Ryan Coogler’s latest film, Sinners, is enjoying a record-breaking run in Nigerian cinemas, having grossed over N600.7 million and attracted more than 100,000 admissions nationwide since its debut on April 18.
According to the Nigerian Box Office, the film has now become the 10th highest-grossing movie of all time in Nigeria. For four consecutive weekends, Sinners has held the No. 1 spot, reflecting its massive popularity and sustained audience appeal.
The 9am News report gathered that just a week ago, the film had grossed N567 million, making the latest figures a significant jump in revenue within a short span. The strong momentum has been driven by robust weekend viewership and positive word-of-mouth buzz.
Starring Michael B. Jordan and produced by Coogler’s Proximity Media, Sinners has stood out for both its storytelling and its unique production terms. Set in the American South during the Jim Crow era, the film blends historical drama with supernatural elements, captivating audiences in Nigeria and around the world.
The movie drew major studio interest upon its initial reveal in January. Warner Bros. eventually secured distribution rights, accepting Coogler’s strict conditions—including final cut, first-dollar gross, and rights reversion after 25 years.
Globally, Sinners has grossed $294.7 million, with $225.4 million coming from the U.S. and Canada, and $69.3 million from international markets. It opened to a domestic debut of $48 million, outperforming early projections and delivering the strongest launch for an original film since Jordan Peele’s Us in 2019.
While some industry observers in the U.S. have questioned the film’s profitability citing its $90 million production budget and estimated $50–60 million marketing costs—many fans and analysts argue that the focus should also include the film’s cultural impact and box office longevity, especially in non-Western markets.
Nigeria’s Cinema Landscape Evolves
Sinners’s success in Nigeria highlights a notable shift in the country’s cinema ecosystem. With an increasingly engaged and growing movie-going audience, international films with compelling narratives and star power are finding room to thrive.
The film joins a select group of foreign titles that have resonated with Nigerian audiences on a massive scale. Its box office dominance may well encourage distributors to look more closely at African markets as viable grounds for blockbuster releases.
Ryan Coogler, widely recognized for directing Black Panther and Creed, has again delivered a powerful story that combines commercial viability with artistic depth. Sinners not only strengthens his directorial legacy but also marks a new chapter in global cinema reception—one in which Nigeria is playing a starring role.
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