Ryan Coogler’s Vampire Thriller Stuns with $48 Million Opening Weekend, Outpacing ‘A Minecraft Movie’

April 23, 2025 | Los Angeles, CA- In a stunning upset, Warner Bros.’ Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan, has claimed the top spot at the domestic box office, grossing $48 million in its opening weekend over the Easter holiday. This marks the highest-grossing opening for an original film since Jordan Peele’s Us debuted with $71 million in March 2019, signaling a robust appetite for fresh cinematic stories. The R-rated vampire thriller, set in the 1930s Mississippi Delta, also pulled in $15.4 million internationally, bringing its global tally to $63.5 million.

Sinners dethroned A Minecraft Movie, which earned $41.3 million in its third weekend, ending its two-week reign at number one. The victory is a double win for Warner Bros., as both films contributed to the studio securing the top two spots domestically and globally, a feat not achieved by a single studio in over a decade. The weekend’s total box office reached $134.6 million, a 50% increase from the same period last year, underscoring the industry’s rebound.

The film’s success is remarkable given its $90 million production budget, a hefty sum for an original, R-rated horror film. Despite some analysts noting the high budget as a hurdle to profitability, Sinners is projected to break even around $200–225 million globally, buoyed by strong word-of-mouth and minimal competition until Marvel’s Thunderbolts opens in May. The movie’s premium large-format screenings, particularly IMAX, accounted for 45% of domestic ticket sales, with IMAX alone contributing 20%, setting a record for the highest IMAX opening for a horror film.

Critics and audiences have showered Sinners with praise, earning it a 98% “Certified Fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes and an A CinemaScore, the first horror film in over 35 years to achieve this grade. Posts on X reflect the fervor, with users calling it “the best reviewed wide-release film this decade” and praising its “mesmerizing” blend of horror, history, and music. The film’s diverse audience, with 38% Black moviegoers and 64% under 35, highlights its broad appeal.

Coogler, known for Black Panther and Creed, leaned heavily into the film’s epic scope, shooting with IMAX cameras and promoting its 70mm screenings. His innovative marketing, including a viral video explaining aspect ratios, helped position Sinners as a must-see theatrical event. The film’s soundtrack, featuring blues, gospel, and Irish folk, has also sparked buzz, with potential for additional revenue from digital and streaming sales.

“This is a triumph for original storytelling,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior Comscore analyst. “Coogler and Jordan’s star power, combined with a fresh take on the vampire genre, has audiences flocking to theaters.” Industry observers note that Sinners could challenge records for R-rated April releases, with a shot at surpassing 1993’s Indecent Proposal as the highest-grossing in the month.

As Sinners continues its theatrical run, its early performance suggests it may redefine expectations for original films in a franchise-dominated market. With glowing reviews and strong audience enthusiasm, the film is poised to remain a box office force in the weeks ahead, proving that bold, auteur-driven projects can still captivate moviegoers.