Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners' Makes Horror Movie History
Filmmaker Ryan Coogler's newest feature starring Michael B. Jordan released in theaters on April 18 and stunned audiences.
Sinners is Coogler's fourth and by far most ambitious feature following Fruitvale Station (2013), Creed (2015), and both Black Panther movies under Marvel Studios.
Set in 1932 Mississippi, Sinners tells the story of twin brothers returning home and the supernatural events that follow. Jordan takes on dual roles, playing both brothers.
"I never did a horror film before and playing two characters, and twins at that ... I think the combination of all those things makes this experience like truly, truly, unique and special for me," Jordan told ABC News.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Praised for its rare mix of horror, action, and adventure, Sinners scored an impressive 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Sinners’ success on the ratings scoreboard — the film became the first horror movie to score an “A” on CinemaScore — is also translating to success at the box office. The film earned $7.8 million on Monday, making history as the second-best Monday for an R-rated horror movie, trailing only It (2017).
Ryan Coogler’s ‘SINNERS’ had the 3rd biggest Monday domestically for any horror movie ever, earning $7.8M
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 22, 2025
Read our review: https://t.co/AGnQ9Gwyyv pic.twitter.com/ijuPxY1hNE
In a heartfelt letter to fans following Sinners' immediate success, Coogler wrote, "We always had our minds on you, the audience, and felt a deep responsibility to entertain you, and move you in the way only cinema can."