Overview
- Sinners has reclaimed the top spot at the U.S. box office, surpassing Thunderbolts.
- Sinners is exceeding the average performance of the MCU and is poised to rank among the highest-grossing horror films ever in the U.S.
- Thunderbolts is on track for a $200 million domestic gross, but Sinners showcases the immense power of positive word-of-mouth in Hollywood.
In a traditional showdown, Marvel’s Thunderbolts would undoubtedly defeat any vampire threat. However, the situation at the box office tells a different tale. After a previous attempt to dethrone Thunderbolts from the number one position failed, Sinners has made a strong comeback, successfully ending the Marvel film’s brief dominance.
Directed by Ryan Coogler, Sinners is a 1930s-set vampire horror-thriller that opened with an impressive $45.6 million in domestic earnings and an additional $15.6 million from 71 international markets. This opening marks the best domestic debut for an original horror film since Jordan Peele’s Us ($70.3 million). Remarkably, the film experienced one of the lowest declines ever, dropping just -6% in its second weekend. In contrast, Thunderbolts kicked off with $76 million over its opening weekend, which, while at the high end of projections, represents the lowest summer debut for an MCU film and ranks second-lowest when adjusted for inflation within the franchise.
Sinners Tops The U.S. Box Office
Sinners Outperforms MCU Averages
On its fourth Thursday, Sinners reclaimed its position as the top movie in the United States, grossing $2.3 million (a -21% decrease), according to analyst Luiz Fernando on X. This performance pushed Thunderbolts to second place, bringing in $2.1 million in its second Thursday with a more significant dip of -51%. Notably, Sinners has surpassed the daily earnings of both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, which each earned $1.9 million on their respective fourth Thursdays. Only The Super Mario Bros Movie outperformed Sinners among April releases, registering $3.1 million over the same period. This film continues to excel beyond the average performance metrics for most MCU films at this stage in their release cycle.
Fourth Thursday Earnings of MCU Films
| Film | Fourth Thursday Gross / Drop |
|---|---|
| Iron Man | $3.2 million / -40% |
| Ant-Man | $2.7 million / -42% |
| Captain America: The First Avenger | $2.7 million / -9% |
| Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings | $2.6 million / -34% |
| Black Widow | $2.3 million / -53% |
| Thor | $2.2 million / -45% |
| The Incredible Hulk | $2.1 million / -49% |
| Captain America: Brave New World | $1.5 million / -53% |
Currently, Sinners has amassed $225 million domestically and is rapidly closing in on The Exorcist, which stands at $233 million. With its current trajectory, it’s conceivable that in just a week, Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan’s gothic venture will surpass it, securing the title of the fourth-highest-grossing horror film in U.S. history. A final tally of $250 million is increasingly likely, which would position it just behind It ($328.8 million) and The Sixth Sense ($293.5 million) in the horror ranking.
Meanwhile, Thunderbolts is targeting just under $200 million at the domestic box office, currently sitting at $139 million. The projected global total of $400 million is becoming less plausible, particularly with Lilo and Stitch expected to debut with $100 million. The fact that a relatively new Marvel ensemble film is trailing behind a non-IP horror film indicates more than mere audience fatigue—it highlights Coogler’s adeptness in filmmaking and emphasizes the undeniable influence of word-of-mouth marketing in today’s cinema landscape.
Source: Luiz Fernando/X