Internet Calls Out Hypocrisy In Coverage Of Box Office Hit 'Sinners'
By Jovonne Ledet
April 21, 2025
Social media users and celebrities alike are calling out the hypocrisy in the media's coverage of Sinners following the horror film's opening weekend success.
According to CNN, Ryan Coogler's supernatural horror film Sinners raked in $45.6 million domestically for its opening weekend, surpassing projections of roughly $35 million dollars. The film also finished No. 1 at the box office, edging out A Minecraft Movie, which grossed $41.3 million in its third weekend.
Critics gave the film rave reviews, another apparent indicator of the movie's success. Sinners currently holds a 98 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 84 score on Metacritic, the seventh highest for a movie in 2025.
Despite the film's widespread success, several outlets appeared to downplay the achievement, which some social media users viewed as hypocrisy aimed at a movie created by a Black filmmaker and featuring several Black stars, including Michael B. Jordan.
A tweet from Variety that linked to its Sinners coverage particularly garnered backlash for questioning the profitability of the film.
"Sinners has amassed $61 million in its global debut. It's a great result for an original, R-rated horror film, yet the Warner Bros. release has a $90 million price tag before global marketing expenses, so profitability remains a ways away....." the outlet wrote.
"Sinners" has amassed $61 million in its global debut. It's a great result for an original, R-rated horror film, yet the Warner Bros. release has a $90 million price tag before global marketing expenses, so profitability remains a ways away. https://t.co/gjPXGBYkZ1 pic.twitter.com/wwXjVC2GT5
— Variety (@Variety) April 20, 2025
"In what universe does a 60 million dollar opening for an original studio movie warrant this headline?" Hollywood star Ben Stiller responded to the tweet.
In what universe does a 60 million dollar opening for an original studio movie warrant this headline? https://t.co/rkFQxQNwMp
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) April 21, 2025
Patrick Schwarzenegger also took an apparent aim at Variety's take, writing "It's opening weekend..."
It’s opening weekend …
— Patrick Schwarzenegger (@PSchwarzenegger) April 20, 2025
Other social media users pointed out how Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood had the same budget as Sinners and made less in its opening weekend, but was widely covered as a success.
Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood had the same budget as Ryan Coogler’s Sinners: $90M
— chris evans (@notcapnamerica) April 20, 2025
SINNERS made $45M in its first weekend while “ONCE made $41M.
Can you spot the difference? 🧐 pic.twitter.com/fqgxso1pqi
See more social media reactions calling out the hypocrisy in the coverage of Sinners' opening weekend below.
Idk how to explain it but this post is racist as hell
— rottenjeb +_+📀 (@jebxj3b) April 20, 2025
The media goes to extreme lengths to make black films not seem profitable “a ways away” is crazy
— i just wanna live my life bro.. (@HeyyDiva) April 20, 2025
Variety: “WHY DIDN’T THE MOVIE MAKE ALL ITS BUDGET BACK IN THREE DAYS”
— Joe Russo (@joerussotweets) April 20, 2025
I’m looking back to see if @Variety has tweeted this about any other movie’s opening day weekend gross and budget in the past.. everyone please look with me… pic.twitter.com/WA5wMLn2Bx
— Brooklyn (@BrooklynBoyB) April 20, 2025
Variety: How to say the N-word without actually saying the N-Word. 🤦🏽♂️
— Mike (@m1kephenix) April 21, 2025
The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live.