Don't let them in! What to know about the vampire invitation featured in 'Sinners'

USA Today

22-04-2025

Don't let them in! What to know about the vampire invitation featured in 'Sinners'
Spoiler alert! The following story discusses important plot points, including the ending of 'Sinners' (in theaters now).
Sink your fangs (or grills) into the talk of the town.
The release of Ryan Coogler's "Sinners," has reignited discourse about vampire etiquette on social media. Starring Michael B. Jordan, the original horror film set in the 1930s − which dominated the box office over the weekend − called back to classic vampire rules and mythology that prevents the deceitful entities from entering an establishment unless they're invited in.
The standard vampire lore has now become the center of memes, skits, and reactions online. Other people joked that they are getting rid of their welcome mats to be extra careful of the persuasive creatures.
Social media reacts to vampire rule depicted in 'Sinners'
"The concept of vampires not being allowed in unless invited is so cool to me," one person wrote in a viral post on X. "I forgot it was a thing till today."
"HOW TF ARE YALL SO SHOCKED BY VAMPIRES NEEDING TO BE INVITED IN. That's literally vampirism 101 lol," another person added.
'You burned the house down': Michael B. Jordan, Ryan Coogler team for fiery 'Sinners'
Several characters asked to be 'invited in' Smoke and Stack's juke joint
When the audience is first introduced to the Irish vampire Remmick (Jack O'Connell), he seduces a white couple to allow him into their home as he's trying to escape being hunted. After ignoring the warning, Remmick succeeds at transforming them, ultimately recruiting them into his blood thirsty clan.
The trio makes their way to the Smokestack twins (both Jordan) blues juke joint, where all chaos begins to unfold after Mary (Hailee Steinfeld) gets bitten and is "invited" back into the party by muscle Cornbread (Omar Benson Miller), who was working the door all night. During an intimate moment, Mary strikes her love interest Stack, and he joins Remmick's crew.
In another notable scene, Cornbread gets turned while using the bathroom outside. When he returns to the entryway, he asks Smoke, Annie (Wunmi Mosaku) and the rest of the crew permission to come inside, raising suspicion.
"Just step aside and let me on in now," Cornbread says.
"Why you need him to do that?" Annie responds. "Why can't you just walk your big (expletive) in here without an invite, huh?"
Cornbread asks for his pay and almost bites Smoke's arm when he reaches to put the money in his hand. One character who came under fire was the store owner, Grace (Li Jun Li), after she invited the vampires in when her family was threatened, resulting in an epic battle for survival.
The vampire invitation in other movies, shows
The vampire invitation rule has been honored in other movies and television shows besides "Sinners" which include:
"Buffy The Vampire Slayer"
"Vampire Diaries"
"Let The Right One In" (All about the classic vampire rule!)
But other movies like "Blade" and "Underworld" throw the vampire invitation rule out the window and allow the vampires to enter freely.
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [e-mail].