Why Hailee Steinfeld in Sinners is the Performance Everyone’s Still Rewatching
Honestly, nobody saw this coming. When the first trailers for Ryan Coogler’s 1930s Southern gothic horror dropped, we all figured Hailee Steinfeld in Sinners would be the classic, pining love interest. She’s Mary. She’s the old flame of Stack (one of the twins played by Michael B. Jordan). She’s got the vintage dresses and the soulful eyes.
Then she opened her mouth and showed her teeth.
The movie hit theaters in April 2025 and basically set the internet on fire. It wasn't just because of the "vampires in the Jim Crow South" hook, though that was a massive part of it. It was because Hailee Steinfeld, our beloved Kate Bishop and the voice of Gwen Stacy, took a hard left turn into "villain" territory. She didn't just play a character; she deconstructed her entire career image.
The Twist That Caught Us All Off Guard
Most of the early buzz focused on Michael B. Jordan playing identical twins, Smoke and Stack. But the real "watercooler moment" was the reveal of what happened to Mary. For the first half of the film, Mary is a tragic figure. She’s a woman living in 1930s Mississippi, dealing with a "white-passing" identity that keeps her isolated from both worlds.
Then the juke joint scene happens.
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If you've seen it, you know. Mary isn't just a victim of the supernatural evil—she becomes part of it. Steinfeld's transition from the heartbroken ex to a blood-soaked predator was terrifying. There’s a specific line that went viral on TikTok immediately: "We gon' kill every last one o'ya." The way she delivers it—smiling, covered in blood, with a malice we’ve never seen from her—was a masterclass in subverting expectations.
Why This Role Was Personal
Steinfeld has been pretty vocal about why she took the part. In interviews following the film's $368 million box office run, she mentioned how the script for Hailee Steinfeld in Sinners helped her connect with her own heritage.
A lot of people forget that Hailee is mixed race. Her maternal grandfather was Black and Filipino. Playing Mary, a woman whose racial identity is a central conflict in the segregated South, forced her to dig into her own family history. She told Refinery29 that she spent hours talking to her mom about their ancestors while preparing for the role.
A Career-Defining Pivot
Before this, we knew Hailee as the hero.
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- The gritty, determined Mattie Ross in True Grit.
- The sarcastic, lovable Charlie in Bumblebee.
- The witty, archery-slinging Kate Bishop in Hawkeye.
But Mary in Sinners is vulgar. She’s sexual. She’s violent.
In her first scene with Stack, she doesn't hold back. She tells him exactly what she thinks of him for leaving her, and the language is much "saltier" than anything Disney would ever allow. Once she turns into a vampire, she uses that same intensity to seduce and eventually try to turn Stack. It’s a level of maturity that effectively ended her "teen actor" phase.
The Awards Buzz is Real
It’s January 2026, and the awards season is in full swing. Sinners already cleaned up at the Golden Globes, winning for Best Original Score (shoutout to Ludwig Göransson) and Cinematic and Box Office Achievement. While Michael B. Jordan’s dual performance is the heavy hitter, many critics are arguing that Steinfeld provided the film’s emotional—and terrifying—core.
The Dublin Film Critics Circle even gave the film a near-unprecedented sweep. People are finally seeing her as a powerhouse dramatic actress who can handle "hard R" rated material without losing her screen presence.
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What Actually Happens to Mary? (Spoilers)
For those who haven't caught up on the late-night streaming sessions, Mary's arc is one of the few that doesn't end in a pile of ash.
The film is set over a single, claustrophobic 24-hour period. While the Smokestack twins are trying to survive an onslaught of vampires led by Jack O'Connell's character, Remmick, Mary is caught in the crossfire. By the end, she technically survives, but she’s changed. The "happily ever after" with Stack is completely off the table because, well, she tried to eat him.
It’s a haunting ending. It leaves the door cracked just enough for a sequel, even though Ryan Coogler has said he views the movie as a "holistic and finished thing."
How to Experience Sinners Today
If you somehow missed the theatrical run, you need to find the biggest screen possible to watch this. The cinematography by Autumn Durald Arkapaw was shot on 65mm IMAX, and it shows. The shadows in the Mississippi Delta are thick and ink-black, making the vampire reveals feel visceral rather than cheesy.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch for the Improv: Steinfeld and Jordan improvised several of their tense "ex-lover" conversations. Look for the small facial twitches—that's where the real acting is.
- Listen to the Score: The soundtrack by Ludwig Göransson isn't just background noise; it uses period-accurate blues mixed with jarring, modern horror tones.
- Check the Newsletter: Hailee often shares behind-the-scenes tidbits in her Beau Society newsletter. She recently posted about the "fange" fittings and the crazy night shoots where they’d go into the juke joint in daylight and come out 12 hours later to more daylight.
This wasn't just another horror movie. Hailee Steinfeld in Sinners proved that she’s one of the few actors of her generation who can carry a massive blockbuster while delivering a performance that feels raw and deeply uncomfortable. If you want to see where her career is heading next, this is the blueprint.