Key Points
- Research suggests “Sinners,” directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan, has not equaled any specific 16-year-old box office record set by “Avatar.”
- It seems likely the user may be referring to “Black Panther,” another Coogler-Jordan film, which matched “Avatar’s” record for holding the number one spot for five consecutive weekends in 2018, though this is not 16 years after “Avatar’s” 2009 release.
- The evidence leans toward “Sinners” having a strong opening ($48 million domestically, $63 million globally), but it does not match “Avatar’s” records like highest gross ($2.9 billion) or IMAX opening weekend ($9.5 million, surpassed by others).
Recent Box Office Performance
“Sinners” opened strongly on April 18, 2025, with $48 million domestically and $63 million globally, marking the biggest debut for an original film since “Us” in 2019. However, this does not align with equaling a 16-year-old “Avatar” record, as “Avatar” set numerous high benchmarks in 2009, including the highest-grossing film ever at $2.9 billion.
Historical Context
“Avatar,” released in 2009, holds records like the highest IMAX gross worldwide ($270 million) and fastest to $1 billion globally. “Sinners'” opening weekend IMAX gross of $9.6 million is close to “Avatar’s” $9.5 million, but this record was already surpassed by “Alice in Wonderland” in 2010, and “Sinners” does not match “Avatar’s” overall scale.
Potential Misinterpretation
It’s possible the user meant “Black Panther,” which in 2018 held the number one spot for five weekends, matching a record last set by “Avatar,” but this is 9 years after “Avatar,” not 16. There is no direct evidence “Sinners” equals any specific 16-year-old “Avatar” record.
Event Overview
“Sinners,” an R-rated vampire thriller, was released on April 18, 2025, marking the latest collaboration between Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan, following their successful projects like “Fruitvale Station,” “Creed,” and “Black Panther.” The film opened to strong reviews, earning Certified Fresh status on Rotten Tomatoes, and has been noted for its box office performance, particularly in IMAX and premium formats. The user’s query suggests it equals a 16-year-old record set by “Avatar,” which was released in 2009, making 2025 exactly 16 years later.
Launch Details and Box Office Performance
“Sinners” debuted with an impressive $48 million in North American theaters over its opening weekend, surpassing initial estimates of $45.6 million, as reported by Variety on April 20, 2025 (Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan’s ‘Sinners’ Takes Box Office Crown With $48 Million). Internationally, it added $15.4 million, bringing the global tally to $63.5 million. By April 23, 2025, its domestic total reached $55 million, pushing the global figure to $70.4 million, as noted by Collider (In Just Five Days, ‘Sinners’ Has Become One of the Highest-Grossing Horror Movies of All-Time). This performance marks it as the biggest debut for an original film since Jordan Peele’s “Us” opened to $71 million in 2019, according to ScreenRant (Sinners Opening Weekend Explained: What Records It Broke & How It Beat A Minecraft Movie At The Box Office).
A significant aspect of “Sinners'” success is its performance in premium formats, particularly IMAX. The New York Times reported on April 20, 2025, that IMAX delivered about 20% of total weekend sales from only 399 locations, equating to approximately $9.6 million from IMAX for the opening weekend (‘Sinners’ Is a Box Office Success (With a Big Asterisk)). This focus on large-format screenings was part of Coogler’s strategy, as he leaned into IMAX 70MM, making “Sinners” the first film to shoot with IMAX cameras since Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” as noted by Deadline on April 22, 2025 (‘Sinners’ Box Office Success: How a Blockbuster Was Built).
“Avatar’s” 16-Year-Old Records
“Avatar,” released in December 2009, set numerous box office records, many of which remain significant 16 years later in 2025. According to Wikipedia, it became the highest-grossing film of all time with $2.923 billion worldwide, the fastest to gross $1 billion through $2.5 billion, and set records for the highest grosses in 3D and IMAX formats (List of box office records set by Avatar – Wikipedia). Specifically, “Avatar” grossed $270 million from IMAX worldwide and had an opening weekend IMAX gross of $9.5 million in the US and Canada, a record later surpassed by “Alice in Wonderland” with $12.2 million in 2010. Other records include holding the number one spot domestically for seven consecutive weekends and being the fastest to gross $500 million through $750 million in the US and Canada.
Comparison and Analysis
Given the user’s claim, we need to assess whether “Sinners” equals any specific 16-year-old record set by “Avatar.” First, let’s examine the total gross: “Sinners'” current global total of $70.4 million is far below “Avatar’s” $2.923 billion, so it does not equal the highest-grossing film record. For opening weekends, “Sinners'” $48 million domestically is less than “Avatar’s” $77 million in 2009, adjusted for inflation, and globally, “Sinners'” $63 million is less than “Avatar’s” $232 million opening.
For IMAX specifically, “Sinners'” opening weekend gross of $9.6 million is slightly higher than “Avatar’s” $9.5 million, but as noted, “Avatar’s” record was already surpassed by “Alice in Wonderland,” so “Sinners” does not break a new record here; it merely exceeds “Avatar’s” figure, which is no longer the benchmark. Other records, like fastest to $1 billion or holding the number one spot for multiple weekends, are not applicable yet for “Sinners,” as it has just opened and is not close to those milestones.
Potential Misinterpretation and Historical Context
Given the lack of direct evidence, it’s possible the user is referring to “Black Panther,” another Coogler-Jordan collaboration released in 2018. ComicBook.com reported on April 23, 2025, that “Black Panther” held the number one slot domestically for five consecutive weekends, a feat last accomplished by “Avatar” eight years earlier, in 2010, not 16 years (Sinners Director Ryan Coogler Has Shattered All of These Box Office Records – ComicBook.com). This would be 9 years after “Avatar’s” 2009 release, not 16, suggesting a possible misremembering. “Black Panther” also became the highest-grossing February movie and the highest-grossing film by a Black director, but these are not directly related to “Avatar’s” records.
The mention of “Papi” in the query remains unclear, with no relevant connections found in searches, suggesting it may be a typo or an unrelated reference. Given the context, it’s likely the user intended to reference the Coogler-Jordan partnership’s overall success, possibly conflating “Black Panther’s” records with “Sinners.”
Impact and Context
“Sinners'” strong opening is a testament to Coogler and Jordan’s box office bankability, proving audiences will support original films, as noted by Variety on April 21, 2025 (‘Sinners’ Box Office: Takeaways From Opening Weekend Success). However, it does not equal “Avatar’s” monumental records, and the 16-year timeline does not align with any direct comparison. The film’s success in IMAX and premium formats highlights a trend championed by filmmakers like Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve, but this is not a record tied to “Avatar.”
Detailed Breakdown of Key Information
To organize the information effectively, the following table summarizes the critical details:
| Detail | “Sinners” (2025) | “Avatar” (2009) |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic Opening Weekend Gross | $48 million | $77 million |
| Global Opening Weekend Gross | $63 million | $232 million |
| Current Global Total (as of April 28, 2025) | $70.4 million | $2.923 billion |
| IMAX Opening Weekend Gross (US and Canada) | $9.6 million | $9.5 million (surpassed by others) |
| Highest-Grossing Film Status | Not applicable, far below “Avatar” | Highest-grossing film of all time |
| Record for Holding #1 Spot | Too early to tell, just opened | Held #1 for seven weekends |
| Filming with IMAX Cameras | First since “Oppenheimer,” not a record | Filmed with IMAX, set records in 2009 |