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Update April 20, 2025: A new leader has emerged in the box office rankings for the weekend of April 18-20. Ryan Coogler‘s horror film Sinners, featuring Michael B. Jordan, topped the charts with an impressive debut of $45.6 million. This film not only outperformed initial projections but also marked a significant milestone by becoming the first horror film in nearly 50 years to receive an A grade from CinemaScore. Previous films in the genre, including critically acclaimed titles like A Quiet Place and The Lost Boys, only managed to achieve a score of A-minus. Sinners is now generating Oscar buzz, further solidifying its position as a standout in 2025.
In a surprising twist, A Minecraft Movie, which was anticipated to secure its third consecutive weekend at the top, ended up in second place with a domestic intake of $41.3 million. This brings the animated film’s total to an impressive $344 million, confirming its status as the highest-grossing film of the year so far. Together, the performances of Sinners and A Minecraft Movie highlight Warner Bros.’s strong presence in theaters this year.
The top five films for the weekend also included Angel Studios’ The King of Kings at $17.3 million, 20th Century’s The Amateur with $7.2 million, and A24’s Warfare earning $4.9 million.
Original story published April 18, 2025: The Easter weekend box office was primed for excitement with the release of Sinners, projected to open at around $45 million, as A Minecraft Movie aimed for a steady $46 million in its third week. Regardless of which film claims the top position, Warner Bros. is assured of a successful weekend.
Directed by Ryan Coogler, a two-time Oscar nominee, Sinners follows twin brothers played by Michael B. Jordan as they face off against vampires upon returning to their hometown to launch a juke joint. As the most anticipated new release of the weekend, it competes with Briarcliff’s animated film Sneaks and Bleecker Street’s romantic comedy The Wedding Banquet, as well as last week’s top performers: A Minecraft Movie, The King of Kings, The Amateur, Warfare, and Drop.
Gold Derby readers are forecasting that Sinners will capture the weekend with estimated earnings between $25 million and $50 million, with A Minecraft Movie predicted to follow closely behind.
NEW RELEASES
Sinners
Director: Ryan Coogler
Distributor: Warner Bros.
In this horror film, twin brothers aim to escape their troubled past but are instead met with a more menacing force that awaits them in their hometown. Starring Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, and Miles Caton, Sinners has a runtime of two hours and 17 minutes, rated R. It currently boasts a 97 percent approval on Rotten Tomatoes, while Metacritic reviews yield a score of 85 percent.
Sneaks
Directors: Rob Edwards and Christopher Jenkins
Distributor: Briarcliff Entertainment
This animated family film follows a designer sneaker as it finds itself lost in New York City, necessitating a journey of self-discovery to save its owner’s sister. With a runtime of one hour and 32 minutes, it is rated PG. As of now, sufficient reviews have yet to surface to produce a score on Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic.
The Wedding Banquet
Director: Andrew Ahn
Distributor: Bleecker Street
This romantic comedy tells the story of a gay man who agrees to a green-card marriage with his lesbian friend, leading to unexpected complexities when a traditional Korean wedding banquet is planned. Featuring Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, and Kelly Marie Tran, the film lasts one hour and 42 minutes and is rated R. It is certified “fresh” at 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and has 68 percent on Metacritic.
BOX-OFFICE PREDICTIONS
The competition in the box office remains fierce, with A Minecraft Movie expected to retain the top position at around $46 million, while Sinners is projected to earn approximately $45 million. Given the strong reviews and the box office appeal of Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan, Sinners is well-positioned to potentially upset its competitor. This successful duo has previously generated substantial earnings, with their respective franchises grossing $381 million and an astounding $1.1 billion in North America.
New releases Sneaks and The Wedding Banquet appear to be struggling to make a significant impact at the box office. It is anticipated that the weekend’s top five will be concluded by The King of Kings with an estimated $12 million, The Amateur at $8 million, and Warfare with around $5 million.
Here are the current Gold Derby rankings for the top five films:
1. Sinners
2. A Minecraft Movie
3. The King of Kings
4. The Amateur
5. Warfare
Source
www.goldderby.com