This article contains SPOILERS for Sinners and 28 Years Later.The horror genre has had an incredible slate of movies released in 2025 so far. Within the first six months of the year, audiences saw many critical and commercial hits, includingBring Her BackandFinal Destination Bloodlines.
However, this year’s two biggest horror success stories are arguably writer-director Ryan Coogler’s vampire blockbuster,Sinners, and director Danny Boyle’s long-awaited zombie film,28 Years Later. Both horror movies achieved incredible success in theaters, garnering outstanding reviews from critics and becoming some of the highest-grossing films of 2025.
Despite featuring characters facing off against hordes of ravenous monsters, these two films feature drastically different stories. However,Sinnersand28 Years Laterdo have the same actorplaying a key role in their stories, and their performances in both movies have left their mark on audiences.
Sinners & 28 Years Later Have An Actor In Common: Jack O’Connell
And His Performances In Both Are Standouts
InSinners, Jack O’Connell plays the film’s main antagonist, Remmick, a centuries-old vampire who turns the guests at a juke joint into vampires and tries to steal Miles’s magical music to summon the spirits of his ancestors. While playingRemmick inSinners,O’Connell easily shifts between playing a kindhearted traveler and a bloodthirsty fiend, making him a terrifying but irresistible presence in the movie.
As a result, his performance was nominated for Best Villain in a Movie at the Critics' Choice Super Awards. He has also been nominated for Best Supporting Performance at the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards.
O’Connell makes the most out of his brief screentime, delivering a standout performance as the eccentric but charismatic cult leader.
Though O’Connell only appeared in one scene in28 Years Later, he has a very significant role in the story. He plays the adult version of Sir Jimmy Crystal,the leader of a group of tracksuit-wearing warriorswho help Spike take down a group of infected at theend of28 Years Later.
O’Connell makes the most of his brief screentime, delivering a standout performance as the eccentric but charismatic cult leader. Thisshould make Jimmy a highly anticipated part of the sequel film,28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. The success O’Connell has had withSinnersand28 Years Laterhints at a promising new chapter in his acting career. Before these two films, the actor had various roles in films and TV shows likeSkins,Unbroken,Godless,Ferrari, andBack to Black.
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Though his career has been long, O’Connell has been very much overlooked by audiences outside the United Kingdom. His memorable roles in the widely successfulSinnersand28 Years Laterhave made him an international star,which should lead to more exciting acting opportunities for him in the near future.
Sinners
Cast
Sinners follows twin brothers who, in an attempt to escape their past hardships, return to their hometown seeking a fresh start. However, they find themselves confronted by a formidable and sinister presence awaiting their comeback. The 2025 film explores themes of redemption and malevolence.
