Ryan Coogler’s compelling new supernatural film Sinners has been turning heads since it hit theaters last month. The film achieved a near-perfect 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes and has evoked widespread hometown pride, given that Coogler himself grew up in Oakland. Here in the Bay Area we’re lucky to enjoy two theaters presenting rare screenings of Sinners: SF’s Metreon 16, which shows the film in 70mm IMAX 15-perf projection, and Oakland’s Grand Lake Theater, which shows it in 70mm 5-perf projection. More on that below.
In a recent YouTube video for Kodak, Coogler himself brought up the significance that the Grand Lake Theater screenings hold for him. “The Grand Lake Theater in Oakland… is where I watched some of my first movies with my parents. Means the world,” he said.
The Grand Lake Theater is one of only 5 theaters in the country that are currently presenting Sinners on 70mm 5-perf projection. The wide 70mm film results in a much sharper image than you may be used to with traditional 35mm, and the 5-perforation film results in a wide 2.76:1 aspect ratio. It’s rare to experience this type of format in theaters these days.
“It’s an incredible experience to watch a film like this, to have that projector running behind you,” said Coogler. “To know there’s incredible technicians that have specialized hands and knowledge that are making this happen.”
Sinners aside, the Grand Lake Theater is worth visiting simply for its old-school, vintage feel. The historic venue is nearly a century old, and each of its four auditoriums exhibits a charming retro character, from gilded gold wall embellishments to 1920s Moorish detailing. While most films are presented using digital projection, the theater has retained its 35mm and 70mm capabilities for special screenings like Sinners.
If you’re more partial to the towering IMAX experience, don’t forget that you can also enjoy a one-of-a-kind screening at San Francisco’s Metreon 16. This is one of only 10 theaters in the country presenting Sinners in 70mm IMAX 15-perf projection. In these screenings, the 70mm film was spun horizontally to create a massive 1.43:1 aspect ratio, which is the same way that Oppenheimer was filmed. See the screen fill out your view vertically, affording a more immersive experience.
Coogler famously directed fantastic films including Black Panther, Creed, and Fruitvale Station. His new film Sinners delves into horror territory, following two twin brothers played by Michael B. Jordan as they face a supernatural evil in the 1932 Mississippi Delta.
Visit the Grand Lake Theater website to see the story play out in one-of-a-kind 5-perf 70mm.