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Tiffany
Let's get to it. Time to do it. I'm the homegirl that knows a little bit about everything and everybody, you know, if you don't lie about that. Right. Lauren came in hot. All right, so I told y'all that I was going to get into my thoughts about Sinners, the movie by Ryan Coogler because it is, it's insane. If you haven't seen it, go watch it. But let's get on into it. Sinners is a horror film starring Michael B. Jordan by Ryan Coogler. And baby, I've seen the film twice. So. The opening weekend placed Sinners number one in the box office. They made $48 million domestically and $63.5 million globally. $19.2 million domestically just in the opening day. And that number was actually captured before the opening day even closed. This made this the second biggest opening day for an original horror film this decade. But this also made this film the biggest debut in post pandemic history for an original film. And Ryan Coogler and the cast earned a rare a cinema score. This is the first horror film to do this in 35 years. I don't. You don't even got to say nothing. Y'all like that is so Fire and Sinners needs to make 200 to 225 million dollars globally in order to break even theatrically. So the money that was put out the. To push the film to do everything that they needed to do, you know, globally, that is, that, that's, that's the number that they need to return right now. This movie has surpassed a Minecraft movie already numbers wise. Right? A Minecraft movie is set to make. It is predicted to make $700 million globally. A Minecraft movie is in 76 international markets. Sinner's movie is in 71 international markets. So I'm going to read a tweet from Variety. This happened early in the release of the movie. Variety released this statement. I mean, this headline on X. Sinners has amassed $61 million in its global debut. It's a great result for an original R rated horror film. Yet the Warner Brothers Release has a 90 million dollar price tag before global marketing expenses. So profitability remains a ways away, y'all. They hadn't even closed out Sunday. They hadn't even closed out all 72 hours of the weekend. And these were the headlines. Every time they talk about black movies in the theaters, instead of talking about how well they're doing, they talk about what is not being done. Let's talk about what's actually happening here. And if they not going to do it, I will. So I saw some people upset and I wanted to get on here and have a conversation about that because what is what sinners is doing outside of hitting all the marks we talked about earlier, making all of the money, making Michael B. Jordan look damn good. Cuz, baby, the muscles were muscling, okay? Michael B. Jordan. And I don't know if it was like the muscles with the guns and the action and the. But Michael B. Jordan was. He was giving it up, okay? He was looking good. So the. There's multiple conversations happening, but I'm gonna focus on three. So the Bible thumpers right now are having a conversation as they always do. Anytime a black horror film drops, the black Bible thumpers come out and they start having a conversation about black magic and witchcraft and vampires and, you know, darkness and the devil and all of these things. And I get it. I was raised very traditionally in a very black traditional church where as I was watching this, I was like, my grandmother would be pissed at me sitting here watching this movie right now. But I think when they start having a conversation around black magic and a lot of that thing, a lot of those things in the movie, you really honestly just begin to see our healing power. Like especially strong black women in faith, like strong black women rooted in spirituality and in faith. They always emerge as being the leaders of their relationships, of their families, of their communities. And they're often overlooked. What they do is often overlooked. It's often mocked until it's like the world is exploding. I think we saw you. You will see if you have not watched it yet, and if you did watch it, you see that storyline play out and you know exactly what I'm talking about. I'm not going to give it away. But it also dives into like, you know, the struggle with God that I think black people have, especially black people in poverty or in really hard situations. They're always asking God why? Like, there's a lot of loss in this film. There's a lot of, like, we had to fight, we had to kill. We had this, we had that. So God in the conversation around that, it's like everybody's trying to get away from God in this movie and they're trying to find something, whether it's money, whether it's love, whether it's wholeness, whether it's a friend group, whatever. And it all comes back to, at the end of the day, the person who is the main character in this film taking us right back to God and I feel like that's what the vampires kind of showed. It was like, here is these. These. These bad people who are doing these bad things. But because of. It's like a cause and effect. Because of that, people are coming together, they're having a fight together. They're realizing who really is there for them. They're realizing what happens when you, you know what I mean, give your power and your energy to the negative thoughts and the, you know, all the stuff that the devil tries to wrap you up in too, especially when you're doing well and you. You figured out something. You figured out a way to make some money and maneuver. I also thought that, you know, there was like such a black versus white conversation in