A Minecraft Movie has made a remarkable entrance at the box office, generating $57 million in the U.S. on its first Friday, marking the highest earnings for any video game adaptation on its opening day. This figure surpasses the previous record set by The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which earned $54.8 million, though it is essential to note that the latter launched on a Wednesday in 2023.
According to Deadline, predictions for A Minecraft Movie’s opening weekend total between $145 million, brushing closely to The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s $146.3 million, again considering the different release days. Historically, only a few films released in April have had a more substantial Friday, including Avengers: Endgame, Infinity War, and Furious 7.
Earlier box office figures indicated that A Minecraft Movie earned $10.55 million during its Thursday previews, slightly edging out Five Nights at Freddy’s, which made $10.3 million, while The Super Mario Bros. Movie had a stronger showing on its preview night with $26.5 million. Projections for the opening weekend vary, with some estimates reaching as high as $90 million, despite Warner Bros.’ conservative estimate of $65 million.
Globally, A Minecraft Movie could pull in approximately $150 million during its first weekend. With production costs around $150 million and additional marketing expenses, industry experts believe the movie is set to be a financial success, a much-needed boost for Warner Bros., especially following the underwhelming performances of their recent films.
The movie, directed by Jared Hess, features a cast including Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Daniella Brooks, Sebastian Hansen, and Emmy Myers. Although audience reactions have been mixed, it currently holds a score of 47 on Metacritic and a 49% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. GameSpot’s review awarded it a score of 7/10, encouraging audiences to embrace the nostalgia that the film brings.
