‘A Minecraft Movie’ Projects $135M Opening Weekend

The theatrical adaptation of Minecraft generated $58 million in Friday box office revenue, indicating a projected $135 million opening weekend in domestic markets.

This opening would represent the highest domestic debut of 2025, surpassing “Captain America: Brave New World,” which opened at $88.8 million in February. The performance occurs as Comscore reports 2025 domestic box office revenues are tracking 7% below 2024 levels, following decreased attendance compared to pre-pandemic periods.

Video game adaptations continue to demonstrate strong box office performance. “The Super Mario Brothers Movie” ranked as the second-highest-grossing film of 2023, following “Barbie,” while “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” achieved significant box office results during the 2024-2025 winter season.

The Minecraft franchise, originally developed by Marcus “Notch” Persson and acquired by Microsoft in 2014, reported 204 million monthly active users in December. The game’s open-world format, which emphasizes player creativity rather than predetermined narratives, presented specific adaptation considerations for filmmakers.

Director Jared Hess (“Napoleon Dynamite”) and a team of six credited screenwriters developed a narrative that places human characters, portrayed by Jason Momoa, Jack Black, and additional cast members, in an animated environment utilizing Minecraft’s distinctive cubic visual style. Critical reviews of the film have been mixed.

The opening weekend performance represents a significant result for Warner Bros., following lower-than-expected box office returns from recent releases including “The Alto Knights” and “Joker: Folie à Deux.” The financial performance may influence future franchise decisions.