Ryan Coogler is sending a big thank you to fans after Sinners took the box office by storm. The film, starring Michael B. Jordan in dual roles, earned $48 million domestically and $63 million globally during its opening weekend, and Coogler is giving all the credit to the moviegoers who showed up and supported the film.
In an emotional letter posted on social media, Coogler expressed his “eternal gratitude” and reflected on the power of audience support.
“My heart is bursting with it,” he wrote. “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.”
Coogler also took a moment to share how personal this film was for him and his team.
“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,” he said. “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.”
Thank YOU! pic.twitter.com/e9X0RUIIdI
— PROXIMITY MEDIA (@proximitymedia) April 22, 2025
He went on to express his belief in the importance of cinema and the theater experience. “I believe in cinema. I believe in the theatrical experience. I believe it is a necessary pillar of society,” Coogler shared. “We don’t get to do what we do if you don’t show up.” The director’s words reflect the deep connection he feels with fans and how their support has helped fuel his passion for storytelling.
Coogler also recognized some of the people who helped bring Sinners to life, mentioning the cast and crew who made it all possible. “For this script, this crew, and this cast, I dug deep into myself and reached back to my ancestors who breathed so much life and purpose into me,” he wrote. He also gave shoutouts to legendary filmmakers like Spike Lee, John Singleton, and Jordan Peele, along with writers like Stephen King and Ta-Nehisi Coates for inspiring his work.
Coogler thanked fans again for their support and talked about the power of showing up for films that resonate.
“Every time you show up to theaters you allow us to come back and do it again,” he said. “And together maybe we can expand the definition of what a blockbuster, what a horror movie is, and of what an IMAX audience looks like. I’ll see you at the movies, popcorn bucket in hand!”
Read the entire letter below.
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,” read the letter. “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.
I want to thank you all who watched more than once, who recommended the film to others, both in person and on social media or on your text message chain.
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.
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.
For this script, this crew, and this cast, I dug deep into myself and reached back to my ancestors who breathed so much life and purpose into me. I also unabashedly reached towards my cinematic influences including but not limited Spike Lee, John Singleton, Ernie Barnes, Steve McQueen, Ava Duvernay, Euzhan Palcy, Eudora Welty, Oscar Micheaux, Robert Rodriguez, Barry Jenkins, Nicolas Roeg, Andrea Arnold, Jeremy Saulnier, Paul Thomas Anderson, Joel and Ethan Coen, Bill Gunn, Jordan Peele, Shaka King, Nia Dacosta, Terence Nance, Rian Johnson, Bradford Young, David Lynch, Chris Nolan, Emma Thomas, Theodore Witcher, Julie Dash, Steven Spielberg, Kahlil Joseph, Mati Diop, Ben Josh Safdie, Stephen King, Robert Palmer, Amiri Baraka, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Walter Mosely, Stephen Graham Jones, Joel Crawford, Wes Craven, and many others.
Every time you show up to theaters you allow us to come back and do it again. And together maybe we can expand the definition of what a blockbuster what a horror movie is, and of what an IMAX audience looks like. I’ll see you at the movies, popcorn bucket in hand!
P.S. Much has been made about my 13 year partnership with Michael B. Jordan, my 17 year partnership with Ludwig Göransson, and my near lifelong partnership with Zinzi Coogler, but I wanted to shout out Michael Shawver our picture editor who I have been working with for 15 years. Michael did EXCEPTIONAL work on this film that isn’t being talked about enough, and he missed the press tour to spend time with his beautiful kid. Want to highlight him here and thank him too.
Coogler’s letter is a heartfelt reminder of how important fan support is to the success of films like Sinners, and how cinema can bring creators and audiences together in powerful ways. The success of the film is just as much about the connections it’s building with viewers as it is about the box office numbers.
