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Chicago Tribune
20-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
‘Sinners' surges past ‘Minecraft' to lead box office
NEW YORK — Brand names, not filmmakers or stars, are said to rule the box office these days. But Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners,' led by twin Michael B. Jordans, proved a bloody exception to modern movie rules, launching with $45.6 million in ticket sales in U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday. 'Sinners,' a Warner Bros. release that cost about $90 million to produce, was a bold gamble on originality — albeit with genre elements — and one of the most bankable American directors in Coogler. The 'Creed' and 'Black Panther' director wrote and produced 'Sinners,' a 1932-set vampire movie about bootlegging brothers (both played by Jordan) who open a juke joint in their Mississippi hometown. 'A Minecraft Movie,' the year's biggest Hollywood hit, followed close behind in second, collecting $41.3 million in its third week of release. That gave Warner Bros., after a handful of disappointments, an enviable one-two punch at the box office with one original, director-driven movie and one IP-based property. 'A Minecraft Movie,' which Warner Bros. co-produced with Legendary Pictures, has amassed $720.8 million worldwide in three weeks of release. Pam Abdy and Mike De Luca, co-chairs of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, celebrated the two films' resonance with moviegoers. The studio accounted for a remarkable 64% of the domestic box office for the Easter weekend. 'Movies have the power to transport us to worlds only seen on the big screen, and Warner Bros. Pictures remains committed to bringing singular in-theater experiences to audiences looking for bold movies, both original and those based on beloved existing properties,' Abdy and De Luca said in a statement Sunday. But all eyes were on the performance on 'Sinners,' which Warner Bros. went to extreme lengths to secure. Abdy and De Luca agreed to give Coogler not just a cut of gross ticket sales but ownership of the film after 25 years — a virtually unheard of concession. But Coogler and Jordan, whose collaborations stretch back to 'Fruitvale Station,' make up one of the industry's most potent director-actor duos. Reviews (98% 'fresh' on Rotten Tomatoes) were stellar for 'Sinners' and audiences, too, were enthralled by its supernatural twists. The film earned an 'A' CinemaScore from moviegoers. Overseas, 'Sinners' faced a more uphill battle. It collected $15.4 million in 71 international markets. Domestically, 'Sinners' attracted a diverse audience: 38% Black, 35% white, 18% Hispanic and 5% Asian. Before 'Sinners,' dual roles had been rough business for Warner Bros. The studio saw flops in both 'The Alto Knights' (a period gangster film featuring a doubled Robert De Niro) and 'Mickey 17' (a sci-fi movie with two Robert Pattinsons). But the strong opening for 'Sinners,' which should be sustained in the coming weeks given the strong word of mouth, cements Coogler's place as one of a handful of filmmakers whose name draws big audiences. Another would be Jordan Peele, whose 'Nope' (2022) debuted similarly with $44.3 million. Angel Studios' 'The King of Kings,' an animated tale of Jesus' life aimed at Christian audiences, capitalized on the Easter weekend, grossing $17.2 million in its second week of release. That was nearly equal to its opening weekend ($19.1 million), and brought 'The King of Kings' to a domestic total of $45.3 million. Bleecker Street's 'The Wedding Banquet,' Andrew Ahn's reimagining of Ang Lee's 1993 queer comedy of errors, opened on 1,142 North American screens with $922,906 in ticket sales. 'The Wedding Banquet,' a hit at the Sundance Film Festival, stars Lily Gladstone, Bowen Yang, Kelly Marie Tran and newcomer Han Gi-chan. Top 10 movies by domestic box office With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore: 1. 'Sinners,' $45.6 million. 2. 'A Minecraft Movie,' $41.3 million. 3. 'The King of Kings,' $17.3 million. 4. 'The Amateur,' $7.2 million. 5. 'Warfare,' $4.9 million. 6. 'Drop,' $3.4 million. 7. 'Colorful Stage: The Movie,' $2.8 million. 8. 'Pride & Prejudice' (2005), $2.7 million. 9. 'The Chosen: Last Supper,' $1.8 million. 10. 'Snow White,' $1.2 million. Originally Published: April 20, 2025 at 12:33 PM CDT
