How Nolan Convinced Coogler to Shoot 'Sinners' in IMAX

Nolan recalls personally reassuring Coogler that committing to IMAX for 'Sinners' was the right call — a decision that ultimately won an Oscar.

Christopher Nolan has spent the better part of two decades serving as one of cinema's most passionate advocates for large-format filmmaking, and it turns out his evangelical enthusiasm extends well beyond his own productions. The director recently shed light on a pivotal behind-the-scenes conversation he had with Ryan Coogler before Sinners began production — a conversation that may have quietly shaped one of 2025's most celebrated films.

A Phone Call Before the Cameras Rolled

According to Deadline, citing a conversation published by The New York Times, Nolan revealed that Coogler reached out to him directly before locking in his decision to shoot Sinners on IMAX cameras. The call, it seems, carried real stakes — committing to the format is not a casual choice. IMAX requires specialized equipment, particular on-set disciplines, and a logistical footprint that can test even seasoned productions. Nolan, who has built a filmography deeply intertwined with the format, told Coogler plainly that his instincts were sound and that pursuing IMAX was not, as the director put it, "crazy."

That kind of peer validation from one of the medium's foremost technical visionaries is worth something, and Sinners ultimately bore out the wisdom of the choice. The film's cinematographer, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, went on to claim the Academy Award for Best Cinematography — recognition that speaks directly to the visual ambition that the IMAX format helped enable.

Nolan's Role as a Format Evangelist

What makes Nolan's account particularly interesting is the window it opens onto how filmmaking knowledge and enthusiasm travel between directors. Nolan noted that he had taken Coogler to a screening of an original IMAX film print — specifically tied to Dunkirk — as a way of demonstrating what the format is genuinely capable of when used as the primary acquisition medium rather than as a supplement. "I love to show filmmakers the potential of the format," Nolan said, framing his mentorship not as instruction but as advocacy.

This kind of informal knowledge transfer rarely makes headlines, but it underscores the collaborative undercurrent that runs through even an industry as competitive as Hollywood. Nolan has spoken at length over the years about his own education in practical filmmaking — studying prints, learning from predecessors — and his willingness to pass that enthusiasm along to Coogler fits a broader pattern of directors investing in the craft community around them. It's worth noting that conversations like this one can shape entire awards seasons; as newer filmmakers continue to gain Academy recognition — Jenna Ortega is among the 529 newly invited to join the Film Academy in 2026 — the traditions and techniques passed between generations carry real weight.

Why the IMAX Decision Mattered for 'Sinners'

For Coogler, Sinners represented a distinct tonal and visual departure — a period supernatural drama demanding both intimacy and spectacle in equal measure. The choice of IMAX was not merely a prestige play; it was a statement about the kind of visual language the story required. Arkapaw's Oscar win validated that instinct, cementing Sinners as a landmark of large-format storytelling alongside the work of directors like Nolan himself.

The broader industry conversation around format fidelity and theatrical presentation continues to intensify as streaming reshapes release windows and audience habits. Directors such as J.J. Abrams, who has spoken about Tom Cruise's upcoming work on Digger, are similarly navigating questions of scale and spectacle in a landscape that rewards boldness. Nolan's IMAX advocacy, and Coogler's willingness to heed it, offers a compelling case study in how those choices pay off when they're made with genuine creative intent rather than marketing calculation.

A Legacy Built on Craft Conversations

Ultimately, what Nolan's recollection illuminates is something the film industry doesn't always celebrate loudly enough: the value of experienced voices offering honest counsel at the moment it matters most. A single phone call, a screening of a film print, and an assurance that the ambition was justified — these are small gestures with potentially enormous consequences. For Sinners, they helped produce an Oscar-winning work of visual craft that will likely be studied for years to come.