Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ Has Serious Competition for the Biggest Previews for a Horror Movie This Year

Zach Cregger’s Weapons is headed for the biggest previews for a horror movie this year with $6M, beating Coogler’s Sinners, which earned $4.7 million from Thursday night previews. Weapons is already making a big splash before it even hits theaters. Set to release in the United States on August 8, 2025, through Warner Bros. Pictures, the movie has impressed critics early on.

It currently holds a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which makes it one of the highest-rated horror movie of the decade so far, according to early reviews.

The story is set in a small town where a strange event takes place one night. Seventeen children from the same classroom mysteriously get up and run out of their homes in the middle of the night. None of them return. The only child left behind is Alex Lilly, played by Cary Christopher. The town’s teacher, Justine Gandy, played by Julia Garner, is left to unravel what happened, alongside the worried parents and the rest of the community.

The film features a strong cast, including Josh Brolin as Archer Graff, a father of one of the missing kids, and Alden Ehrenreich as Paul Morgan, a police officer who has a complicated past with Justine. Benedict Wong takes on the role of the school principal, and Amy Madigan plays Alex’s aunt. Other actors in the film include Austin Abrams, June Diane Raphael, Clayton Farris, Whitmer Thomas, Callie Schuttera, Toby Huss, and Luke Speakman.

Reviewers have been praising Weapons for its originality and unpredictable story. Many say it’s one of the most creative horror movies in recent years, mixing mystery, drama, and chilling scares. Critics highlight Zach Cregger’s work as writer and producer, pointing out how he brings something fresh to the genre. Some describe the film as disturbing and at times uncomfortable but also gripping and emotionally engaging.

Are you watching?#WeaponsMovie – only in theaters August 8. pic.twitter.com/N5rBjpS4JE

— New Line Cinema (@newlinecinema) June 23, 2025

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners made headlines with huge box office numbers. As of July 22, 2025, Sinners has earned $278.6 million in the U.S. and Canada, and another $87.3 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $365.9 million.

Some experts said the film needed to make between $170 million and $185 million to break even, considering production, marketing, and other deals with streaming services like Prime and Netflix. Other sources placed the break-even point even higher, up to $300 million, due to the film’s high budget and marketing costs.

Despite this, fans and industry insiders, including Ben Stiller, have criticized media reports for downplaying Sinners’ success by focusing on box office numbers and Coogler’s salary instead of the film’s strong audience response.

On Rotten Tomatoes, Sinners has a 97% positive rating based on 405 critic reviews. The site calls it “a rip-roaring fusion of masterful visual storytelling and toe-tapping music,” and praises Coogler for his unique vision. Metacritic gave the film a score of 84 out of 100, indicating “universal acclaim.”

Audience reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, with CinemaScore giving it an “A” grade, the highest for a horror film in 35 years. PostTrak reports that 92% of viewers gave the movie a positive review, and 84% said they would definitely recommend it.

With Weapons building early buzz and Sinners enjoying huge success, 2025 looks like a great year for horror fans. Both films are bringing something new and exciting to the genre, and audiences are clearly responding.

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