Sinners isn’t slowing down — it’s silencing the skeptics with every ticket sold.
Now in its third weekend, Ryan Coogler’s genre-bending vampire tale has racked up $179.9 million domestically and $236.7 million globally. It added $10.4 million internationally this weekend (down just 27%), and has shown rare staying power in a year that’s been light on original box office hits. If it keeps pace, it’s expected to cross $250 million worldwide any day now — all on a reported $90 million budget.
The film stars Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as twin brothers Smoke and Stack, who return to their small Mississippi hometown to open a juke joint. But what begins as a journey of healing turns into a supernatural battle, as the two get entangled in a centuries-old vampire legend tied to the birth of the blues. The cast also features Hailee Steinfeld, Delroy Lindo, Miles Caton, Jack O’Connell, and Omar Miller — with standout performances that bring depth to a film packed with cultural specificity, dread, and heart.
The Headline That Sparked a Backlash
When Sinners opened with $61 million globally in its first weekend, some trades immediately questioned its profitability. One headline from Variety read:
“Sinners has amassed $61 million in its global debut. It’s a great result for an original, R-rated horror film, yet the Warner Bros. release has a $90 million price tag before global marketing expenses, so profitability remains a ways away…”
That didn’t sit right with anyone.
Ben Stiller quote-tweeted:
“In what universe does a $60 million opening for an original studio movie warrant this headline?”
Joe Russo sarcastically added:
“Variety: WHY DIDN’T THE MOVIE MAKE ALL ITS BUDGET BACK IN THREE DAYS”
And Patrick Schwarzenegger chimed in with a simple but pointed:
“It’s opening weekend…”
Now three weekends in — and nearly $240M later — that skepticism has aged like milk.
A Rare Hold, Especially for Horror
Week-to-week drops are usually steep for horror, but Sinners has gone against the grain since day one:
- It dropped just 6% in weekend two, the lowest ever for an R-rated horror film.
- It continues to hold strong in premium formats like IMAX, which has contributed over $25M in North America alone.
With audiences showing up for repeat viewings — and new ones still discovering it — Sinners has defied genre expectations and found a true foothold in mainstream moviegoing.
In Good (and Rare) Company
Alongside A Minecraft Movie, which has now grossed over $873M globally, Sinners is part of the one-two punch that woke up a sluggish 2025 box office. According to David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research:
“2025 is following the same pattern we saw last year: A weak first quarter, then the box office woke up in April — this year Minecraft and Sinners did the waking up.”
Other releases this weekend include:
- Marvel’s Thunderbolts: $76M domestic / $162M global on a $180M budget
- Revenge of the Sith (re-release): $25.2M domestic / $42.2M global
- Amazon’s The Accountant 2: $24.6M domestic debut
Yet Sinners is the one with the strongest word of mouth — and the legs to match it.
The Impact Is Bigger Than the Box Office
Sinners is Coogler’s first original project since Fruitvale Station, and it hits differently. It’s deeply Southern, rich in Black folklore, and full of emotional layers that expand what horror — and theatrical storytelling — can look like. Critics and audiences alike have backed it, with a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 97% audience score.
And culturally, it’s created something rare: a horror film that people are protective of — showing up multiple times, flying out to see it in IMAX, and defending its existence and impact online.
This isn’t just about a box office number. It’s about a film that dared to be original, emotional, and unapologetically Black — and found its flock.