, while Hailee Steinfeld delivers a spectacular performance as Mary. Jack O'Connell plays Remmick, Delroy Lindo stars as Delta Slim, and Wunmi Mosaku is Annie, Smoke's estranged wife and a Hoodoo practitioner. 

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The rest of the cast includes Jayme Lawson as Pearline, Omar Benson Miller as Cornbread, Yao as Bo Chow, Li Jun Li as Grace Chow, Saul Williams as Jedidiah, Lola Kirke as Joan, Peter Dreimanis as Bert, Helena Hu as Lisa Chow, Cristian Robinson as Chris, and Nathaniel Arcand as Chayton, a Choctaw vampire hunter. Head to HBO MAX or Prime Video to put two and two together to understand the timeline of the Oscar nominated movie, as Sinners is now available for streaming globally.

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How deep are you into the Sinners lore? Comment your thoughts below.

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Ipshita Chakraborty

572 articles

Ipshita Chakraborty is an entertainment writer at Netflix Junkie. Offering thoughtful and compelling storytelling, they cover everything Hollywood and trending, from the latest streaming sensations to behind-the-scenes buzz. With about 7 years of writing experience for online media, Ipshita brings their voice to the coverage through industry analysis and cultural critique, a strength evident in prior work, such as their views on why the Michaela gender swap was needed in Bridgerton.

Edited By: Aliza Siddiqui

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