Hollywood had high hopes for A Minecraft Movie, and it exceeded those expectations dramatically during its opening weekend. This much-anticipated film has played a pivotal role in narrowing the box office deficit for 2025, achieving an impressive $157 million in ticket sales across theaters in the U.S. and Canada, according to studio estimates released on Sunday. Furthermore, the film is projected to bring in an additional $144 million internationally, leading to a staggering global debut of $301 million.
With school spring breaks continuing, the box office success of A Minecraft Movie is just beginning. Pamela Abdy, co-chair and CEO of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, expressed her excitement, stating, “We’re just thrilled that audiences are responding and that everyone’s going to the theater.” Not only did A Minecraft Movie achieve the largest opening of 2025, but it also set a new record for video game adaptations, surpassing the previous record held by The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which earned $146 million.
Before the weekend, analysts had predicted that A Minecraft Movie might earn around $80 million. However, the film nearly doubled that estimate, demonstrating the power of engaging family entertainment. Michael DeLuca, also co-chair and CEO, commented, “You can’t underestimate the value of earnest, entertaining, joyous cinema. People really want an escape, especially when it involves the whole family.”
Despite the fact that the block-based game does not follow a traditional narrative, its dedicated fan base of 200 million active monthly players flocked to theaters in high numbers. DeLuca noted that it is one of the “broadest playing movies” they have encountered, appealing to audiences in cinemas across the globe. Directed by Jared Hess, known for Napoleon Dynamite, the PG-rated film was co-produced by Legendary Entertainment and Warner Bros. with a reported production cost of $150 million, excluding marketing expenses.
The film features a star-studded cast including Jack Black and Jason Momoa, along with Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, and Sebastian Eugene Hansen. The plot follows their characters as they navigate a whimsical dimension called the Overworld, embarking on a hilarious and adventurous journey to find their way home. DeLuca remarked, “We made the movie for the fans, and the fans exceeded our expectations.” While critics had mixed reviews, audiences responded positively, granting it a B+ CinemaScore and 4 out of 5 stars in PostTrak exit polls.
Interestingly, men comprised around 62% of the audience, with 64% under the age of 25. Warner Bros. made a significant investment in its release strategy, debuting the film in 4,263 locations domestically and 36,000 screens internationally. Senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian from Comscore highlighted that “younger audiences love going to the movie theater, believe it or not,” emphasizing that A Minecraft Movie has become a must-see theatrical event with exceptional awareness.
Video game adaptations have experienced a resurgence in recent years, with successful films like The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the Sonic series, and Five Nights at Freddy’s. Dergarabedian noted, “Video games were once a genre that had very mixed results at the box office, but the code has finally been cracked.”
Following A Minecraft Movie at the box office, A Working Man, starring Jason Statham, secured second place with $7.3 million in its second weekend. In third place, the episodic series The Chosen: Last Supper Part 2 earned $7 million. The fourth spot went to Snow White, which brought in $6.1 million, accumulating over $168 million globally.
Although the start of 2025 has been challenging for Hollywood, with disappointments like Snow White and Mickey 17, a blockbuster hit like A Minecraft Movie can dramatically change the landscape, especially with aggressive marketing strategies ramping up for the summer movie season starting the first weekend in May. Before this landmark weekend, the box office was running at a 13% deficit compared to last year, but now that gap has shrunk to just 5%.
As of Monday, here are the top 10 movies by domestic box office earnings from Friday through Sunday in U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:
A Minecraft Movie - $157 millionA Working Man - $7.3 millionThe Chosen: Last Supper – Part 2 - $7 millionSnow White - $6.1 millionThe Woman in the Yard - $4.5 millionDeath of a Unicorn - $2.7 millionThe Chosen: Last Supper – Part 1 - $1.9 millionHell of a Summer - $1.8 millionThe Friend - $1.6 millionCaptain America: Brave New World - $1.4 million