‘A Minecraft Movie’ Aims for $70 Million-Plus in Domestic Box Office Debut

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Will “A Minecraft Movie” level up at the box office?

Warner Bros. and Legendary’s movie adaptation of the popular video game, “Minecraft,” is projected to earn between $70 million and $80 million in its domestic opening weekend. However, with strong advance ticket sales, some experts and tracking services predict a higher figure around $90 million. Warner Bros., on the other hand, has provided a more conservative estimate of $65 million. Globally, the film is expected to bring in an additional $65 million or more from international box offices, bringing the total global earnings to approximately $135 million to $150 million. The production cost of the movie was $150 million, with additional costs for marketing.

Due to high anticipation, universal appeal across generations, and positive sentiment towards the choose-your-own-adventure concept of Minecraft, it appears that “A Minecraft Movie” is poised for commercial success at Warner Bros. and cinemas. Despite being based on one of the best-selling video games ever made, this association doesn’t guarantee success in Hollywood, as demonstrated by last year’s “Borderlands.” However, “Minecraft” seems likely to dodge the fate of many failed video game adaptations and find itself more akin to Paramount’s “Sonic the Hedgehog” and Tom Holland’s “Uncharted.” To reach anywhere near the box office heights of Universal’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” which holds the record for the highest-grossing video game adaptation in history with $1.3 billion, might take several lives at the cinemas for Minecraft – but it doesn’t necessarily need to hit the billion-dollar mark to be considered a success.

Movie theater owners are yearning for an increase in viewers, as overall box office earnings are still falling short. Compared to 2024, ticket sales are currently down by 10.9%, and they’re even 39% lower than in 2019, as reported by Comscore. Warner Bros. is eager for success too, following two straight theatrical flops with “The Alto Knights,” starring Robert De Niro, and “Mickey 17,” directed by Bong Joon Ho and featuring Robert Pattinson.

Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros.’s head of global distribution, stated during CinemaCon (the yearly gathering for cinema owners) on Wednesday evening that our strong advance sales are promising a fantastic spring break experience for families in your cinemas.

Jared Hess, known for “Napoleon Dynamite” and “Nacho Libre,” helmed the production of “A Minecraft Film.” This blockbuster features stars like Jason Momoa, Jack Black, and Danielle Brooks, and had a budget of $150 million. The narrative revolves around a band of outcasts who are transported through a gateway into a pixelated universe, with guidance from a master builder named Steve (Black). Critics’ opinions have been divided on this movie, but exhibitors predict that its success or failure won’t hinge solely on critical acclaim.

EbMaster’s top movie critic, Owen Gleiberman, commended the acting of Black, stating that he “never gives a half-hearted performance.” Additionally, Gleiberman appreciated the director’s unique approach to the story in the film ‘A Minecraft Movie.’ In his review, Gleiberman noted that Hess brings an appealing, laid-back charm to the movie. He described Hess as a satirist who can make fun of things without trying too hard, and this casual approach is what makes ‘A Minecraft Movie’ enjoyable because it constantly pokes fun at itself.

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2025-04-02 23:46