Original Horror Film “Sinners” Opens to Rave Reviews, Historic Numbers
Scoring 98 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and the highest domestic opening for an original film this decade, “Sinners” is both a commercial juggernaut and a critical triumph. Read on to learn more.
Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” debuted over the weekend with a $48 million domestic box office, marking the biggest opening of 2025 for a horror film and the highest domestic debut for an original movie this decade. Globally, the film has earned $61 million and is on track to become the year’s top-grossing horror title within days.
The film has been met with both widespread critical and audience acclaim, holding a 98 percent score from critics and 97 percent from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. The Warner Bros. release also received an “A” CinemaScore from audiences – the first horror film to do so in more than 35 years.
“Sinners” follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack – both played by Michael B. Jordan – who return to their hometown in Mississippi to escape the wreckage of their pasts. Instead, they are confronted by a deeper evil embedded in the town they hoped to forget. The film blends elements of horror, mystery, drama and thriller, with a narrative that draws from historical, familial and supernatural themes. The ensemble cast includes Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O’Connell and Wunmi Mosaku.
“The kind of blockbuster masterpiece that seems to come along only once every few years.” ComicBook.com
Critics have praised the film’s ambition and genre-defying execution. Slate called it “both a wildly ambitious meditation on American history and a rip-roaring good time.” ABC News described it as “a game-changing vampire-gangster-western-musical that’s divisive, dangerous and primed to explode,” and went on to call it “the best movie of this young year.” The New York Times wrote that Coogler’s direction delivers “a big-screen exultation — a passionate, effusive praise song about life and love, including the love of movies.” The Associated Press noted the film as “by far the most creatively ambitious, culturally layered, artistically bold twin-led cinematic outing yet.”
Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group co-chairs Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy issued a joint statement following the film’s debut: “As we continue to strive to bring an array of films to moviegoers, we are thrilled to see how Ryan Coogler’s original movie ‘Sinners’ and ‘Minecraft’ have resonated with audiences in such a stellar way. Movies have the power to transport us to worlds only seen on the big screen, and Warner Bros. Pictures remains committed to bringing singular in-theater experiences to audiences looking for bold movies, both original and those based on beloved existing properties.”
“Sinners” is playing in theaters now and will be available for licensing from Swank soon.