Traditionally, the final weekend of April tends to be a quiet one—at least before a Marvel Cinematic Universe blockbuster takes over the conversation. But this year, it’s a different story. Thanks to Warner Bros’ Sinners delivering a knockout second weekend performance, the domestic box office is witnessing a rare April surge.

 

Sinners brought in a strong $42 million over its second weekend, fueled by a $13 million Friday. That figure represents a minimal 13% drop, signaling remarkable staying power. Overall, the total market is tracking over $139 million for the weekend—an astonishing 117% boost compared to the same frame last year, and even slightly topping the Easter holiday frame earlier this month. Globally, Sinners stands at $127.5 million for what was initially a $90 million production.

 

In context, Sinners now holds the second-best second weekend for an R-rated horror film, only trailing 2017's It. It's also director Ryan Coogler’s third-best sophomore weekend, after Black Panther and Wakanda Forever.

 

The audience is widening: women now make up 56% of Sinners viewers (up from 43% in week one), and the 18–24 age bracket is surging too. The film's PostTrak score climbed to a phenomenal 96% positive, with 81% saying they'd "definitely recommend" it. IMAX and premium large formats continue to bolster ticket sales, and southern states are showing especially strong numbers.

 

The Accountant 2 Adds Up Nicely Amid Fierce Competition

 

While some feared Sinners would cannibalize Amazon MGM Studios’ The Accountant 2, that clash never materialized. The sequel, reuniting Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal, opened with a solid $25 million weekend after a $9.4 million Friday haul.

 

The key? Audience differentiation. The Accountant 2 skewed heavily male (58%) and older (69% over 35), contrasting sharply with Sinners younger, female-leaning crowd. Despite a near-decade gap since the first film, The Accountant 2 earned an A- CinemaScore, closely matching the original's A. Dolby Vision and PLFs boosted revenue, and markets like the Midwest and South Central regions were hotbeds of activity.

Though its $80 million production cost might raise eyebrows, Amazon measures success differently: if box office returns cover marketing expenses, it's considered a strategic win—especially when you factor in potential streaming value.

The Force Awakens… Again: Revenge of the Sith Re-Release Surges

Meanwhile, Disney’s special 20th anniversary re-release of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith is rewriting the reissue playbook. Projected to earn between $21–$23 million this weekend, it’s set to become the most successful Star Wars re-release of the Disney Lucasfilm era.

 

Young audiences turned out en masse—74% aged 18–34—proving that Anakin Skywalker’s tragic arc still resonates deeply. Diversity stats also looked strong, with Latino and Hispanic viewers making up nearly 30% of the audience. Hayden Christensen’s surprise fan interactions and strategic partnerships with platforms like Fandango boosted engagement leading into the weekend.

At theaters like El Capitan, excitement was palpable, with the venue pulling in over $79,000 for the event.

 

Until Dawn Falters: Counterprogramming Struggles Against Heavy Hitters

Not all newcomers found easy footing. Sony’s Until Dawn, an R-rated horror entry, struggled with a tepid C+ CinemaScore, grossing just $7–$8 million for the weekend. While intended as counter-programming, Sinners seems to have absorbed much of the horror audience. Male viewers led the turnout (55%), and while the 18–34 demo showed up, weak word-of-mouth (42% definite recommend) likely stifled momentum.

Weekend Snapshot: The Winners and the Rest

Here’s where the top five shook out:

Sinners (WB) — $42M weekend (-13%), $119.5M total

The Accountant 2 (Amazon MGM) — $25M weekend

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (Disney) — $21M–$23M weekend (re-release)

A Minecraft Movie (WB/Legendary) — $20M weekend, $377M total

Until Dawn (Sony) — $7M–$8M weekend

A New Post-Pandemic April Record

All of this combined marks the highest-grossing final April weekend since COVID-19 disrupted the movie business. Compared to 2023’s $100 million final frame, this year’s $139 million+ result signals real recovery—and real audience excitement—for theaters everywhere.

And with May just around the corner, setting the stage for summer blockbusters, this unexpected April boom might just be the momentum Hollywood needed.