Ryan Coogler pens emotional letter after Sinners' box office success: ‘I believe in the theatrical experience'
Filmmaker Ryan Coogler is overflowing with gratitude after the success of his latest film, Sinners. In a heartfelt letter, the director expressed his "eternal gratitude" to everyone who supported the movie, from ticket buyers to those who inspired him while writing the film. Also read: Ben Stiller fiercely defends Michael B Jordan's Sinners' $61 million box office opening: 'In what universe…'
After the film's release, Ryan, who wrote and directed Sinners, has penned a letter for moviegoers worldwide.
The letter reads, 'Eternal gratitude. My heart is bursting with it. I want to thank each and every one of you who bought a ticket to see Sinners. Who decided to drive to see the film in different formats. Who bought popcorn and a drink, booked a sitter and carpooled, and stood in the lobby afterward and talked and made a friend. Who changed their work schedules. Who saw the film in groups. I want to thank you all who watching more than once, who recommended the film to others, both in person and on social media or on your text message chains.'
Sinners witnessed a boom at the box office over the weekend with an estimated $48 million, beating A Minecraft Movie. The film's victory came after it received positive reviews and audience response.
A post shared by Sinners Movie (@sinnersmovie)
The director added, 'I had the gift of the opportunity of making a film inspired by my family and my ancestry but it was always a film that we wanted to make for audiences, in theaters. We always had our minds on you, the audience, and felt a deep responsibility to entertain you, and move you in the way only cinema can.'
The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever director further shared, 'I believe in cinema. I believe in the theatrical experience. I believe it is a necessary pillar of society. It's why me and so many of my colleagues have dedicated our lives to the craft. We don't get to do what we do if you don't show up. The global theatrical audience has allowed me to dream, find a career, and build a more sustainable life for me and my family. And the only way that I know how to thank you for that, is by continuing to mine my personal human experience and my relationships for more stories to bring to you in cinematic language. To see your response to the film has invigorated me and many others who believe in this art form.'
During the process of writing the script, Ryan said he also 'unabashedly reached towards my cinematic influences' proceeding to list legends, including Spike Lee, John Singleton, Ernie Barnes, Steve McQueen, Ava DuVernay, Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, Jordan Peele, David Cronenberg, David Lynch, Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas, Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, George Lucas and Stephen King, among several others.
Sinners is an original genre-hopping thriller that stars Michael B Jordan and Hailee Steinfeld. The film made by Warner Bros. had an impressive $61 million opening globally. Sinners sees Michael Jordan as identical twin brothers, Smoke and Stack, who return to their hometown in Mississippi in an attempt to turn their backs on their troubled past. Unfortunately, they are met with a greater evil once they're back home. The film is set in the 1932 American South during the Jim Crow era, when laws perpetuated racial discrimination. The film received rave reviews from critics and holds a 98% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer and a 97% score on the audience reviews, Popcornmeter.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
2025 box office report card: How a kids' film beat Mission Impossible, Sinners, Marvel; is year's highest-grossing film
Nearly half of 2025 has come to a close. The summer blockbuster season is set to begin, but already, in the first five months of the year, 2025 has given a lot of reasons to cheer at the box office worldwide. Hollywood films found their footing again, even as Marvel continued to falter. Tom Cruise reasserted his superstardom, while Sinners and Final Destination: Bloodlines raised the flag for horror. But despite all this, the highest-grossing film of the year so far has not come from Hollywood. It has no big stars, and is made for kids. Yet, it has managed to beat studio heavyweights on its own. (Also read: Tom Cruise's Mission Impossible 8 defies US-China tensions, tops China box office with $25 million haul) Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 has been the biggest box office sensation of the year so far. The film, made for just ¥600 million (around $80 million), it has already earned $2.2 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing animated film ever, and one of the highest-grossing films of all time, with only heavyweights like Avatar and Avengers: Endgame above it. Ne Zha 2 pipped Warner Bros' A Minecraft Movie to the top. The second-place feature has earned $948 million worldwide. Disney's Lilo & Stitch is in the third spot with a global haul of $632 million and counting. Another Chinese film - Detective Chinatown 1900 - is in the fourth spot, while Marvel's Captain America: Brave New World rounds up the top 5. Ne Zha 2's success can be gauged by the fact that it has earned nearly six times as much as Tom Cruise's hit Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning or Marvel's Thunderbolts. The Paramount film has earned $389 million, while the MCU's antihero team-up is at $371 million. Despite wide releases globally, they have been unable to match Ne Zha 2's pace. What has made Ne Zha 2 so popular is its universal appeal in China. The film is based on Chinese mythology and legends, and has been seen as a fun, educational family watch in the country. This, coupled with China's impressive 90,000 screens, has meant that the film was able to sustain record footfalls for long durations, selling out theatres for weeks in parts of the country. Ne Zha 2 may be hard to dethrone. Only four films have ever earned more - Avatar, Avengers: Endgame, Avatar: The Way of Water, and Titanic. Yet, 2025 boasts a strong line-up of films that can break the $2 billion mark. First up is James Gunn's Superman reboot, followed by Marvel's new Fantastic Four film. But perhaps the film that has the best chance of surpassing Ne Zha 2 at the box office is James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash, which releases in December.
