Ryan Coogler’s latest film “Sinners” continued its box office dominance in its second weekend, earning $45 million from theaters across the U.S. and Canada, according to the Associated Press. The film has now outpaced the total domestic box office earnings of Disney’s “Snow White” remake.
“You can buy a great opening weekend with marketing, but if a movie doesn’t have the goods, it’ll drop off,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore. “There’s no greater barometer of success than a second weekend hold like this.”
Produced by Coogler’s Proximity Media and Warner Bros., “Sinners” debuted over Easter weekend with $48 million in ticket sales, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film has now grossed $163 million worldwide, making it the seventh highest-earning release of the year so far.
Unlike many contemporary blockbusters, “Sinners” is not based on preexisting intellectual property. According to The Atlantic, Coogler said he wasn’t interested in using IP as “something to hide behind.” While his past hits—including “Black Panther,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” and “Creed”—were rooted in established franchises, “Sinners” follows in the footsteps of his debut film “Fruitvale Station,” which was based on real events but not adapted from prior IP.
Coogler has described “Sinners” as a “love letter” to his late uncle, who was originally from Mississippi.
Audiences have been drawn to the film’s originality, with many choosing to watch it multiple times and opting for IMAX screenings, according to BBC News. The film even surpassed the re-release of “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith,” which brought in an estimated $25.2 million over the weekend, with many showings selling out.
