Vampire Triumph: Blood & Sinners Dethrones Minecraft and Makes Horror History

In a dramatic shift at the box office, the highly anticipated vampire horror film Blood & Sinners has overtaken A Minecraft Movie, ending the video game adaptation’s reign at the top of the cinema charts. With a record-breaking debut, Blood & Sinners has achieved something no other horror film has managed in over four decades.

Blood & Sinners storms the charts after Easter, surpassing A Minecraft Movie
For weeks, A Minecraft Movie dominated cinema listings, quickly establishing itself as this year’s first major box office success. However, that changed after the Easter weekend, when Blood & Sinners, directed by Black Panther’s Ryan Coogler, made an astonishing entrance with a $45.6 million opening in the United States. This is particularly notable given that the film is not part of a pre-existing franchise, a rarity in today’s blockbuster landscape.

It marks the strongest opening for an original concept film since Jordan Peele’s Nope in 2022. Moreover, Blood & Sinners entered US cinemas with an R rating – equivalent to Germany’s FSK 16 – a classification that often poses challenges for mainstream success. Yet despite this, the film not only met expectations but significantly surpassed them.

Historic reception: the first horror film with a CinemaScore of A
Adding to its list of achievements, Blood & Sinners has made history by becoming the first horror film ever to earn a CinemaScore of A from audiences. Since 1979, this US-based market research firm has been tracking moviegoer feedback. Horror films, known for dividing opinion, usually struggle to reach even a B rating. Notably, even critically acclaimed entries such as Get Out, A Quiet Place Part II, and The Conjuring peaked at A−.

This unprecedented feat highlights the film’s broad appeal and critical acclaim. Even before its release, early reviews were overwhelmingly positive, with many praising Michael B. Jordan’s performance in a dual role and the film’s unconventional approach to vampire storytelling.

A unique vampire tale and one of the year’s top blockbusters
The plot of Blood & Sinners centres around twin brothers, Smoke and Stack, who served in the First World War before becoming involved in Chicago’s criminal underworld. Returning to their roots in Mississippi, they set out to open a juke joint – but soon find themselves confronted by a horde of bloodthirsty vampires.

The film’s blend of historical fiction, supernatural horror, and character-driven drama appears to have struck a chord with both critics and audiences. With worldwide earnings currently at $61 million, Blood & Sinners is off to a strong start. However, with a production budget of $90 million, industry analysts suggest the film will need to gross at least $170 million globally to break even.

Blood & Sinners premiered in German cinemas on 17 April 2025, and all eyes are now on its continued performance at the international box office.