Sinners, the latest horror thriller directed by Ryan Coogler and featuring Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as twins Smoke and Stack, has achieved yet another significant box office milestone. Since its premiere on April 18, this chilling tale of a business venture threatened by a malevolent force has shattered various records, including the best Easter weekend debut for an R-rated film, along with the second-smallest drop in box office earnings in its sophomore weekend, trailing only behind Heart Eyes. Notably, it marks Coogler’s highest-grossing project outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
According to the latest figures from Warner Bros., Sinners grossed an impressive $4.4 million domestically and garnered $1.2 million internationally on Friday, May 16. These earnings propel the film’s worldwide totals to a staggering $303.5 million, surpassing the remarkable $300 million benchmark just as it entered its fifth weekend in theaters. Sinners now stands as the fourth film to reach this milestone in 2025, following the likes of Captain America: Brave New World, A Minecraft Movie (also from Warner Bros.), and Ne Zha 2.
The Significance of Sinners’ Success
A Historic Horror Achievement
Despite the ambitious budget estimated between $90 and $100 million—setting a potential break-even point as high as $250 million—Sinners has emerged victorious. Historically, only 24 horror films have ever outperformed that threshold. The film’s robust opening and consistent appeal have propelled it beyond initial expectations, marking it as a significant profit-maker. For context, a film typically needs to earn roughly 2.5 times its production budget to be considered financially successful, as theaters retain about half of ticket revenue, excluding marketing expenses.
With its current trajectory, it is likely just a matter of time before Sinners ascends into the ranks of the top ten highest-grossing horror movies of all time. As per The Numbers, the tenth spot is currently held by Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016), which grossed $314.1 million. This places Sinners a mere $10.6 million from that mark, with projections suggesting the film could easily exceed another $10 million domestically by Sunday evening.
Our Perspective on Sinners’ Box Office Dominance
Potential for Continued Success on the Horror Chart
As Sinners continues to thrive, its fifth weekend box office projection of $15 million signifies a mere 68.7% decline from its opening weekend—a figure many horror films see by their second weekend. This remarkable retention rate suggests that the film may still climb higher on the horror earnings charts. While it might not overtake the reigning champion, It (2017) with its $701 million, it certainly has a shot at penetrating the Top 5 if it surpasses the $362.9 million achieved by The Nun.
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Source: Warner Bros. & The Numbers