A Rare Third Run for a Modern Horror Hit
When Ryan Coogler’s film Sinners had its theatrical release in April 2025, the film experienced great commercial success as well as renewed interest among audience members in the film’s limited showing on IMAX 70 mm screens. Following its first run in IMAX, audiences clamored for additional 70 mm screenings that resulted in extra showtimes from May 15 to May 21, 2025. Now, Sinners has returned to theaters again just in time for Halloween, a rare instance for a film that ended its theatrical run earlier this year and a great signal for the upcoming award season of 2026.
The Power of IMAX 70 mm and Word-of-Mouth Buzz
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – APRIL 06: Composer Ludwig Göransson, filmmaker Ryan Coogler, American blues guitarist and singer Buddy Guy and Brandon Pope during the Q&A for the Chicago screening of the Warner Bros Pictures “Sinners” at Regal City North Stadium 14 IMAX & RPX on April 06, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images)
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From its initial theatrical release, Sinners became one of the year’s top horror hits, earning over $360 million globally due to positive word-of-mouth and its unique IMAX experience. It was shown in just eight U.S. theaters, with seven more screenings featuring select scenes in IMAX’s expanded aspect ratio. Using a combination of large-format and IMAX 70 mm filming, key scenes unfolded with the screen expanding at crucial moments to fully engage viewers with the film’s aspect ratio. This, along with the film’s strong storytelling, boosted its success, offering a distinctive experience where innovative filming techniques and compelling narrative intertwined, making it a box office standout.
When Sinners finished its first run at IMAX, audiences begged for more showings because of the word-of-mouth campaigns sweeping social media. It wasn’t enough to see the film; no, you had to see it in IMAX 70 mm to get the full experience, and that was the truth. I’d seen the film five times in theaters before I saw it in IMAX 70 mm, but watching the screen expand as the characters sang and danced in the Smoke and Stack twins’ Juke Joint, the main setting for the film, is something that will stay with me forever. Before Sinners, I hadn’t realize that watching a film could offer an extra layer of entertainment beyond the story itself, but the IMAX 70 mm screening proved it was possible.
Now, as it begins its third IMAX run, an achievement rare even for top-grossing global films, both viewers and critics can once again experience the immersive story of a vampire-filled 1930s Clarksdale, Mississippi, before awards season kicks off. This helps keep the cast and crew of Sinners in the spotlight as we approach the new year. The October IMAX screenings will further increase Sinners’ worldwide box office earnings and generate renewed interest ahead of the prestigious nomination voting cycles and the film’s increased visibility.
A Strategy That Keeps Sinners in the Spotlight
NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 25: Overview of Oscar statues on display at “Meet the Oscars” at the Time Warner Center on February 25, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)
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When it comes to nominations such as the Oscars or Golden Globes, recent releases tend to have an advantage, a fact that studios are well aware of. By returning to theaters, even if just for a few days, Sinners has boosted its prestige and gained attention during both Q2 and Q4. This strategic move clearly aims to remind audiences and critics that the film is not only innovative both technically and emotionally but also resonant and popular enough to justify another theatrical release. This approach mirrors the strategies of films like Everything Everywhere All at Once and Oppenheimer, which secured Best Picture awards in 2023 and 2024, respectively, by staying in the public eye through theater rereleases and keeping their relevance long after their initial debut.
When Sinners was initially released, some critics considered its failure to recoup the budget in the opening weekend a negative sign, especially since it was an original film not tied to any existing IP or franchise. However, its strong box office performance and re-release into theaters demonstrate that opening-weekend hype isn’t the sole measure of a movie’s success. As Sinners reappears on IMAX screens, its greatest achievement may still be to come: transforming ongoing box-office success and critical acclaim into awards in 2026, much like the example set by earlier Best Picture winners.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/braedonmontgomery/2025/10/31/sinners-returns-to-imax-for-a-third-time-this-halloween/
