Horror movies typically experience a dramatic drop in box office performance after their opening weekend, yet Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” is bucking this trend and emerging as a cinematic event. In its second weekend, the film garnered an impressive $45 million in ticket sales across the U.S. and Canada, marking only a 6% decline from its Easter holiday debut. This percentage is notable as it represents the smallest percentage drop for any genre since the release of “Avatar” in 2009. Worldwide, “Sinners” has accumulated a substantial total of $161.6 million.
The film’s success signals its appeal has broadened beyond just horror enthusiasts to attract mainstream audiences curious about the film’s acclaim. Last weekend, 56% of the audience was male, but this weekend, the demographic divided evenly, with a 50/50 split. The film has also benefited from premium large format screenings, such as 70mm IMAX, with IMAX showings accounting for about 21% of its second weekend earnings globally—an increase of nearly 9% from the previous weekend.
Featuring Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as twins, “Sinners” debuted to stellar reviews. However, it's essential to note that the film transcends the horror genre by integrating drama, action, and musical elements within a southern gothic setting. Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore, remarked on the film's exceptional performance, stating, “That’s one of the lowest second weekend holds for an overperforming wide release ever. It’s an absolute phenomenon.”
The entertainment industry usually anticipates a significant drop in box office numbers during a film's second week, with a 50% decline considered a solid performance. Consequently, any reduction below that percentage is noteworthy. Dergarabedian emphasized the film's robust staying power, stating, “You can buy a great opening weekend with marketing, but if a movie doesn’t have the goods, it’ll drop off. There’s no greater barometer of success than a second weekend hold like this.”
Produced by Coogler’s Proximity Media and Warner Bros., the film represents a critical win for the studio, particularly after earlier disappointments this year and following the success of “A Minecraft Movie,” which boosted box office performance earlier in April. “Sinners” also easily outperformed its primary competition for the weekend, “The Accountant 2,” a sequel featuring Ben Affleck released by Amazon MGM Studios, which managed to secure third place with an estimated $24.5 million in its debut weekend. The film, directed by Gavin O’Connor, screened in 3,610 theaters across North America and received a favorable A- CinemaScore from audiences.
In a surprising twist, the movie that edged out “The Accountant 2” for second place was a 20-year-old “Star Wars” film, “Revenge of the Sith.” The anniversary re-release drew an estimated $25.2 million over the weekend, with reports of many sellouts, effectively more than doubling the previous year’s release of “The Phantom Menace.” Internationally, it earned $17 million from 34 territories, resulting in a total of $42.2 million for the weekend, establishing it as one of the top-grossing re-releases ever.
Additionally, “A Minecraft Movie” landed in fourth place with $22.7 million, raising its domestic earnings to approximately $380 million. The horror video game adaptation “Until Dawn” rounded out the top five, debuting with an estimated $8 million. Released by Sony Pictures and featuring Ella Rubin and Michael Cimino, the film has brought in around $18.1 million globally.
The strong performances of “Minecraft” and “Sinners” have significantly revitalized the April box office, which has surged by 102% compared to April 2024. Furthermore, the overall annual box office has seen an increase of over 10% from the previous year following a challenging March. This surge occurs just as the industry prepares for the summer movie season, which commences on May 2 with Disney’s “Thunderbolts.” Dergarabedian praised the weekend's outcomes, indicating it serves as an impressive kickoff for the upcoming summer blockbuster season.
As for the rankings in the top 10 domestic box office for this weekend, the following figures were reported based on estimated ticket sales from Friday through Sunday in U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:
- “Sinners,” $45 million.
- “Revenge of the Sith,” $25.2 million.
- “The Accountant 2,” $24.5 million.
- “A Minecraft Movie,” $22.7 million.
- “Until Dawn,” $8 million.
- “The King of Kings,” $4 million.
- “The Amateur,” $3.8 million.
- “Warfare,” $2.7 million.
- “Pink Floyd at Pompeii — MCMLXXII,” $2.6 million.
- “The Legend of Ochi,” $1.4 million.
Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press