Asharq Al-Awsat
20-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
‘Sinners' Surges Past ‘Minecraft' to Lead Box Office
Brand names, not filmmakers or stars, are said to rule the box office these days. But Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners,' led by twin Michael B. Jordans, proved a bloody exception to modern movie rules, launching with $45.6 million in ticket sales in US and Canadian theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday. 'Sinners,' a Warner Bros. release that cost about $90 million to produce, was a bold gamble on originality — albeit with genre elements — and one of the most bankable American directors in Coogler. The 'Creed' and 'Black Panther' director wrote and produced 'Sinners,' a 1932-set vampire movie about bootlegging brothers (both played by Jordan) who open a juke joint in their Mississippi hometown. 'A Minecraft Movie,' the year's biggest Hollywood hit, followed close behind in second, collecting $41.3 million in its third week of release. That gave Warner Bros., after a handful of disappointments, an enviable one-two punch at the box office with one original, director-driven movie and one IP-based property. 'A Minecraft Movie,' which Warner Bros. co-produced with Legendary Pictures, has amassed $720.8 million worldwide in three weeks of release. Pam Abdy and Mike De Luca, co-chairs of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, celebrated the two films' resonance with moviegoers. The studio accounted for a remarkable 64% of the domestic box office for the Easter weekend. 'Movies have the power to transport us to worlds only seen on the big screen, and Warner Bros. Pictures remains committed to bringing singular in-theater experiences to audiences looking for bold movies, both original and those based on beloved existing properties,' Abdy and De Luca said in a statement Sunday. But all eyes were on the performance on 'Sinners,' which Warner Bros. went to extreme lengths to secure. Abdy and De Luca agreed to give Coogler not just a cut of gross ticket sales but ownership of the film after 25 years — a virtually unheard of concession. But Coogler and Jordan, whose collaborations stretch back to 'Fruitvale Station,' make up one of the industry's most potent director-actor duos. Reviews (98% 'fresh' on Rotten Tomatoes) were stellar for 'Sinners' and audiences, too, were enthralled by its supernatural twists. The film earned an 'A' CinemaScore from moviegoers. Overseas, 'Sinners' faced a more uphill battle. It collected $15.4 million in 71 international markets. Domestically, 'Sinners' attracted a diverse audience: 38% Black, 35% white, 18% Hispanic and 5% Asian. Before 'Sinners,' dual roles had been rough business for Warner Bros. The studio saw flops in both 'The Alto Knights' (a period gangster film featuring a doubled Robert De Niro) and 'Mickey 17' (a sci-fi movie with two Robert Pattinsons). But the strong opening for 'Sinners,' which should be sustained in the coming weeks given the strong word of mouth, cements Coogler's place as one of a handful of filmmakers whose name draws big audiences. Another would be Jordan Peele, whose 'Nope' (2022) debuted similarly with $44.3 million. Angel Studios' 'The King of Kings,' an animated tale of Jesus' life aimed at Christian audiences, capitalized on the Easter weekend, grossing $17.2 million in its second week of release. That was nearly equal to its opening weekend ($19.1 million), and brought 'The King of Kings' to a domestic total of $45.3 million. Bleecker Street's 'The Wedding Banquet,' Andrew Ahn's reimagining of Ang Lee's 1993 comedy of errors, opened on 1,142 North American screens with $922,906 in ticket sales. 'The Wedding Banquet,' a hit at the Sundance Film Festival, stars Lily Gladstone, Bowen Yang, Kelly Marie Tran and newcomer Han Gi-chan.
