"Sinners' claim triumph at weekend box office, securing the number one position"
Rewritten Article:
Weekend box office victor, "Sinners," directed by Ryan Coogler, delivered a blood-curdling punch to its rivals, earning a whopping $45.6 million domestically. The movie not only smashed predictions of around $35 million but also surpassed "A Minecraft Movie's" $41.3 million gross in its third week, resulting in a total domestic earnings of nearly $345 million. Both productions are distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery - the parent company of CNN.
The powerful duo of Coogler and actor Michael B. Jordan (who have collaborated on four films, including Disney's "Black Panther") has provided the much-needed oomph to "Sinners." Shawn Robbins, director of movie analytics at Fandango and founder of Box Office Theory, explained to CNN that this star power along with a fresh twist on the classic vampire genre, attracted moviegoers, like moths to a flame.
The horror flick has also benefited from positive critical reviews. It boasts a 98% rating on movie-ratings site Rotten Tomatoes and a commendable 84 score on Metacritic, which positions it as one of the best-reviewed No. 1 films ever in the horror genre, particularly for the vampire sub-class.
"This," said Paul Dergarabedian, a senior analyst at Comscore, "may be one of the best-reviewed No. 1 films ever, especially for the horror genre."
The horror genre's triumph is a much-needed boost after a 2024 box office decline of 13%. Horror movies made over $1 billion at the box office in 2017, thanks to blockbusters like "It" and "Get Out." In 2024, the genre managed a respectable $948 million. The success of horror films makes them an attractive option for studios and filmmakers due to their relatively low budgets and high profitability.
Universal Pictures is readying two horror sequels for release in 2022 - "M3GAN 2.0" in June and "Black Phone 2" in October.
The overall domestic earnings, initially dismal at the opening of "A Minecraft Movie," are now up by 5.3% in comparison to 2024, touted Comscore. "A Minecraft Movie," according to industry analyst David A. Gross of FranchiseRe, is on track to amass $1 billion at the worldwide box office. Digital spectators have been engrossed by its captivating chicken jockey scene.
"Audiences are totally hooked - this is the epitome of top-notch action-adventure entertainment," Gross told CNN. Dergarabedian anticipates the box office to retain this enthusiasm as the first wave of summer movies sight in May, followed by a robust Memorial Day weekend with Disney's live-action "Lilo & Stitch" and Paramount's "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning."
- Universal Pictures has announced several upcoming horror sequels for 2025, including "Jeepers Creepers 5" and "HIM."
- "Jeepers Creepers 5" seems to be Universal's primary focus for horror franchise follow-ups in 2025.
- "HIM," while not a direct sequel, is a sports-themed horror film produced by Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw Productions and is slated for a September 19, 2025 release.
- Universal Pictures is planning to release two horror sequels in 2022, "M3GAN 2.0" in June and "Black Phone 2" in October, aiming to capitalize on the genre's high profitability and low production costs.
- The success of "Sinners" and other horror films in 2024 has contributed to a 5.3% increase in domestic earnings compared to the opening of "A Minecraft Movie," marking a much-needed boost for the box office after a 13% decline in 2024.
- In addition to Universal's horror sequels, other productions like "Jeepers Creepers 5" and "HIM" are expected to be released in 2025, with "Jeepers Creepers 5" standing out as Universal's main focus for horror franchise follow-ups.
- With the popularity of horror films like "Sinners" and the upcoming releases, the box office is anticipated to maintain its enthusiasm during the summer of 2025 and beyond, particularly with the release of Disney's live-action "Lilo & Stitch" and Paramount's "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning."
