From Ben Stiller to Patrick Schwarzenegger: Celebrities who condemned Variety's box office report of ‘Sinners’

On April 20, 2025, Variety published a report about the global box office numbers of Sinners and Minecraft. The report, shared on X, was captioned:

“'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 post received criticism from celebrities and actors like Patrick Schwarzenegger and Ben Stiller, Franklin Leonard, journalist Cheo Hodari Coker, and others. For instance, comedian and actor Ben Stiller reshared the X post, writing:

“In what universe does a 60 million dollar opening for an original studio movie warrant this headline?”

Meanwhile, actor Patrick Schwarzenegger commented on Variety’s post, claiming:

“It’s opening weekend …”

Actress and comedian Kristen Schaal called it a clickbait attempt, commenting:

“No one will write anything without a negative spin anymore. I guess that's what gets the clicks, but it's so gross and tired. And then people start thinking like that. It's a disgusting cycle we are in.”

Filmmaker and producer Joe Russo also chimed in and called out the magazine outlet as he wrote:

“Variety: 'WHY DIDN’T THE MOVIE MAKE ALL ITS BUDGET BACK IN THREE DAYS'”

Cheo Hodari Coker complimented Sinners, writing:

“Basically...'uh uh, ni**as. Not yet.' Which is why we need to see it again. And again. And again. To keep it in theaters. Next two weeks are key, especially on IMAX screens. This movie has legs...which is scaring the sh*t out of the powers that be.”

Ryan Coogler on Sinners’ genre and working with Ludwig Göransson

In an interview with CBS Mornings, director Ryan Coogler was asked to describe the genre of Sinners. Coogler explained that the film blended multiple genres, shifting between them to create a one-of-a-kind movie experience. He said it was a tribute to his late uncle, who grew up in Mississippi and introduced him to blues music.

After his uncle died in 2015, while Coogler was wrapping up Creed, he found comfort in listening to blues records as a way of feeling connected to him. Coogler also mentioned his love for horror and intense, suspenseful movies, which he hadn’t had the chance to explore in his earlier work.

While researching blues, especially the Delta blues from Mississippi, he discovered myths and stories tied to the music, which made room for supernatural elements in the film.

Ryan Coogler shared that Sinners focused on a blues guitarist, inspired by some legendary musicians. He talked about working closely with his longtime friend and collaborator, Ludwig Göransson, a Swedish composer who also scored Oppenheimer.

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They met in film school and had worked together on all his previous projects. While working on Sinners, Ryan discovered that Ludwig’s interest in music began with his father, who had seen Delta blues musicians perform in Sweden as a teenager.

For this film, Coogler also collaborated with his wife Zinzi, who produced the movie, and Ludwig brought in his wife Serena Jr., a concert violinist, to help lead the music side of the project. For Coogler, the whole process felt like a close-knit family effort.

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