The Warner Bros. vampire epic Sinners, set in a historical period, has made an impressive start at the box office with $4.7 million from Thursday afternoon previews. This film, which is receiving glowing reviews from audiences and critics alike, features a diverse demographic appeal and is poised to overperform expectations. Meanwhile, A Minecraft Movie, another Warner Bros. release, continues its strong run, benefiting from the Good Friday school breaks. These two films are set to dominate the weekend box office, each expected to gross over $40 million, showcasing Warner Bros.' strategic prowess in releasing competing titles during a holiday weekend.

Sinners premiered with a preview audience that awarded it 5 stars on PostTrak, with an 80% definite recommendation rate. The film's critical reception has been equally enthusiastic, boasting a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In terms of demographics, the preview audience was notably diverse, comprising 46% Black, 30% Caucasian, 15% Latino and Hispanic, and 5% Asian viewers. Despite these positive indicators, Sinners' preview earnings fall short compared to genre competitors like 2022’s Nope and 2019’s Us.

On the other hand, A Minecraft Movie experienced a 21% increase in daily takings over Wednesday, earning $6.5 million on Thursday and surpassing the $300 million mark domestically in just 14 days. While this achievement lags slightly behind Illumination/Nintendo/Universal’s Super Mario Bros, which crossed the same threshold in 11 days, A Minecraft Movie remains a significant success for Warner Bros./Legendary.

This weekend also sees the debut of Bleecker Street's remake of Ang Lee’s The Wedding Banquet, starring Bowen Yang and Lily Gladstone. The film opened at 1,133 theaters and received a more moderate response, garnering 3 stars from PostTrak audiences and a 50% definite recommend score.

As the week progresses, several other films vie for attention. The King of Kings (Angel) earned $2.4 million on Thursday, marking a 15% increase over Wednesday, while The Amateur (20th/Dis) brought in $1 million, down 6% from the previous day. Warfare (A24) and Drop (Uni) also contributed to the competitive landscape with respective Thursday earnings of $891,000 and $617,000.

In a testament to Warner Bros.' dominance, both Sinners and A Minecraft Movie are projected to lead the box office this weekend. Their performances highlight the studio's ability to capitalize on holiday periods, ensuring top positions with compelling releases that cater to varied audience preferences.