Ryan Coogler is expressing his “eternal gratitude” following the successful box office debut of his latest movie, Sinners.

The filmmaker penned an emotional letter to those who went to the theater this past week to watch the film, starring Michael B. Jordan. The horror pic follows twin brothers who return to their hometown to start again, trying to leave their troubled lives behind, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.

“Eternal gratitude. My heart is bursting with it,” Coogler’s letter read. “I want to thank each and every one of you who bought a ticket to see Sinners. Who decided to drive to see the film in different formats. Who bought popcorn and a drink, booked a sitter and carpooled, and stood in the lobby afterward and talked and made a friend. Who changed their work schedules. Who saw the film in groups.”

He added, “I want to thank you all who watching more than once, who recommended the film to others, both in person and on social media or on your text message chains.”

Sinners topped the domestic box office over the Eater weekend with an estimated $48 million, beating A Minecraft Movie. The film’s victory came after it received near-perfect reviews and stellar audience scores.

“I had the gift of the opportunity of making a film inspired by my family and my ancestry but it was always a film that we wanted to make for audiences, in theaters,” the letter continued. “We always had our minds on you, the audience, and felt a deep responsibility to entertain you, and move you in the way only cinema can.”

The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever director wrote, “I believe in cinema. I believe in the theatrical experience. I believe it is a necessary pillar of society. It’s why me and so many of my colleagues have dedicated our lives to the craft. We don’t get to do what we do if you don’t show up. The global theatrical audience has allowed me to dream, find a career, and build a more sustainable life for me and my family. And the only way that I know how to thank you for that, is by continuing to mine my personal human experience and my relationships for more stories to bring to you in cinematic language. To see your response to the film has invigorated me and many others who believe in this art form.”

When penning the script and bring the film to life, Cooger said he also “unabashedly reached towards my cinematic influences,” proceeding to list industry legends, including Spike Lee, John Singleton, Ernie Barnes, Steve McQueen, Ava DuVernay, Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, Jordan Peele, David Cronenberg, David Lynch, Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas, Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, George Lucas and Stephen King, among several others.

Read the full letter below.