After experiencing a series of box office weekends with revenues of less than $100 million, the film industry is turning its attention to Warner Bros. The studio has high hopes for A Minecraft Movie, which is projected to generate around $140 million in global earnings during its opening weekend. Analysts anticipate that this film will exceed expectations, potentially performing exceptionally well both domestically and overseas.
Currently, Warner Bros is forecasting a domestic take of approximately $65 million, matched by another $65 million from international markets, totaling an estimated $130 million. However, there is a strong possibility that overseas revenue will outpace domestic earnings due to the unique dynamics of the current U.S. and Canadian marketplaces. With spring break still in effect, as noted by Comscore, over 14% of K-12 schools are currently out of session, which could positively impact box office figures.
The need for a box office hit has never been more critical, especially after Disney’s Captain America: Brave New World failed to ignite excitement. Domestic box office revenues are down by 11% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, making the release of A Minecraft Movie particularly timely for Warner Bros. The studio has recently faced setbacks with two poorly received films: Barry Levinson’s The Alto Knights, with a budget of $50 million, and Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17, which exceeded $100 million in production costs.
Previews for A Minecraft Movie will kick off at 3 p.m. in the U.S. and Canada. Directed by Jared Hess, this adaptation of the wildly popular Mojang game carries a production budget of around $150 million, with Warner Bros covering three-quarters of the financing. The film is set to screen in 3,400 locations, benefiting from premium format upcharges such as IMAX, Dolby, PLFs, and motion seats.
The target audience for A Minecraft Movie includes both legacy and younger players of the best-selling video game, which has sold over 300 million copies globally and boasts nearly 140 million active monthly players. Awareness for the film is particularly strong among men and women under 25, with interest levels comparable to those seen for the first Sonic the Hedgehog film, which opened with $58 million. The first-choice preference among younger demographics is also notably higher than that of the original Sonic.
A Minecraft Movie is set to open in 75 international markets across 32,000 screens. Major openings include France today, followed by Germany, Italy, and Australia on Thursday, and the UK, Spain, China, Brazil, and Mexico on Friday. Notably, Japan and Korea are not included in the initial release schedule. The game’s immense popularity spans the globe, with significant followings in the UK, Brazil, Germany, India, China, and Australia.
Anticipation for the film is particularly high overseas, with Minecraft leading pre-sales in China. Competing local titles, including Ne Zha 2, are also entering the market, but A Minecraft Movie is expected to outperform them. The promotional tour for the film has included a world premiere in London and a successful fan event in Mexico, where expectations for a strong opening are high.
In addition to A Minecraft Movie, another film making its debut this weekend is Hell of a Summer, produced by Neon and featuring Finn Wolfhard. This teen horror-comedy, co-written and co-directed by Wolfhard, is set to open in 1,250 theaters across the U.S. and Canada, with projections exceeding $1 million. Having premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2023, the film has received mixed reviews, currently sitting at 50% on Rotten Tomatoes. Hell of a Summer follows 24-year-old camp counselor Jason Hochberg, who finds himself facing a masked killer while grappling with the challenges of connecting with his teenage coworkers. Previews for this film will begin Thursday at 7 p.m.