this movie. The white passing conversation was like one that I think a lot of people didn't really sit with. I think a lot of people just saw black versus White because that is very prevalent in the movie, especially before the time period that the movie is. Is during the Jim Crow period. So especially during the time period the movie is placed in where the movie is placed. And that is very prevalent. There's a lot of, like, leaning into Irish culture as well. And it made me, like, Google the black struggle and the Irish struggle in this film. You really get a sense of like, if we had all just figured it out and worked together, could it have been better? Because at one point they were. The white people weren't. Weren't fooling with this. This little set of white people, this set of Irish people, right? And they were pushed away. They were this. They were that. They were able to assimilate back into culture way differently and come up, of course, you know, and that's a conversation for another day, but it was there for them too. So even with, you know, certain people of certain, you know, backgrounds choosing to be so black versus white, when in reality there are sectors of these cultures where it's like y'all weren't accepted either. They wasn't fooling with y'all either, to the point where they bring the KKK into this. And I'll just give you a little spoiler so spoiler alert. Some of the evil people that are Irish, they even lean into the fact that they had to bring in a member of the KK KKK and kind of work this person so that they had an inside man, because they wasn't fooling with them either. Nor were they fooling with us this whole movie either. So that was. It made me look. Look up that. And again, I'm not comparing the two, because black is black, period. And you can't tell me nothing about what we dealing with if you look like a white man. White man. You know what I mean? Period. It's just. You just can't tell me it's just not happening. And I'm trying to figure out, like, what his. What Ryan Coogler's point and that was. And. And honestly, it made me want to do more research and more reading around that, and I love films that do that. But the white passing conversation, it brought that up a ton. Because the ability to just kind of like move in and out of different cultures and different sectors, different music, different energies, different. You know what I mean? Struggles versus non struggle. And to turn it on and turn it off, the ability to do that, it. It comes back to, you know, backfire in this film really heavily. Like, extremely heavily. Y'all, y'all gotta go see this movie. But I will say, though, like, the way that mainstream media covered this movie, I think it's not going to do anything but help it. I gotta move on now because it's so hard to talk about the film without giving y'all the film. But please go see Centers if you have seen it already. Drop below in the comments some of the conversations that you picked up from the movie. Movie. There's a lot more. Like, I was in the movie, like, writing down, like, a notepad of just different things I wanted to research and like, just. Just. Just so much stuff. Just so much stuff.
Podcast Summary: "Bonus Sinners Movie Review"*
The Latest with Loren LoRosa
Release Date: April 22, 2025
Host: Tiffany
Episode: Bonus* Sinners Movie Review
In the bonus episode of "The Latest with Loren LoRosa," host Tiffany delves deep into Ryan Coogler's highly anticipated horror film, "Sinners." Acknowledging her enthusiasm, Tiffany sets the stage by emphasizing the film's impact and her personal investment, having watched it twice. This episode serves as both a comprehensive review and a cultural analysis, exploring the film's performance, thematic depth, and the surrounding conversations it has ignited.
Tiffany begins by highlighting the impressive box office statistics of "Sinners." Released amidst a competitive landscape, the film secured the number one spot domestically with a staggering $48 million and $63.5 million globally during its opening weekend. Notably, it amassed $19.2 million domestically on its opening day alone, securing the second-largest opening day for an original horror film in the decade and marking the biggest debut for an original film in post-pandemic history (00:00).
She underscores the significance of these numbers by comparing "Sinners" to other contemporary releases. For instance, Tiffany notes that the film has already surpassed initial numbers of the anticipated Minecraft movie, which is projected to gross $700 million globally and is set to release in 76 international markets, compared to "Sinners" in 71 markets.
However, Tiffany brings a nuanced perspective by addressing the film's profitability. Quoting a tweet from Variety (08:45), she states:
"Sinners has amassed $61 million in its global debut. It's a great result for an original R-rated horror film. Yet the Warner Brothers Release has a $90 million price tag before global marketing expenses. So profitability remains a ways away."
This insight reveals that despite the strong opening, the film faces challenges in breaking even theatrically, requiring a global gross of $200 to $225 million.
Tiffany lauds the critical acclaim received by "Sinners," particularly highlighting its rare CinemaScore achievement. She proudly mentions:
"Ryan Coogler and the cast earned a rare CinemaScore. This is the first horror film to do this in 35 years." (03:15)
This accolade signifies the film's resonance with audiences and its departure from typical horror tropes, underscoring Coogler's exceptional filmmaking prowess.
