Sinners is on the verge of breaking another record as it wraps up its remarkable box office run. Before the film’s release, there were doubts about its profitability due to its $90 million budget. But once reviews started pouring in, audiences flocked to see the vampire horror film directed by Ryan Coogler. It earned $48 million during its opening weekend — the biggest debut for an original movie since Jordan Peele’s Us in 2019.
The film’s success didn’t stop there. Sinners continued to draw crowds throughout its theatrical run and has now become the highest-grossing original movie in the U.S. this decade. According to Box Office Mojo, it has brought in over $272 million domestically, surpassing Pixar’s Elemental, which made $154 million. And with its momentum still strong, Sinners is now on track to break yet another major box office record.
When discussing this record, it’s important to note that an “original” movie refers to a film that’s entirely original — not based on existing material or inspired by a real person’s life. For instance, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer wouldn’t qualify as original under this definition. On the other hand, films like Elemental, Nope ($123M), Free Guy ($121M), IF ($111M), and Smile ($105.9M) are considered original movies. All of these were released in the 2020s and were surpassed by Sinners at the domestic box office.
Even though its theatrical run will end soon, Sinners could earn more at the domestic box office in the coming years due to potential re-releases.
Looking back to the 2010s, Sinners has outperformed several other original films at the box office. Most notably, it’s on the verge of surpassing the domestic earnings of Gravity, which was the top-grossing original movie in the U.S. during that decade. Released in 2013, Gravity earned a remarkable $274 million domestically (via Box Office Mojo). While Sinners is now available digitally and its box office momentum is slowing, it’s still expected to surpass that $274 million milestone with ease.
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This achievement will make Sinners the highest-grossing original movie at the domestic box office since 2009. By reaching this milestone, Ryan Coogler’s film reinforces the idea that original stories can still draw large audiences. Its gripping plot and meaningful themes have kept moviegoers coming back to see it on the big screen. And even though its theatrical run is nearing its end, Sinners may continue adding to its total through future re-releases — a real possibility given its widespread popularity.
While Sinners has made history by becoming the highest-grossing original movie at the domestic box office in both the 2010s and 2020s, it’s unlikely to claim the same title for the 2000s. Following Gravity, the next original film on the list is 2009’s Avatar. Although it shares elements with other stories, James Cameron’s Avatar is still considered an original movie. During its theatrical run, it earned a staggering $785 million domestically (via Box Office Mojo). Not only was Avatar a massive success in the U.S., but it also holds the title of the highest-grossing film of all time worldwide.
Even with potential future re-releases, it’s highly unlikely that Sinners will ever surpass Avatar’s domestic box office total. While that particular record may be out of reach for the horror film, it doesn’t diminish Sinners’ remarkable achievements. The movie has shattered numerous box office records and enjoyed a run that few could have anticipated just months ago. Without a doubt, Sinners stands as one of the most impressive box office success stories in recent years.
Source: Screen Rant