Ryan Coogler’s Blockbuster Becomes the Biggest Original Hollywood Film Since Nolan’s 2010 Classic
In a year packed with superhero films, Sinners, a new horror movie, has taken theaters by storm. Directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan, the film has earned over $361 million globally, with $275.7 million from U.S. theaters.
Warner Bros. reports this makes it the top-grossing original horror movie in U.S. history, surpassing Jaws which held the record for years.
Unlike other horror hits like It or The Exorcist, which came from books or franchises, Sinners is a completely new story. It’s also the highest-earning original horror film worldwide.
The movie’s opening weekend brought in $48 million, one of the best starts for an original film since 2019. It barely slowed down, dropping just 4.9% in its second weekend—a feat only matched by Avatar and Shrek for films opening above $40 million.
By its third weekend, Sinners added $33 million, setting a record for horror films. In its fourth weekend, it crossed $200 million domestically in the U.S., a milestone no original movie has hit since Coco in 2017.
It now ranks second among original films released since 2010, trailing only Inception and beating out Interstellar and Get Out. Nearly half its opening weekend came from premium screens like IMAX, unusual for a horror movie.
Audiences gave Sinners an “A” CinemaScore, a rare honor for horror and the first in 35 years. PostTrak found 92% of viewers rated it positively, with 84% saying they’d recommend it. Critics raved, too. A.A. Dowd from Rolling Stone said Coogler was “swinging wide and far beyond the boundaries of franchise fare.” The Observer praised Coogler’s “assurance and vision,” while The Washington Post noted his “impressive self-awareness.” Peter Travers of ABC News called it the best film of 2025, describing it as Coogler and Jordan’s “best and most daring work yet.”
Jordan shines as twin brothers Smoke and Stack Moore. Some, like Zachary Barnes of The Wall Street Journal, felt the story weakened later but still praised Jordan’s acting. Set in 1932 Mississippi, the film follows the twins as they return home from Chicago’s gangster world. Using stolen cash, they open a juke joint at a sawmill for their Black community. Soon, they face a supernatural evil far worse than their past enemies.
Their cousin Sammie, an aspiring blues guitarist, joins them despite his pastor father’s warnings about the music’s dangers. The movie mixes horror, music, and Southern Gothic themes.
The cast includes Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, and Delroy Lindo, who stands out in a deleted scene shared online. Coogler developed Sinners with Proximity Media in early 2024, with Jordan quickly joining.
After a studio bidding war, Warner Bros. secured it, and filming began that spring. Coogler drew inspiration from The Faculty, though some critics see shades of From Dusk Till Dawn.
Sinners is a breath of fresh air in a sequel-heavy year. Its record-breaking success shows audiences crave bold, original stories. Coogler and Jordan deliver a chilling yet soulful film, though I wonder if the supernatural plot might overshadow the human drama. It’s thrilling to see horror earn such high praise. What do you think of Sinners’ success and its unique blend of horror and history? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