The Independent
20-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
'Sinners' surges past 'Minecraft' to lead box office
Brand names, not filmmakers or stars, are said to rule the box office these days. But Ryan Coogler's ' Sinners,' led by twin Michael B. Jordans, proved a bloody exception to modern movie rules, launching with $45.6 million in ticket sales in U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday. 'Sinners,' a Warner Bros. release that cost about $90 million to produce, was a bold gamble on originality — albeit with genre elements — and one of the most bankable American directors in Coogler. The 'Creed' and ' Black Panther' director wrote and produced 'Sinners,' a 1932-set vampire movie about bootlegging brothers (both played by Jordan) who open a juke joint in their Mississippi hometown. 'A Minecraft Movie,' the year's biggest Hollywood hit, followed close behind in second, collecting $41.3 million in its third week of release. That gave Warner Bros., after a handful of disappointments, an enviable one-two punch at the box office with one original, director-driven movie and one IP-based property. 'A Minecraft Movie,' which Warner Bros. co-produced with Legendary Pictures, has amassed $720.8 million worldwide in three weeks of release. Pam Abdy and Mike De Luca, co-chairs of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, celebrated the two films' resonance with moviegoers. The studio accounted for a remarkable 64% of the domestic box office for the Easter weekend. 'Movies have the power to transport us to worlds only seen on the big screen, and Warner Bros. Pictures remains committed to bringing singular in-theater experiences to audiences looking for bold movies, both original and those based on beloved existing properties,' Abdy and De Luca said in a statement Sunday. But all eyes were on the performance on 'Sinners,' which Warner Bros. went to extreme lengths to secure. Abdy and De Luca agreed to give Coogler not just a cut of gross ticket sales but ownership of the film after 25 years — a virtually unheard of concession. But Coogler and Jordan, whose collaborations stretch back to 'Fruitvale Station,' make up one of the industry's most potent director-actor duos. Reviews (98% 'fresh' on Rotten Tomatoes) were stellar for 'Sinners' and audiences, too, were enthralled by its supernatural twists. The film earned an 'A' CinemaScore from moviegoers. Overseas, 'Sinners' faced a more uphill battle. It collected $15.4 million in 71 international markets. Domestically, 'Sinners' attracted a diverse audience: 38% Black, 35% white, 18% Hispanic and 5% Asian. Before 'Sinners,' dual roles had been rough business for Warner Bros. The studio saw flops in both 'The Alto Knights' (a period gangster film featuring a doubled Robert De Niro) and 'Mickey 17' (a sci-fi movie with two Robert Pattinsons). But the strong opening for 'Sinners,' which should be sustained in the coming weeks given the strong word of mouth, cements Coogler's place as one of a handful of filmmakers whose name draws big audiences. Another would be Jordan Peele, whose 'Nope' (2022) debuted similarly with $44.3 million. Angel Studios' 'The King of Kings,' an animated tale of Jesus' life aimed at Christian audiences, capitalized on the Easter weekend, grossing $17.2 million in its second week of release. That was nearly equal to its opening weekend ($19.1 million), and brought 'The King of Kings' to a domestic total of $45.3 million. Bleecker Street's 'The Wedding Banquet,' Andrew Ahn's reimagining of Ang Lee's 1993 queer comedy of errors, opened on 1,142 North American screens with $922,906 in ticket sales. 'The Wedding Banquet,' a hit at the Sundance Film Festival, stars Lily Gladstone, Bowen Yang, Kelly Marie Tran and newcomer Han Gi-chan. Top 10 movies by domestic box office With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore: 1. 'Sinners,' $45.6 million. 2. 'A Minecraft Movie,' $41.3 million. 3. 'The King of Kings,' $17.3 million. 4. 'The Amateur,' $7.2 million. 5. 'Warfare,' $4.9 million. 6. 'Drop,' $3.4 million. 7. 'Colorful Stage: The Movie,' $2.8 million. 8. 'Pride & Prejudice' (2005), $2.7 million. 9. 'The Chosen: Last Supper,' $1.8 million. 10. 'Snow White,' $1.2 million.
Los Angeles Times
20-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
‘Sinners' receives a heavenly reception during Easter weekend
Moviegoes embraced 'sin' over the Easter weekend. 'Sinners,' the highly anticipated period drama delivering a mashup of horror, music and vampires, scored a solid opening, topping the holiday box office with $45.6 million. The R-rated film starring Michael B. Jordan delighted critics and audiences who rewarded it with an 'A' ranking on CinemaScore. Coming in second was 'A Minecraft Movie,' which continued its strong performance in earning $41.3 million a three-week total of $344.6 million. The one-two punch of 'A Minecraft Movie' and 'Sinners' contributed 64% of the overall weekend box office, which was great news for Warner Bros., the studio behind both films. 'As we continue to strive to bring an array of films to moviegoers, we are thrilled to see how [director] Ryan Coogler's original movie 'Sinners' and a movie based on the fan favorite Minecraft game, have resonated with audiences in such a stellar way,' Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group's Mike De Luca & Pam Abdy said in a statement. 'Sinners' also marks the latest triumph for the partnership of Jordan and Coogler. The two first teamed up in 2013 for 'Fruitvale Station' and reunited for 2015's 'Rocky' reboot 'Creed' and the blockbuster Marvel epic 'Black Panther.' The film marks Coogler's first directorial turn since 2022's 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.' In 'Sinners,' Jordan portrays twin brothers named Smoke and Stack, who return to their home in 1930s Mississippi to run a juke joint, encountering a variety of outrageous situations and adventures. Days before its release, 'Sinners' was already making headlines with reports of the film scoring 100% on Rotten Tomatoes (its latest score is 98%). Its success is already sparking awards buzz. It's also the first film to be shot with IMAX cameras since Christopher Nolan's 2023 Oscar winner 'Oppenheimer.' Coogler had heavily promoted the format, encouraging moviegoers to see 'Sinners' in IMAX venues.
