Ryan Coogler Thanks Moviegoers in Heartfelt Letter After SINNERS Box Office Surge

Following the box office success of Sinners, Ryan Coogler is taking a moment to say thanks with a full-on emotional letter that reminds us just how personal filmmaking really is to the filmmaker.The movie is great, and it delivers one hell of a great, bold and unquie vampire horror experience that taps into history and music. Coogler’s film, which stars Michael B. Jordan in dual roles, surprised many by pulling in $48 million domestically and $63 million globally in its opening weekend. It even landed the second-best Monday ever for an R-rated horror movie, just behind It (2017), with $7.8 million.It clearly meant a lot to Coogler, and he said:“Eternal gratitude. My heart is bursting with it. I want to thank each and every one of you who bought a ticket to see Sinners. Who decided to drive to see the film in different formats.“Who bought popcorn and a drink, booked a sitter and carpooled, and stood in the lobby afterward and talked and made a friend. Who changed their work schedules. Who saw the film in groups.”This wasn’t just a win for the studio, it was a personal moment for the director. Coogler described Sinners as a project born from his own ancestry and family roots, but one always meant to connect with audiences in a theater. He continued:“I had the gift of the opportunity of making a film inspired by my family and my ancestry but it was always a film that we wanted to make for audiences, in theaters.“We always had our minds on you, the audience, and felt a deep responsibility to entertain you, and move you in the way only cinema can.”He also used the letter to double down on his love for the theatrical experience, which is something he doesn’t take for granted.“I believe in cinema. I believe in the theatrical experience. I believe it is a necessary pillar of society. It’s why me and so many of my colleagues have dedicated our lives to the craft. We don’t get to do what we do if you don’t show up. “The global theatrical audience has allowed me to dream, find a career, and build a more sustainable life for me and my family. And the only way that I know how to thank you for that, is by continuing to mine my personal human experience and my relationships for more stories to bring to you in cinematic language. “To see your response to the film has invigorated me and many others who believe in this art form.”In an industry constantly pivoting between streaming trends and theatrical nostalgia, Sinners is a reminder that people still want to show up, sit down, and get lost in a story together. And Coogler is hoping to keep giving us stories worth showing up for.

Apr 23, 2025 - 16:35

Ryan Coogler Thanks Moviegoers in Heartfelt Letter After SINNERS Box Office Surge

Following the box office success of Sinners, Ryan Coogler is taking a moment to say thanks with a full-on emotional letter that reminds us just how personal filmmaking really is to the filmmaker.

The movie is great, and it delivers one hell of a great, bold and unquie vampire horror experience that taps into history and music.

Coogler’s film, which stars Michael B. Jordan in dual roles, surprised many by pulling in $48 million domestically and $63 million globally in its opening weekend. It even landed the second-best Monday ever for an R-rated horror movie, just behind It (2017), with $7.8 million.

It clearly meant a lot to Coogler, and he said:

“Eternal gratitude. My heart is bursting with it. I want to thank each and every one of you who bought a ticket to see Sinners. Who decided to drive to see the film in different formats.
“Who bought popcorn and a drink, booked a sitter and carpooled, and stood in the lobby afterward and talked and made a friend. Who changed their work schedules. Who saw the film in groups.”

This wasn’t just a win for the studio, it was a personal moment for the director. Coogler described Sinners as a project born from his own ancestry and family roots, but one always meant to connect with audiences in a theater. He continued:

“I had the gift of the opportunity of making a film inspired by my family and my ancestry but it was always a film that we wanted to make for audiences, in theaters.
“We always had our minds on you, the audience, and felt a deep responsibility to entertain you, and move you in the way only cinema can.”

He also used the letter to double down on his love for the theatrical experience, which is something he doesn’t take for granted.

“I believe in cinema. I believe in the theatrical experience. I believe it is a necessary pillar of society. It’s why me and so many of my colleagues have dedicated our lives to the craft. We don’t get to do what we do if you don’t show up.
“The global theatrical audience has allowed me to dream, find a career, and build a more sustainable life for me and my family. And the only way that I know how to thank you for that, is by continuing to mine my personal human experience and my relationships for more stories to bring to you in cinematic language.
“To see your response to the film has invigorated me and many others who believe in this art form.”

In an industry constantly pivoting between streaming trends and theatrical nostalgia, Sinners is a reminder that people still want to show up, sit down, and get lost in a story together. And Coogler is hoping to keep giving us stories worth showing up for.