The vampire thriller 'Pecadores', starring Michael B. Jordan, has made a remarkable debut at the box office, grossing $45.6 million in its opening weekend in the United States. This impressive figure allowed it to surpass 'Um Filme Minecraft', which earned $41.3 million, and secured the top spot in the country’s box office rankings. According to Deadline, this marks the eighth time Warner Bros. has led the Easter weekend box office in North America this century, following hits like 'Fúria dos Titãs' (2010) and 'Batman vs Superman: A Origem da Justiça' (2016).
Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy from Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group expressed their excitement about the film's performance, stating, "As we continue to bring a variety of films to audiences, we are thrilled to see that an original film, 'Pecadores', and a game adaptation, 'Um Filme Minecraft', resonated with the public in spectacular ways. Movies have the power to transport us to the screens, and Warner Bros. remains committed to bringing unique experiences to theaters."
'Pecadores' has received critical acclaim, boasting a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and it also earned an A from the public on CinemaScore. This achievement is significant as it marks the first horror film to receive an A from CinemaScore in the organization’s 47-year history. Typically, horror films are met with critical scrutiny, and receiving a grade in the B range is considered a success. For context, films like 'Um Lugar Silencioso' received a B+ rating, while 'Corra!' and 'Invocação do Mal' received A- ratings. However, 'Pecadores' stands out as the only film in its genre to achieve an A grade.
The film, directed by Ryan Coogler, who previously collaborated with Jordan on 'Pantera Negra', is set in the 1930s and follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack, played by Jordan, as they return to the South to open a music bar, only to face a vampire invasion. The movie grossed $15.4 million in selected international markets, bringing its total global earnings to $61 million.
In comparison, 'Um Filme Minecraft' continues to perform well, securing the second position with $41.3 million in its third weekend, and has accumulated $344 million domestically and $720.8 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Hollywood film of the year so far. The film, featuring Jack Black and Jason Momoa, has established a significant lead over the second-highest grossing film of the year, 'Capitão América: Admirável Mundo Novo', which has earned $410 million globally.
'Pecadores' represents a notable turnaround for Warner Bros., which had been struggling with consecutive box office failures, including 'The Alto Knights: Máfia e Poder' and 'Mickey 17'. De Luca and Abdy celebrated the studio's dual success, saying, "We are excited to see how the original film 'Pecadores' and 'Minecraft' resonated with audiences so expressively. Cinema has the power to transport us to unique worlds, and Warner Bros. Pictures remains committed to delivering memorable experiences on the big screen, with bold films, whether original creations or based on beloved properties."
In third place, the religious animation 'O Rei dos Reis' grossed $17 million in its second weekend, experiencing a modest drop of only 10% from its debut, thanks to the Easter holiday. The film, which depicts the life of Jesus Christ, features voice talents such as Kenneth Branagh and Uma Thurman, and has accumulated $45 million in the domestic market.
Completing the top five, the espionage thriller 'Operação Vingança', starring Rami Malek as a CIA analyst seeking justice, fell to fourth place with $6.8 million from 3,400 theaters. After two weeks, the film has grossed $27 million in the U.S. and $64 million globally. This performance adds to Disney's challenges, as the studio is already facing losses with 'Branca de Neve', which has only managed to earn $184 million against a budget of $250 million.
Finally, 'Tempo de Guerra', a war film from A24, earned $4.8 million in its second weekend, bringing its total to $17.8 million. Despite receiving positive reviews and having a modest production budget of $20 million, it needs to maintain momentum in the coming weeks to reach profitability, as approximately 50% of the revenue goes to exhibitors.
In summary, 'Pecadores' has not only topped the box office charts but has also made history within the horror genre, setting a new standard for audience reception. With its unique blend of horror and music, stellar performances, and critical acclaim, it promises to be a standout film of 2025.
