In a stunning turn of events, "A Minecraft Movie" has emerged as a surprise blockbuster, raking in an impressive $301 million globally during its opening weekend. This massive success has provided a much-needed boost to Hollywood and cinema owners alike. After just three days in theaters, it has already become the second-highest grossing film of 2025, trailing only behind Disney and Marvel's "Captain America: Brave New World," which has earned $410 million after eight weeks on the big screen.
Directed by Jared Hess and featuring a star-studded cast that includes Jack Black and Jason Momoa, "A Minecraft Movie" scored the second-biggest international debut for a video game adaptation, following the 2023 release of Universal and Illumination's "Super Mario Bros. Movie." That film opened with $173 million overseas and ended its theatrical run with a staggering $1.3 billion. However, "A Minecraft Movie" is expected to surpass those ticket sales soon, as it has already grossed $144 million internationally from 40,300 screens across 68 territories, along with $157 million at the domestic box office.
The film, which carries a production budget of $150 million, tells the story of four misfits who find themselves pulled through a portal into a cubic world. The popularity of the "Minecraft" video game, which has been a global phenomenon since its release in 2011, played a significant role in the film's success. With over 300 million copies sold and an estimated 174 million active monthly players, the game's recognition and the pent-up demand for family-friendly films fueled ticket sales to unprecedented heights.
In terms of international performance, the United Kingdom led the way with $19.9 million in earnings, followed by China with $14.5 million, Mexico with $11.2 million, and Germany with $10.6 million. Notably, "A Minecraft Movie" has become the biggest non-local film of 2025 in China, surpassing other major titles like "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," "Uncharted," and "Sonic the Hedgehog." This is a remarkable achievement, especially considering the recent struggles of Hollywood blockbusters in the Chinese market.
Industry analysts had initially projected a modest opening for "A Minecraft Movie," estimating it would earn around $60 million domestically. However, as anticipation built leading up to the release, those estimates were revised to between $100 million and $135 million. The film ultimately shattered expectations, marking the largest domestic opening weekend of 2025 and the biggest opening for a video game adaptation, surpassing the previous record held by "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" with $146 million.
Despite mixed reviews from critics, with some publications like The Guardian and The Telegraph giving it low ratings, the audience response has been overwhelmingly positive. The film received a B+ CinemaScore, with younger viewers, particularly those under 25, rating it even higher. This divergence between critic and audience reception highlights the film's broad appeal, especially among families and younger demographics. According to Steve Buck, chief strategy officer at EntTelligence, the film "hit with all audiences," with about a quarter of ticket buyers being under the age of 13 and more than half identifying as male.
Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures, the studios behind the film, expressed their delight at the overwhelming response. Co-chairs Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca acknowledged the hard work of everyone involved in the project and emphasized the film's importance for both the studio and the cinema industry. "A Minecraft Movie's" success comes at a crucial time, as the box office had been struggling with disappointing performances from other recent releases like "Snow White" and "Mickey 17." The film's impressive opening has helped narrow the overall box office deficit for 2025, which had previously been down by 13% compared to the previous year.
As the film continues to perform well, industry experts are optimistic about its potential to sustain momentum in the coming weeks. With additional major releases on the horizon, including Marvel's "Thunderbolts" and Paramount's "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning," there is hope that "A Minecraft Movie" will pave the way for a strong summer box office season.
In summary, "A Minecraft Movie" has not only shattered box office records but has also rejuvenated the film industry at a time when it needed it most. With its engaging story, beloved characters, and the immense popularity of the "Minecraft" franchise, the film is poised for continued success both domestically and internationally.
