Block by block, A Minecraft Movie just built itself a box office behemoth. Warner Bros. and Legendary’s live-action adaptation of the best-selling video game debuted to a jaw-dropping US$301 million globally, cementing itself as the third biggest movie of 2025 so far at the time of writing. With US$157 million generated from North American audiences (and another US$144.1 million from international markets), A Minecraft Movie has set a new record for video game films, surpassing the three-day US$146.4 million domestic release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie from Universal Pictures over the Easter weekend of 2023.
A Minecraft Movie, directed by Jared Hess and headlined by Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, and Emma Myers, follows a ragtag group of misfits who find themselves transported through a mysterious portal into the pixelated expanse of the Minecraft world. As they navigate its unpredictable terrain, they must learn to craft and survive under the guidance of Black’s Steve, an iconic character from the Mojang title. PG-rated and designed for broad appeal, the movie’s mix of humour, heart, and creative world-building seems to have resonated across demographics and regions.
Europe delivered a particularly enthusiastic reception, with the UK contributing a standout US$19.9 million. In China, the film surprised industry watchers by outpacing new local titles and climbing to the top spot with a US$14.5 million weekend haul, even as Ne Zha 2 continued to perform. Nordic territories also responded favourably, pulling in US$7 million — a nod, perhaps, to Minecraft’s Swedish roots.
This is also the biggest opening weekend of Momoa’s career to date, surpassing his numbers from Aquaman, while Black clocks in with the second-best of his, just behind Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. With such strong performances in multiple regions and positive audience scores, A Minecraft Movie is well-positioned to maintain momentum in the coming weeks, especially with major markets like Japan and South Korea yet to open.
Released amid a crowded spring slate, A Minecraft Movie outpaced other wide releases by a wide margin. Amazon MGM’s A Working Man opened with US$7.3 million, while The Chosen: Last Supper Part 2, released via Fathom Events, followed closely with US$7.2 million. Disney’s Snow White, in its third weekend, posted a modest US$6.1 million, pushing its global total to US$168.4 million, a far cry from the studio’s typical tentpole performance.
With audiences still logging hours in the virtual world of Minecraft more than a decade after its launch, the appetite for its cinematic universe has clearly arrived. All eyes will be on whether its success can unlock a broader franchise, or even pave the way for more bold adaptations from gaming’s endless sandbox of stories.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Caleb from Love and Deepspace.
Kevin Low
