Media Hypocrisy: 'Sinners' Film Box Office Success Downplayed by NYT & Variety

Media Coverage of 'Sinners' Box Office Performance

• 🎯 The New York Times and Variety are accused of downplaying the box office success of Ryan Coogler's film 'Sinners'.
• 💡 While 'Sinners' opened to $45.6 million domestically and $60 million globally, Variety's headline questioned its profitability, citing the $90 million production cost.
• 🔍 In contrast, The New York Times labeled 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood', which opened to $40 million on a similar budget in 2019, as a "box office hit" without caveats.
• 🗣️ Actor Ben Stiller and others criticized Variety's headline, calling it "insane" and questioning the editorial standards.

'Sinners' Financials and Director's Deal

• 💰 'Sinners' needed to gross around $200-225 million globally to break even theatrically, considering production and marketing costs.
• 🔑 Director Ryan Coogler reportedly negotiated a deal giving him first dollar gross and the copyright of the film after 25 years, which is highly unusual in studio filmmaking.
• 📈 This deal is seen as potentially rewarding for Coogler, especially given the film's themes related to the origins and appropriation of art forms.

Controversy Over Latino Representation and Influences

• 💬 A TikToker claimed 'Sinners' lacked Latino representation and was a rip-off of 'From Dusk till Dawn', sparking debate.
• 🎬 Ryan Coogler confirmed 'From Dusk till Dawn' as an influence, alongside films like 'Salem's Lot' and 'The Faculty', and 'Puss in Boots: Death'.
• 🧐 The claim that 'From Dusk till Dawn' is a "Latino vampire movie" was challenged, with arguments that it primarily features white characters and perpetuates anti-indigenous stereotypes.
• ✊ A commentator, Ida Rodriguez, urged the Latino community to hold the system accountable for representation issues rather than accusing other minority groups.

The Value of Original Films

• 🌟 The discussion touches on the broader issue of the "death of cinema" and the studios' preference for remakes over original films.
• 📉 The success of original films like 'Sinners' is highlighted as crucial for fostering creativity and a healthier film industry.
• 📣 Viewers are encouraged to support original movies like 'Sinners', even if out of spite for the media's perceived unfairness.
• 📈 The negative press may have inadvertently generated additional earned media for the film.