‘A Minecraft Movie’ is smashing all box office projections
The long-awaited Minecraft movie officially kicked off the 2025 box office season with a record-shattering opening weekend, pulling in an astounding $157 million in domestic box office revenue and an additional $144 million internationally, according to early studio estimates. That puts its global opening at $301 million, instantly making it the highest-grossing video game movie debut of all time.
📈 Minecraft Movie Breaks Records Worldwide
“A Minecraft Movie,” directed by Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite) and starring Jason Momoa and Jack Black, not only topped the box office but doubled industry expectations, which had projected an $80 million opening. Instead, this PG-rated family film crushed those predictions, drawing massive crowds across all age groups.
“We made the movie for the fans — and the fans blew us away,” said Michael DeLuca, Co-Chair & CEO of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group.
The film now holds the title of biggest opening for a video game adaptation, surpassing 2023’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” which launched with $146 million.
🎮 Why “A Minecraft Movie” Dominated the Box Office
Despite Minecraft not having a traditional storyline, the film leveraged its global fan base of over 200 million monthly players and a smart marketing strategy to turn the pixelated Overworld into a blockbuster goldmine.
- Released in 4,263 theaters across the U.S. and Canada
- Expanded to over 36,000 screens internationally
- Cost of production: $150 million (excluding marketing)
The film’s silly, action-packed plot follows a group of real-world characters who get transported into the Minecraft Overworld, embarking on a wild adventure to return home.
“You can’t underestimate the power of joyous, family-friendly cinema,” said Pamela Abdy, Co-Chair of Warner Bros.
💬 What Audiences & Critics Are Saying
While critics gave “A Minecraft Movie” mixed reviews, audiences responded enthusiastically:
- CinemaScore: B+
- PostTrak audience rating: 4 out of 5 stars
- 62% of the audience were male
- 64% were under age 25
This clearly shows the movie connected with younger viewers, many of whom grew up playing the best-selling video game of all time.
“Younger audiences love going to theaters — this was a must-see event,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore.
🕹️ Video Game Movies Are Thriving
The blockbuster performance of “A Minecraft Movie” proves that video game adaptations are no longer risky business. Following the success of “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” “Sonic the Hedgehog,” and “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” studios have finally cracked the code.
“Video game movies used to struggle. Now, they’re leading the box office,” Dergarabedian added.
🔥 Top 10 Box Office Movies (April 4–6, 2025)
According to Comscore’s domestic ticket sales estimates, here are the top-performing films of the weekend:
- A Minecraft Movie – $157 million
- A Working Man – $7.3 million
- The Chosen: Last Supper – Part 2 – $7 million
- Snow White – $6.1 million
- The Woman in the Yard – $4.5 million
- Death of a Unicorn – $2.7 million
- The Chosen: Last Supper – Part 1 – $1.9 million
- Hell of a Summer – $1.8 million
- The Friend – $1.6 million
- Captain America: Brave New World – $1.4 million
📊 What This Means for Hollywood in 2025
Before this weekend, the 2025 box office was down 13% compared to last year. Thanks to the Minecraft movie’s colossal debut, the gap has narrowed to just 5%, offering a much-needed boost to theaters ahead of the summer blockbuster season, which kicks off in early May.
Disappointments like “Snow White” and “Mickey 17” had made for a slow start to the year, but one mega-hit can change everything — especially when it captures the energy of an entire generation.
🧱 Final Block: The Future of Minecraft on the Big Screen
With its record-breaking success, it’s only a matter of time before a Minecraft Movie sequel is greenlit. Warner Bros. has proven that with the right cast, a family-friendly tone, and a universe beloved by millions, even the simplest blocky world can build box office magic.