The Town with Matthew Belloni
How Did ‘Sinners’ Really Do This Weekend?
Apr 21, 2025
Franklin Leonard, film executive and founder of the Black List, joins the discussion with Lucas Shaw. They delve into the surprising box office success of 'Sinners' and its profitability challenges. There's a heated debate on Ryan Coogler's studio deal and whether it signals a shift in Hollywood. The duo explores racial biases in media coverage and marketing struggles faced by Black films internationally, emphasizing the need for equitable investment and representation in the industry.
35:26
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Quick takeaways
- The financial performance of 'Sinners' reveals the film must gross around $250 million to break even, highlighting its profitability challenges.
- Discussion around Ryan Coogler's unique deal stresses how racial biases may influence media coverage and profitability narratives for black filmmakers.
Deep dives
Understanding Box Office Performance
The podcast delves into the financial intricacies behind the box office performance of the film 'Sinners,' highlighting its production budget of approximately $90 million. To break even, a film typically needs to gross around two and a half times its production budget, suggesting that 'Sinners' must earn around $250 million. Though it garnered $48 million domestically during its opening weekend, less than impressive overseas earnings raise concerns about profitability. This situation is complicated further by the film's unique financial arrangement in which director Ryan Coogler negotiated first dollar gross payments.
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