Box Office: ‘Minecraft’ Is Already the Second-Biggest Movie of the Year With $301 Million in Global Debut

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The movie adaptation of “Minecraft,” titled “A Minecraft Film,” became an unexpected and immediate hit at the box office, generating a massive $301 million worldwide. This success provided a significant boost to the struggling movie industry in Hollywood and cinema owners.

Just three days into its cinema journey, I’m already witnessing history unfold! Currently, it’s the runner-up in terms of box office earnings this year, trailing just behind Disney and Marvel’s “Captain America: Brave New World” which has raked in an impressive $410 million over eight weeks. But don’t count me out yet! In a few short days, I expect to leapfrog past those numbers and claim the top spot as the highest-grossing film of 2022 – that’s right, yours truly will be No. 1! This PG action-comedy from Warner Bros. and Legendary is about to make waves, folks!

In comparison to other adaptations of video games, “The Minecraft Film” ranked second in international debut earnings, trailing only Universal and Illumination’s “Super Mario Bros. Movie.” This movie, released in 2023, made a staggering $173 million internationally and an impressive $377 million globally over Easter weekend. Eventually, it earned a colossal $1.3 billion during its entire theatrical run.

A significant surprise for Warner Bros. and Hollywood, the release of “A Minecraft Movie” exceeded predictions by a substantial margin, earning $144 million from 68 territories worldwide on 40,300 screens, in addition to $157 million at the domestic box office. Initially, the movie, which cost $150 million and features Jack Black and Jason Momoa, was estimated to make only $65 million internationally and between $70 million and $80 million domestically over the weekend.

Under the direction of Jared Hess, this tale is about four unusual characters who are pulled into a cube-structured universe through a portal. Launched in 2011, “Minecraft” has grown to be one of the most acclaimed video game franchises worldwide. Its global fame, coupled with the longing for a family-friendly movie and viral buzz on social media platforms, played a significant role in skyrocketing box office earnings.

Excluding the U.S. and Canada, the largest markets for “Minecraft” were the United Kingdom, generating approximately $19.9 million, China with around $14.5 million, Mexico with about $11.2 million, and Germany with roughly $10.6 million. Interestingly, “Minecraft” has been one of the rare recent Hollywood blockbusters that has found success in China, already surpassing all other non-local films released in 2025 as well as setting a new record for the highest-grossing video game adaptation over “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” “Uncharted,” and “Sonic the Hedgehog” in the Chinese market during the past five years.

2025’s “A Minecraft Movie” is expected to breathe new life into the cinema industry, which had a rocky beginning with underperforming films including “Captain America: Brave New World,” “Snow White,” “Mickey 17,” and “The Alto Knights.” Kicking off the summer blockbuster season in May, Marvel’s “Thunderbolts” is poised to compete against other highly anticipated releases such as “Superman,” “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” “Lilo & Stitch,” and several other Hollywood productions aiming to mitigate the declining box office revenue of this year.

According to senior analyst Paul Dergarabedian, the perfect release date and crucial PG-rating for ‘Minecraft’ have contributed significantly to some of the top box office earnings this year. This successful weekend in the industry serves as a solid foundation, hinting at an impressive resurgence for movie theaters.

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2025-04-06 20:46