Delving into the film's thematic essence, Tiffany identifies three primary conversations spurred by "Sinners": religious discourse, racial dynamics, and cultural assimilation.
Tiffany observes that "Sinners" intricately weaves themes of black spirituality and faith. She reflects on the portrayal of strong black women rooted in spirituality, noting their pivotal roles as community and familial leaders. However, she also acknowledges the pushback from more conservative audiences, termed "Bible thumpers," who critique the film's depiction of black magic and supernatural elements.
"When they start having a conversation around black magic and a lot of that thing, you really honestly just begin to see our healing power." (12:30)
Tiffany draws parallels between the film's narrative and the real-world resilience of black women in faith, emphasizing their often underappreciated contributions to their communities.
The film delves into the existential struggles faced by its characters, particularly their grappling with faith in God amidst hardship. Tiffany articulates:
"There's a lot of, like, we had to fight, we had to kill. So God in the conversation around that, it's like everybody's trying to get away from God in this movie and they're trying to find something..." (17:45)
This exploration mirrors the broader narrative of black communities questioning and seeking meaning beyond their immediate struggles, ultimately reaffirming their faith and community bonds.
Set against the backdrop of the Jim Crow era, "Sinners" presents a nuanced portrayal of black and white interactions, particularly highlighting the Irish community's role. Tiffany delves into the film's intricate depiction of racial tensions, stating:
"There's a lot of, like, leaning into Irish culture as well. And it made me, like, Google the black struggle and the Irish struggle in this film." (25:10)
She discusses the film's inclusion of the Ku Klux Klan and the strategic insertion of a KKK member as an inside man, revealing the layered complexities of racial oppression and solidarity. Tiffany emphasizes the authenticity of "Sinners" in representing black struggles, cautioning against oversimplified black-versus-white narratives.
"You just can't tell me it's just not happening." (30:00)
This statement underscores the persistent realities of racial discrimination and the film's commitment to portraying them authentically.
Tiffany commends Ryan Coogler for his adept storytelling and ability to intertwine horror with profound social commentary. She appreciates how "Sinners" transcends conventional genre boundaries to offer reflections on faith, community, and racial identity.
Moreover, Tiffany addresses the media's often skewed portrayal of black films, advocating for recognition of their successes rather than focusing on perceived shortcomings. She remarks:
"Every time they talk about black movies in the theaters, instead of talking about how well they're doing, they talk about what is not being done." (10:20)
This critique highlights the systemic undervaluation of black cinematic achievements, despite evident successes like "Sinners."
In concluding her review, Tiffany passionately urges her audience to watch "Sinners" and engage in conversations about its themes. She invites listeners to share their interpretations and insights, fostering a community dialogue around the film's multifaceted narratives.
"Drop below in the comments some of the conversations that you picked up from the movie. There's a lot more." (35:50)
Her encouragement reflects a desire to expand the conversation beyond superficial critiques, delving into the film's rich cultural and social implications.
Tiffany's comprehensive review of "Sinners" not only celebrates the film's commercial triumphs but also delves into its intricate exploration of black spirituality, racial dynamics, and historical context. By highlighting both the successes and the ongoing challenges faced by black cinema, this episode of "The Latest with Loren LoRosa" provides listeners with a nuanced understanding of "Sinners" and its place within the broader cultural landscape. Tiffany's insightful analysis and passionate advocacy underscore the film's significance, urging audiences to recognize and engage with its profound narratives.
Notable Quotes:
"Ryan Coogler and the cast earned a rare CinemaScore. This is the first horror film to do this in 35 years." — Tiffany (03:15)
"When they start having a conversation around black magic and a lot of that thing, you really honestly just begin to see our healing power." — Tiffany (12:30)
"There's a lot of, like, we had to fight, we had to kill. So God in the conversation around that, it's like everybody's trying to get away from God in this movie and they're trying to find something..." — Tiffany (17:45)
"You just can't tell me it's just not happening." — Tiffany (30:00)
"Every time they talk about black movies in the theaters, instead of talking about how well they're doing, they talk about what is not being done." — Tiffany (10:20)
"Drop below in the comments some of the conversations that you picked up from the movie. There's a lot more." — Tiffany (35:50)
Note: Timestamps are approximated based on the transcript provided.