Ryan Coogler’s Sinners dominates box office with $61M global debut and rave reviews

Director Ryan Coogler’s genre-blending horror drama Sinners delivered a strong opening weekend, earning an impressive $61 million globally.

The film took the No. 1 spot at the domestic box office with $45 million and added $15 million from international markets, surpassing expectations locally while slightly underperforming overseas.

Starring Michael B. Jordan in a dual role, Sinners reunites the actor with Coogler following their past successes on Fruitvale Station, Creed, and Black Panther. The movie is produced on a reported $90 million budget and will need to hit approximately $200 million worldwide to break even, due to distribution and marketing costs.

'Sinners' is earning both audience and critical praise, holding a 98% “Certified Fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes, a 97% audience score, and an A grade on CinemaScore. These strong metrics suggest the film could enjoy long box office legs in the coming weeks.

Warner Bros. has positioned Sinners as a major cinematic event, releasing it on IMAX 70mm in select locations. In a bold move, the studio granted Coogler the film rights after 25 years—marking a notable shift toward director-driven deals, especially following Christopher Nolan’s move to Universal.

Blending horror with social commentary, Sinners tackles themes of class and oppression in a way reminiscent of Jordan Peele’s films. With strong word-of-mouth and premium format screenings, the film is well-poised to become one of 2025’s standout original releases.