Okay, Ben Stiller—deep breaths.
The actor-director is not holding back after Variety claimed that Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” was still a long way from turning a profit—a narrative he says is wildly out of step with the movie’s actual box office success.
Stiller clapped back at a Variety piece that read:
"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..."
In a tweet that’s since been liked 260k times, Stiller replied:
In what universe does a $60 million opening for an original studio movie warrant this headline?
The “Severance” director is clearly not here for what he sees as a doom-and-gloom spin, emphasizing that Sinners' strong debut is a win, especially for a non-franchise, R-rated horror flick.
According to Variety's own reporting, as of April 20, “Sinners” grossed $46M globally in its opening weekend alone. The problem is that the film, which cost $105M to produce, completely tanked internationally, with only $15M in international receipts.
Filmmaker Joe Russo echoed Stiller’s sentiment with a sarcastic jab:
“Variety: ‘WHY DIDN’T THE MOVIE MAKE ALL ITS BUDGET BACK IN THREE DAYS.’”
It’s not just Variety that claims the “Sinners” opening to be anything but a triumph. The New York Times has also expressed skepticism about the film ultimately turning a profit. That still didn’t stop social media users from aggressively rallying against both outlets that tried to pour a cold shower on the narrative that “Sinners” is a flat-out money-making triumph.
Now, listen, for all of you readers who angrily emailed me about my “Sinners” review, I still think it’s a solid film; It’s a solid “B” in my books. Bold filmmaking, with an unusually enticing mash-up of genres. I just vehemently disagree that it’s the “masterpiece” many claim it to be. That’s it. No need to get all in my face about it.
As for Variety and The New York Times’ claims that it won’t turn in a profit, at this point, “Sinners” has tanked internationally, and the film absolutely needed strong overseas receipts to turn into an all-around success. However, there is also zero percent chance “Sinners” won’t be profitable over time. PVOD numbers alone will push it past break-even.
With that said, and reverting to what I wrote over the weekend, the real, actual triumph of “Sinners” is that it’s a non-IP original that ACTUALLY MADE MONEY domestically ($48M). We need more of these, and Warner Bros should be commended for its greenlighting of this project.
