Ryan Coogler’s Sinners Breaks Records with Over ₦600 Million at Nigerian Box Office

 Ryan Coogler’s supernatural thriller Sinners has surpassed ₦600.7 million in box office earnings, securing its place as the 10th highest-grossing film in the country’s history. The film, which premiered on April 18, 2025, has captivated audiences, holding the top spot for four consecutive weekends, as reported on May 20, 2025.

Starring Michael B. Jordan in dual roles, Sinners blends horror, music, and social commentary, set in the Jim Crow-era American South with Yoruba mythological elements, notably the Ìbejì twin deities. Its ₦79.6 million opening weekend outperformed typical horror debuts, growing to ₦445.9 million by week three and ₦567.4 million by week four, with over 100,000 admissions.

The film’s 98% Rotten Tomatoes score and A CinemaScore reflect its critical acclaim, while its $294.7 million global gross, including $225.4 million in North America, underscores its universal appeal. Warner Bros., securing distribution after a bidding war, granted Coogler final cut and rights reversion after 25 years, a $90 million budget bolstered by $50-60 million in marketing.

Nigeria’s embrace of Sinners, which earned ₦89.5 million over May 2-4, highlights a 43% weekly surge, per box office data, driven by cultural resonance and Jordan’s 80% approval among Nigerian fans, per a 2024 Lagos poll. The film outpaced Nollywood’s Ori: The Rebirth (₦200 million) in April, contributing to the month’s ₦1.29 billion haul. Its success, alongside 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine (₦706.7 million), signals Nigeria’s growing appetite for genre-bending blockbusters, with 65% of viewers favoring international films, per a 2024 CEAN survey. Coogler’s Black Panther legacy and Ludwig Göransson’s score further boosted its 8.2/10 IMDb rating.