Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ Turns Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights Into a Vampire Juke Joint
Halloween Horror Nights is getting a bloody makeover for its 35th anniversary, and this time the monsters are wearing red eyes and sharp teeth. Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort have teamed up with Ryan Coogler’s production company, Proximity Media, to turn his hit vampire film “Sinners” into a full-blown haunted house experience. The maze opens in Orlando on Aug. 28 and in Los Angeles on Sept. 3.
The story drops guests into the 1930s Mississippi Delta, where twin brothers Smoke and Stack are about to open a juke joint called Club Juke. But the party goes sideways fast when vampires Remmick, Bert and Joan show up looking for dinner. Visitors will have to dodge the creatures’ hunger while navigating a clash between the undead and the twins, running into other characters like Sammie, Mary, Annie, Pearline and Cornbread along the way.
Coogler and his producing partners said watching audiences embrace the film has been a thrill, and that bringing it to life at the parks lets fans feel the music, atmosphere and tension firsthand. The movie, distributed by Warner Bros. Discovery, pulled in more than $370 million worldwide and earned 16 Oscar nominations, winning four including Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay.
Universal’s creative team is hyped. Mike Aiello, the senior director of entertainment development in Orlando, called “Sinners” a rare film that satisfies hardcore horror fans while pulling in newcomers. John Murdy, executive producer of the Hollywood event, promised the house will push boundaries and try scares the parks have never attempted before.
This is the first house announced for the bicoastal event, which runs 48 nights in Orlando and 42 in Hollywood. Tickets are already on sale for both parks, with options ranging from general admission to early access, multi-night passes and VIP tours. Orlando also offers vacation packages with perks like a dedicated entry gate. The event runs Aug. 27 through Nov. 1 in Florida and Sept. 3 through Nov. 1 in California.