The highly anticipated film, "A Minecraft Movie", is expected to maintain its stronghold at the domestic box office during its second weekend. Despite its commanding presence, several new releases are entering the marketplace, notably Angel Studios’ animated film "The King of Kings", which is projected to secure the second spot in the rankings. This film is outpacing other titles from major studios, including "The Amateur" and "Drop."
At the forefront of the box office, "A Minecraft Movie" from Warner Bros. and Legendary is stacking up impressive numbers, having earned approximately $20.5 million on Friday alone. This comedic adaptation of the popular Mojang video game is on track to surpass $80 million in its second weekend, solidifying its position as the third-largest weekend gross of the year. This follows its record-breaking $162 million opening weekend, which is only eclipsed by the $88 million debut of Disney’s "Captain America: Brave New World."
While projections indicate a potential drop of around 50% in ticket sales, "Minecraft" is showcasing remarkable staying power. The film has successfully transcended its initial fanbase, which initially flocked to theaters on opening weekend. Notably, it took just seven days for "A Minecraft Movie" to exceed a $200 million domestic gross, establishing itself as the top-grossing North American release of the year.
Despite the overwhelming success of "A Minecraft Movie", the animated feature "The King of Kings" is emerging as a competitive option for family audiences. This film, produced in Korea and loosely based on Charles Dickens’ "The Life of Our Lord," has already garnered approximately $6.8 million through Friday and preview screenings from over 3,200 locations. To increase attendance, Angel Studios has initiated a "Kids Go Free" program, allowing children to enter at no cost with the purchase of an adult ticket.
Industry forecasts suggest that "The King of Kings" may open with around $18 million. If it exceeds expectations, it could set a record for Angel Studios, which previously made headlines with the R-rated thriller "Sound of Freedom", which debuted at $19 million and ultimately grossed $184 million domestically.
Among the other new releases, "The Amateur", featuring Rami Malek, is drawing significant attention, having earned around $6 million across Friday and preview screenings from 3,400 locations. This PG-13 revenge thriller is aiming for a three-day total exceeding $15 million. Although reviews have been mixed, audience reception has been more favorable, reflected in a Cinema Score grade of "B+".
In a tighter race for fourth and fifth place, the real-time Iraq thriller "Warfare" currently holds the edge, earning about $3.5 million across Friday and preview screenings from 2,670 theaters. With an expected debut around $8 million, this R-rated film reunites filmmaker Alex Garland with A24, following their previous success with "Civil War."
Universal's suspense thriller "Drop" is also vying for attention, earning approximately $3.3 million across Friday and preview screenings from 3,085 locations, with an anticipated debut of around $7.7 million. This Blumhouse production, featuring Meghann Fahy and Brandon Sklenar, has received a Cinema Score grade of "B."
Outside the top five, Fathom Events is releasing the third and final package of episodes for "The Chosen: Last Supper." This collection has earned around $2.5 million across Friday and preview screenings, contributing to the cumulative success of this biblical adaptation.
With "A Minecraft Movie" leading the charge and family-friendly options like "The King of Kings" providing competition, the current box office landscape is diverse and dynamic, appealing to a wide range of moviegoers.
