Horror films typically see a quick demise at the box office, but Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” is challenging this norm by emerging as a genuine cinematic sensation. In its sophomore weekend, “Sinners” raked in $45 million from theaters in the U.S. and Canada, according to Sunday’s studio estimates. This represents a mere 6% drop from its opening during the Easter holidays, marking the smallest decline in any genre since 2009’s “Avatar.” On a global scale, the film has amassed $161.6 million.
The movie’s resonant success signals its appeal beyond typical horror buffs, drawing in mainstream audiences eager to experience the buzz. Initially, men comprised 56% of viewers, but this weekend saw an equal gender split. Large formats like 70mm IMAX have significantly contributed to its allure; globally, IMAX showings accounted for approximately 21% in its second weekend, an increase of nearly 9% from the previous week.
“Sinners,” an original ensemble film starring Michael B. Jordan as twins, debuted amid glowing reviews. It’s more than just a horror offering, intertwining drama, action, and musical elements within its southern gothic landscape. “That’s one of the lowest second-weekend holds for an overperforming wide release ever,” remarked Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore’s senior media analyst. “It’s an absolute phenomenon.”
In Hollywood, a significant drop in a film’s second week is typical, with a 50% decline considered reasonable. Anything less than that tends to be remarkable. “Marketing can buy a fantastic debut, but if a movie lacks substance, it fades quickly,” said Dergarabedian. “A second weekend hold like this is a true measure of success.”
The film was brought to life by Coogler’s Proximity Media, alongside Warner Bros., handling its theatrical distribution. After facing some setbacks earlier this year, “Sinners” is the studio’s second significant triumph following “A Minecraft Movie,” which revived the box office earlier this month.
“Sinners” faced off against stiff competition, notably from “The Accountant 2.” Starring Ben Affleck and produced by Amazon MGM Studios, it opened in third with $24.5 million. Directed by Gavin O’Connor, it screened in 3,610 North American theaters, garnering a strong A- CinemaScore from audiences.
Beating “The Accountant 2” to second was the re-release of “Revenge of the Sith,” now two decades old. It grossed $25.2 million over the weekend, more than doubling the figures of last year’s “The Phantom Menace” reissue. Internationally, the film added $17 million from 34 regions, culminating in a global tally of $42.2 million for the weekend, establishing it as one of the top-grossing re-releases.
“A Minecraft Movie” claimed fourth place, with $22.7 million over the weekend, boosting its domestic total to around $380 million. Additionally, the chilling video game adaptation “Until Dawn” debuted with $8 million, rounding out the top five. Released by Sony Pictures, this film, starring Ella Rubin and Michael Cimino, has globally earned $18.1 million.
The roaring successes of “Minecraft” and “Sinners” have rejuvenated April’s box office, which is up 102% from April 2024. Annual box office revenue is also up over 10% year-on-year, rebounding from March’s deficit. This surge precedes the summer movie season’s kickoff on May 2 with Disney’s “Thunderbolts(asterisk).”
Dergarabedian remarked, “There cannot be a better opening act for the summer movie season than this weekend.”
Here is a preview of the top 10 movies based on estimated domestic box office sales from Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:
1. “Sinners,” $45 million.
2. “Revenge of the Sith,” $25.2 million.
3. “The Accountant 2,” $24.5 million.
4. “A Minecraft Movie,” $22.7 million.
5. “Until Dawn,” $8 million.
6. “The King of Kings,” $4 million.
7. “The Amateur,” $3.8 million.
8. “Warfare,” $2.7 million.
9. “Pink Floyd at Pompeii — MCMLXXII,” $2.6 million.
10. “The Legend of Ochi,” $1.4 million.