Hollywood is buzzing with excitement after the successful opening of “A Minecraft Movie.” This much-anticipated film not only filled theaters but also made significant progress in closing this year’s box office shortfall. Over its first weekend, the film raked in an impressive $157 million in ticket sales across the U.S. and Canada. With strong international numbers, the total earnings could reach around $301 million. As schools continue their spring breaks, the movie’s success seems likely to grow even further.
Pamela Abdy, the co-chair and CEO of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, expressed her delight, saying it’s thrilling to see audiences responding positively and returning to theaters. “A Minecraft Movie” has set new records, not only for the top opening of 2025 but also as the most successful video game adaptation ever, surpassing the previous record held by “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” Analysts initially predicted the film would reach about $80 million; however, it nearly doubled that estimate.
Michael DeLuca, another co-chair and CEO, remarked on the importance of creating uplifting and entertaining films. “People are looking for an escape, especially when it involves family-friendly content,” he said. It’s clear that audiences are eager for wholesome entertainment.
The movie is based on the incredibly popular video game Minecraft, which does not revolve around a specific storyline. Despite this, the film drew in many of its devoted players – 200 million active users worldwide – who are always ready for a creative adventure on the big screen. DeLuca noted that this film is one of the most broadly appealing they’ve produced, reaching audiences in theaters of all sizes around the globe.
Directed by Jared Hess, known for “Napoleon Dynamite,” the PG-rated film cost about $150 million to produce, excluding marketing expenses. It features a star-studded cast including Jack Black and Jason Momoa. The story takes viewers into the imaginative world of Minecraft, where the characters embark on a whimsical journey to find their way home.
Despite some mixed reviews from critics, audiences rated the film positively, giving it a B+ CinemaScore and 4 out of 5 stars in exit polls. The demographic was primarily young, with 62% male audience members and 64% under the age of 25. Warner Bros. launched a significant marketing campaign, releasing the film in over 4,200 locations domestically and around 36,000 screens internationally.
Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst, pointed out that younger viewers enjoy the movie theater experience. This film represents a successful partnership between the small screen and the big screen, creating a must-see event for families.
Recent successes in video game adaptations, such as “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” the “Sonic” series, and “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” illustrate a shifting trend in Hollywood. Dergarabedian noted that video game films, once considered risky, are now thriving at the box office.
In other box office news, “A Working Man,” starring Jason Statham, earned $7.3 million in its second weekend, placing second. The second part of the episodic series “The Chosen: Last Supper” landed in third place with $7 million. Meanwhile, “Snow White” fell to fourth, generating $6.1 million and totaling over $168 million globally.
Despite a rough start to 2025 for the film industry, with some films underperforming, the success of “A Minecraft Movie” has changed the momentum. With summer movie season approaching, this hit could create a more optimistic outlook for theaters. Before the opening weekend, the overall box office was struggling, but now the deficit is reduced to just 5% compared to last year.
Here are the top ten movies by domestic box office sales for the weekend:
1. “A Minecraft Movie,” $157 million
2. “A Working Man,” $7.3 million
3. “The Chosen: Last Supper – Part 2,” $7 million
4. “Snow White,” $6.1 million
5. “The Woman in the Yard,” $4.5 million
6. “Death of a Unicorn,” $2.7 million
7. “The Chosen: Last Supper – Part 1,” $1.9 million
8. “Hell of a Summer,” $1.8 million
9. “The Friend,” $1.6 million
10. “Captain America: Brave New World,” $1.4 million.