New York Times
20-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘Sinners' Is a Box Office Success (With a Big Asterisk)
'Sinners' was on pace to sell about $43 million in tickets in North America from Thursday afternoon through Sunday, box office analysts said, a terrific result for an original, R-rated, slow-burning horror drama set in the 1930s and rooted in Black culture. Reviews were rapturous. But the film — directed, written and produced by Ryan Coogler — was hugely expensive, analysts noted, costing Warner Bros. at least $150 million to make and market worldwide. The studio also agreed to demands by Mr. Coogler's representatives for unusually generous compensation. As a result, for Warner Bros. to make money, 'Sinners' will need to attract substantial crowds in the weeks ahead. 'It's an excellent opening for a period horror film, except that it's hard to call it completely successful because of its enormous budget,' David A. Gross, a film consultant, said in an email. In a statement, Pam Abdy and Mike De Luca, co-chairs of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, said they were 'thrilled' by the 'stellar' turnout. 'Warner Bros. Pictures remains committed to bringing singular in-theater experiences to audiences looking for bold movies, both original and those based on beloved existing properties,' they said. Ms. Abdy and Mr. De Luca have been on a victory lap of late. 'A Minecraft Movie,' which they put into production in consultation with David Zaslav, the chief executive of Warner Bros. Discovery, was expected to be No. 1 at the domestic box office over the weekend — for the third weekend in a row. Ticket sales for 'A Minecraft Movie,' made with Legendary Entertainment, are expected to total about $45 million from Friday through Sunday, for a cumulative $348 million in North America since arriving on April 4. 'Sinners,' which stars Michael B. Jordan as diabolical twins named Smoke and Stack, came in second place and received an A grade in CinemaScore exit polls, boding well for word of mouth. The audience was about 50 percent Black, according to exit polling services, suggesting that there was room for the film to broaden its reach among other demographics. The turnout for 'Sinners' reflected, in part, the bond that Mr. Coogler, 38, has forged with movie fans since arriving in Hollywood in 2013. Mr. Coogler, whose credits include the 'Black Panther' and 'Creed' franchises, can fill seats with his mere presence on a marquee — an extremely rare power, especially for someone who doesn't appear onscreen. Warner Bros. was so eager to be in business with him that it agreed to spend $90 million to make 'Sinners,' an eye-popping amount for an original film set in the Great Depression and carrying an R rating. (Even if it does have dancing vampires.) For comparison, Jordan Peele made the R-rated 'Get Out,' an original horror movie set in modern times, for about $4.5 million in 2017. Mr. Peele's similar 'Us' cost $20 million in 2019. To seal the deal with Mr. Coogler — other studios were also bidding on the project — Warner Bros. agreed to give him a cut of gross ticket sales (before the studio deducts costs). This arrangement, known in Hollywood as first-dollar gross, was once relatively common for top stars and directors but has all but ended since the DVD boom went bust. Warner Bros. also agreed to relinquish its ownership of the film after 25 years. Mr. Coogler will then own it, despite not paying for it. This type of concession is even rarer for studios to make. Some rival film companies were horrified that Warner Bros. would give a film away, even after a period of time. When they made the deal with Mr. Coogler, Ms. Abdy and Mr. De Luca were under pressure from Mr. Zaslav to attract top filmmakers to the studio. Warner Bros. had seen an exodus of talent after a decision by AT&T, which owned the studio from 2018 to 2022, to give priority to streaming over theaters. Mr. De Luca and Ms. Abdy rose in their careers through the traditional film business, where losses are sometimes tolerated (wild gambles on auteurs are taken) in hopes of securing relationships that pay returns in the long run. In other words, 'Sinners' could end up as a loss leader — an unprofitable project nonetheless viewed inside the company as a success because it delivers other forms of value, most notably enhancing Warner's reputation in Hollywood's artistic community.
