“Sinners in its preview take is under that of genre comps 2022’s Nope ($6.4M Thursday night, $44.3M opening) and 2019’s Us ($7.4M, $71.1M).”
Mildly amusing choice of “genre comps” without further explanation. https://t.co/RoHBkcCgzo
— Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) April 18, 2025
The new horror film “Sinners” has defied expectations and earned the highest CinemaScore for an original R-rated horror movie ever. The movie, directed by Ryan Coogler, received an A grade from audiences polled by CinemaScore. This is a rare achievement for a horror film, as they often score poorly with audiences.
“Sinners” has also been a critical success, earning a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
FRI #BoxOffice – APR 18 – Good Friday holiday:
1️⃣ $19.2M | #Sinners
2️⃣ $16M | #Minecraft
3️⃣ $6.6M | #TheKingOfKings
4️⃣ $2.3M | #TheAmateur
5️⃣ $1.6M | #Warfare #SinnersMovie #MinecraftMovie #KingOfKings $WBD $IMAX $AMC— Gitesh Pandya (TikTok @gitesh.pandya) (@GiteshPandya) April 19, 2025
This makes it the best-reviewed film of Coogler’s career, surpassing his previous works like “Fruitvale Station” and the “Black Panther” movies. The film reunites Coogler with actor Michael B.
Jordan, who stars as twins Smoke and Stack.
#Sinners opened #1 on Good Friday with $19.2M incl pre-shows for terrific start! Whopping 46% of gross coming from premium scrns incl IMAX. Sensational marks from everyone with A CinemaScore & superb RT scores of 98% with critics & 97% with auds. Opening wknd #boxoffice headed to… pic.twitter.com/QeGfJBb6XG
— Gitesh Pandya (TikTok @gitesh.pandya) (@GiteshPandya) April 19, 2025
The story follows the brothers as they open a juke joint in 1930s Mississippi, only to have their celebration disrupted by a vampire attack. Despite its strong opening weekend, “Sinners” faces a challenge in becoming profitable due to its high production and marketing costs.
The film cost Warner Bros.
Historic success for Sinners film
at least $150 million to make and promote worldwide.
Ryan Coogler's "Sinners" originated from him listening to stories from his great-uncle in the Mississippi Delta. When his great-uncle passed away in 2015, Coogler listened to blues records with a different ear, sparking the core of the horror film: https://t.co/GR1tFuewER
— Kalan Hooks (@KalanHookstv) April 19, 2025
It will need to maintain strong ticket sales in the coming weeks to turn a profit. Coogler drew inspiration for the film from his blues-loving uncle and the legendary guitarist Buddy Guy. In an emotional post-credits scene, Jordan’s character hugs an older version of his cousin, played by Guy himself.
Coogler realized he had unknowingly dressed Guy to resemble his own uncle, adding a personal touch to the film. “Sinners” explores themes of identity and redemption through its characters. Jordan’s Smoke ultimately sacrifices himself to protect others, using his skills as a soldier to take on the Ku Klux Klan in the film’s climax.
The movie also features two post-credits scenes, one set in 1992 and another showing a young version of Jordan’s character singing in church. These scenes add depth to the story and hint at the possibility of the vampires surviving beyond the film’s main events. With its blend of horror, family drama, and historical context, “Sinners” offers a fresh take on the vampire genre.
Its success at the box office and with critics and audiences alike marks another triumph for Coogler and Jordan’s collaborative partnership.
