Los Angeles, California – A rare feat was achieved by Warner Bros’ latest horror film, Sinners, as it became the first in the genre to receive an A CinemaScore from audiences since the poll organization’s inception 47 years ago. Typically, horror movies struggle to earn high ratings from CinemaScore audiences, making an A grade exceptionally uncommon.
In recent weeks, Sinners saw a significant surge in interest, with initial tracking predicting a box office performance in the mid $30 millions range for the Michael B. Jordan-led production. However, projections quickly escalated to over $40 million due to aggressive marketing strategies by Warner Bros, which included targeted digital advertisements in specific zip codes to boost ticket sales. This approach has proven successful for the studio in the past with films like A Minecraft Movie, The Meg, and Crazy Rich Asians.
Over the Easter weekend, Sinners dominated the box office, surpassing expectations by earning $45.6 million and securing the top spot. Warner Bros made history by having two films grossing over $40 million each, a feat not achieved in over a decade. This marks the second time the studio has dominated the Easter weekend, the last instance being in 2019 with the releases of The Curse of La Llorona and Shazam!. Sinners now joins a list of only a handful of films that Warner Bros has successfully led during the Easter weekend since 2000.
The success of Sinners underscores the changing landscape of horror films and audience preferences, with the movie’s stellar reception pointing to a shift in expectations from viewers. This achievement solidifies Warner Bros as a powerhouse in the genre, capable of delivering box office hits that resonate with audiences on a large scale. As the film industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how studios adapt their strategies to capitalize on changing trends and audience demands.