Stellar Opening Figures

Following over a decade of development, A Minecraft Movie has made a significant impact at the box office, earning an impressive $58 million during its opening day, which included previews across 4,263 North American locations. This performance not only surpassed the debut of Captain America: Brave New World (which accrued $40.9 million) but also signifies the largest opening of 2025 to date, marking a notable return of the video game adaptation genre.

Forecasts and Expectations

The film’s robust start positions it far above initial predictions, which estimated a domestic opening weekend of between $70 million and $80 million. Analysts are now suggesting that A Minecraft Movie could potentially exceed $150 million in its opening weekend, securing a place among the top 30 biggest domestic openings in history. If it surpasses the $146 million earned by The Super Mario Bros. Movie, it will set a record for the largest opening weekend for a video game film, though the latter film’s pre-weekend earnings from its Wednesday launch present a comparison complication.

Global Reception and Financial Performance

While international figures are set to be released soon, Minecraft is widely recognized globally, drawing substantial audiences abroad. Notably, it has garnered significant interest in China, where it has achieved the top box office spot.

With a production budget of $150 million, along with the costs associated with marketing and distribution, A Minecraft Movie is on track for substantial profitability. Although reviews have tended towards the negative, early feedback from audiences has been positive, with a Cinema Score grade of B+, indicating a solid level of enthusiasm from moviegoers. This enthusiasm signals a potential trajectory toward becoming the second-highest-grossing domestic release of the year, close behind Captain America 4, which has grossed $197 million.

Background and Development

Originally launched in 2011, Minecraft has established itself as the best-selling video game of all time, eclipsing even Tetris. Warner Bros. began formal development of a film adaptation in 2014, collaborating with Legendary Entertainment as co-producers in 2022. The long-awaited PG-rated film is directed by Jared Hess and features a star-studded cast including Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, Sebastian Eugene Hansen, and Jennifer Coolidge.

Other Releases

This weekend also featured the release of The Chosen: Last Supper through Fathom Events, which is set to debut in third place after earning $2.8 million on its first day. The film, part of a three-part release of Season 5 of the Biblical series, follows a strong opening for Episodes 1-3 that grossed $11 million last week.

Additionally, Neon’s slasher film Hell of a Summer, featuring Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk, premiered across 1,255 locations but did not experience a significant breakout, projecting about $1.7 million in its opening weekend.

From preceding weekend performances, A Working Man, starring Jason Statham, fell to second place with $1.9 million earned Friday, while Disney’s Snow White continues to struggle, ranking in fourth place with a decrease of 60% from its previous total, now standing at $72 million in its third weekend.

Finally, Universal’s The Woman in the Yard remains in the top five after earning another $1.3 million, flowing steadily against a $12 million production budget.