Scenes from "A Minecraft Movie" (left) and "Sinners."

Like many aspects of life in our post-pandemic world, cinemas have yet to return to how they used to be. Audience attendance has been inconsistent, and buzzy blockbusters are few and far between. Not to mention, swift digital releases have made it incredibly convenient to watch films from the comfort of our own homes.

Five years after COVID-19 shut down much of the world, cinemas have struggled to generate enough excitement to get audiences back into seats. That is, until two big-screen juggernauts turned the tide last month.

At the top of April, “A Minecraft Movie” delivered the first undeniable box-office smash of the year, opening to $313 million globally. Two weeks later, Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” enjoyed a solid $63 million global debut, stirred mainly by the director’s viral push for an IMAX viewing experience that audiences gladly embraced. Ticket sales for the horror flick have surpassed the $100........

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