Recent News and Reviews for the Film 'Sinners'
“Sinners,” an original, R-rated vampire thriller directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan, has topped the box office in its opening weekend, overcoming competition from “A Minecraft Movie.” The film garnered $45.6 million from 3,308 North American theaters, marking the biggest debut for an original film since Jordan Peele’s “Us” in 2019. Internationally, “Sinners” added $15.4 million, bringing its global total to $61 million. Despite positive reviews and audience reception, with an “A” CinemaScore, the film's $90 million production cost raises questions about its profitability.
David A. Gross from FranchiseRe notes the film's excellent opening for a period horror film but cautions about the high production cost. “A Minecraft Movie,” also from Warner Bros., secured second place with $41.3 million, achieving smash success with $344 million domestically and $720.8 million globally. “Sinners” features Jordan as identical twins Smoke and Stack in a 1930s setting, where vampires descend upon their juke joint in the South. The film has received excellent reviews, boasting a 98% average on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating strong word of mouth.
The film attracted a diverse audience, with nearly 40% of initial ticket buyers being Black, 35% white, 18% Hispanic, and 5% Asian. Many viewers opted for premium large formats like Dolby and 4DX, accounting for 45% of ticket sales, with Imax alone representing 20% of revenues. Imax's CEO, Rich Gelfond, expressed his satisfaction with the successful opening of “Sinners.”
“Sinners” marks Coogler and Jordan’s first original project, establishing them as influential figures capable of drawing large audiences. Warner Bros. granted Coogler an exceptional agreement, allowing him to eventually own the film rights after 25 years. The success of “Sinners” and “A Minecraft Movie” is a positive turn for Warner Bros. after previous theatrical disappointments.
Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy from Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group highlighted their commitment to bringing diverse films to moviegoers. Comscore reports that box office revenues are currently 5% ahead of last year but still 29% behind 2019. Other films in the box office include “The King of Kings,” “The Amateur,” and “Warfare.”
“Sinners” carries influences from vampire genre classics like “30 Days of Night” and “From Dusk till Dawn,” while introducing originality through Ryan Coogler's direction and Jack O'Connell's portrayal of the vampire antagonist, Remmick. Remmick's tactics are reminiscent of Ben Cortman from Richard Matheson's
