Sinners is showing in cinemas across Kenya
Sinners, an original, blood-soaked vampire tale, has defied expectations and risen to the top of the box office, overtaking A Minecraft Movie with a $45.6 million (KSh. 5.9B) debut.
Directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan in dual roles, Sinners marks a rare victory for originality in a marketplace ruled by intellectual property.
The Warner Bros. film, set in 1932 Mississippi and revolving around bootlegging brothers turned nightclub owners, edged out A Minecraft Movie, which brought in $41.3 million (KSh. 5.3B) in its third weekend.
Despite Minecraft’s $720.8 million global haul to date, the fresh energy and star power of Sinners proved irresistible to U.S. and Canadian audiences over the Easter weekend.
Warner Bros., which distributed both films, delivered a box office victory, though it was Sinners that stole the spotlight.
The studio backed Coogler with unprecedented terms, including a share of gross profits and eventual ownership of the film after 25 years, showing deep confidence in his vision.
Critics and audiences responded in kind: Sinners earned a 98% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an “A” CinemaScore, signalling strong word-of-mouth that could sustain its momentum.
While Sinners had a softer launch internationally, $15.4 million (KSh. 1.9B) across 71 markets, its stateside triumph stands out, especially considering Warner Bros.’ previous struggles with dual-role projects like The Alto Knights and Mickey 17.