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Time of India
'Things aren't looking good': Fans question if Hailee Steinfeld is fully committed to Josh Allen after just days of getting married
Josh Allen is facing playful ribbing from fans after a lighthearted red carpet interaction between his wife, Hailee Steinfeld, and actor Michael B. Jordan (Imagn Images) NFL quarterback Josh Allen has more than just defensive pressure to deal with—he's now fielding reactions from fans after a lighthearted red carpet moment between his new wife, actress Hailee Steinfeld , and actor Michael B. Jordan sent social media into overdrive. A viral exchange sparked playful warnings for Josh Allen At the April 3 premiere of Sinners in New York City, Hailee Steinfeld and her co-star Michael B. Jordan shared a moment that was all in good fun—but it didn't go unnoticed by the internet. As Hailee praised her co-star during a red carpet interview, the interviewer pointed out that Michael was standing right behind her. Hailee shot him a side-eye and joked, 'Go away, we are talking about you,' prompting laughter from fans and a wave of social media commentary. The clip quickly gained traction, with NFL fans tagging Josh Allen and issuing light-hearted warnings. 'Danger's knocking, Josh. You might wanna run,' one fan joked. Another quipped, 'Josh Allen's living a nightmare at the moment,' while a third chimed in with, 'Things aren't looking good for Josh anymore.' From red carpet to wedding aisle: A whirlwind romance Despite the teasing from fans, there's no indication of actual trouble between the couple. Josh Allen, quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, proudly supported Hailee at the premiere, arriving hand-in-hand and coordinating in classic style—Hailee in a stunning red dress, Allen in an all-black suit with red accents to match. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 국내1% 농축액 마셨더니.. 목구멍속 가래 끓는소리 사라졌다! 2주만에 기관지염,폐렴까지 사라져~ 목구멍 가래·기관지 복구법 Undo Their relationship timeline reads like a modern Hollywood fairy tale. First spotted together in May 2023, the couple confirmed their relationship on Instagram in July 2024. By November, Allen had proposed during a beachside moment in Malibu. They tied the knot on May 31, 2025, at San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California. The wedding was celebrated not only by loved ones but also by local Buffalo businesses who put up congratulatory billboards across the city. While Allen missed the Bills' OTAs this week, the team's offensive coordinator, Joe Brady, assured fans that the quarterback's mindset and work ethic remain strong. The franchise is looking to rebound in the upcoming NFL season, and Allen's personal life shift could offer an extra dose of motivation. Also Read: What makes Hailee Steinfeld's 4-carat engagement ring from Josh Allen so captivating? A deep dive into the dazzling design As fans continue to buzz about the red carpet moment, one thing is clear—Allen and Steinfeld are still firmly in the honeymoon phase, even if the internet likes to stir the pot.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Ryan Coogler confirms writing a role for Denzel Washington in Black Panther 3: ‘Trying to work with him since day one'
Hollywood star Denzel Washington may finally be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), thanks to filmmaker Ryan Coogler's long-standing vision. The Black Panther director recently revealed on the 7PM in Brooklyn With Carmelo Anthony podcast that he has written a role specifically for Denzel in the third installment of the franchise. "I've been trying to work with him since day one. I think he's the greatest living actor. And in terms of what he means to our culture, forget about it. I've been talking to him about this for a long time, and I was surprised when he mentioned it. But it's not like it's not true," Ryan said. Ryan's reaction was in response to a moment from November, when Washington let slip during an interview that he was involved in the upcoming Black Panther film — a project Marvel has yet to confirm. "I don't know how many more films I'm gonna make, probably not that many," Washington said. "I want to do things I haven't done. I played Othello at 22. I am about to play Othello at 70 (on Broadway). After that, I am playing Hannibal. After that, I've been talking with Steve McQueen about a film. After that, Ryan Coogler's writing a part for me in the next Black Panther. After that, I'm gonna do the film Othello. After that, I'm gonna do King Lear. After that, I'm gonna retire," he added. Denzel later admitted that he hadn't meant to reveal his role so early. Speaking on the Variety Awards Circuit podcast, he recalled reaching out to Ryan directly. "I called [Ryan] the other day. I forgot what it was about — no, I called him to apologize. That's right. I called him. I said, 'I'm sorry, man.' He's like, 'No, man, it's all good.' I FaceTimed, and right there next to him was his lady. They were editing. They were hanging out," he recalled. Beyond their mutual respect, the Black Panther franchise has a deeper emotional tie to Denzel. Chadwick Boseman, who originated the role of T'Challa and died in 2020 at age 43, once publicly acknowledged the legendary actor's impact on his own journey.
