Warner Bros' latest horror film, 'Sinners', has made cinematic history by becoming the first horror movie to earn an A CinemaScore from audiences in the 47-year history of the exit poll organization. This remarkable achievement highlights the film's broad appeal, especially considering that audiences typically rate horror films more critically. In fact, earning anything in the B-range is often considered a significant success for horror movies; for instance, the original 'A Quiet Place' received a B+ rating.
Horror films often face tough scrutiny from audiences, with a C rating considered a safe score. Over the years, only a handful of films have received the rare A- grade, including 'Five Nights at Freddy’s', 'Get Out', 'The Lost Boys', 'The Conjuring', 'The Conjuring 2', 'A Quiet Place Part II', and 'Child’s Play 2'. However, 'Sinners' stands out as the only film directed by Ryan Coogler to achieve an A CinemaScore, marking a significant milestone in the horror genre.
In recent weeks, tracking data indicated that 'Sinners' was expected to earn around $30 million, considering its production budget of over $90 million and starring Michael B. Jordan. However, as interest surged, projections skyrocketed to over $40 million. This boost can be attributed to concerted efforts by the exhibition industry to promote the film after a slow box office period in Q1, as well as Warner Bros' targeted digital advertising campaigns in specific zip codes designed to increase ticket sales.
Warner Bros. has effectively executed a final marketing push reminiscent of successful strategies used for films such as 'A Minecraft Movie', 'The Meg', and 'Crazy Rich Asians'. This strategic approach has significantly contributed to the film's impressive performance at the box office. On Friday and Saturday mornings, 'Sinners' was reported to be in the No. 2 position, but it ultimately secured the top spot over the Easter weekend, grossing an estimated $45.6 million. Analysts predict that the final tally may exceed $46 million.
This marks the first time in over a decade that a single studio, Warner Bros., has managed to have two films each earn over $40 million in the same weekend. Furthermore, this achievement represents the second time Warner Bros. has dominated the Easter weekend box office, the last occurrence being in 2019 when 'The Curse of La Llorona' debuted alongside the third weekend of 'Shazam!'. Overall, 'Sinners' signifies the eighth occasion since 2000 that Warner Bros. has ruled the Easter weekend with a major release, solidifying the studio's status as a powerhouse in the film industry.
