Quinta Brunson Says Ryan Coogler “Was So Flattered” By ‘Abbott Elementary’s Tribute To ‘Sinners’ For Halloween: “His Auntie Sent It To Him”

Ryan Coogler may not have time to watch all of Abbott Elementary, but he certainly saw the show’s recent tribute to Sinners.

In last week’s Halloween episode, “Camping,” during a trip out with their students, the teachers each dress up for the October holiday and Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams) opt to pull off a Sinners couple costume. Rather than dress up as characters from the movie, though, the two Abbott educators decided to go as Coogler and an IMAX screen, referencing the movie’s historic run at the box office. According to Brunson, the film’s writer and director approved.

“He was so flattered, it was so sweet,” Brunson said during a press conference on the Warner Bros. lot Monday. The show’s creator added that the interaction went down at a gala over the weekend in Los Angeles, where Coogler was being honored. “He is somebody I admired so much, I don’t admire that many people and I actually admire that man.”

“He came up to me, he was getting ready to give a speech and he’s like, ‘Yo, I saw the episode.’ He said his auntie sent it to him and that’s how he found out about it, which was just so special to me, because we constantly say this is a show for family reunions, for families to watch and share together. So the fact that his aunt sent it to him was so special,” Brunson continued, “He really appreciated it and was so honored.”

In a year of box office disappointments, Sinners, which debuted in theaters in April, has made nearly $400 million worldwide and surpassed previous record holders to become the fourth highest-grossing R-rated film at the domestic box office of all time.

“It’s really exciting for us to be able to celebrate any filmmakers in any way, but especially this, it helps cement him in culture,” Brunson said of doing the Sinners tribute in Season 5. It isn’t the first time that Brunson has paid tribute to his work, however.

Last season, Abbott Elementary touched on another Coogler project when the show’s sole White student dressed up as Black Panther for Halloween, much to the surprise of Brunson’s character. “Oh, little Black Panther,” Janine says as he lifts his mask and shouts, “Wakanda forever.” To that, Janine takes a beat and responds, “Maybe just Wakanda for the day.”