The highly anticipated A Minecraft Movie has burst onto the scene with a bang, raking in an impressive $10.55 million during its Thursday night previews on April 3, 2025. This haul marks a new milestone for video game adaptations, cementing the film’s place as a potential box office juggernaut and signaling a much-needed boost for theaters in a challenging year.
Directed by Jared Hess and brought to life by Warner Bros. and Legendary, the film has already outpaced the previous record holder, Five Nights at Freddy’s, which earned $10.3 million in previews back in October 2023. That movie went on to score an $80 million opening weekend, and early signs suggest A Minecraft Movie could climb even higher. Industry insiders are buzzing with projections ranging from a conservative $75 million to a lofty $100 million-plus for its domestic debut over the April 4-6 weekend. Add in international n umbers, and some estimates peg the global opening as high as $150 million.
What’s driving this explosive start? For one, the Minecraft brand is a cultural titan. With over 300 million copies sold and nearly 140 million monthly active players, the game boasts a fanbase that spans generations. The movie taps into this built-in audience, blending the blocky, imaginative world fans adore with a star-studded cast featuring Jack Black as the iconic Steve, Jason Momoa as Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison, and a supporting lineup including Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks, and Jennifer Coolidge. The story follows four misfits yanked into the Overworld, where they team up with Steve to navigate a quirky, cubic realm and find their way home, a premise that promises both adventure and nostalgia.
The timing couldn’t be better. After a sluggish first quarter in 2025, with ticket sales lagging 11% behind last year, theaters have been desperate for a win. The only weekend to crack $100 million so far was February 14-16, when Captain America: Brave New World led the charge. Now, A Minecraft Movie is poised to break that drought, buoyed by spring break crowds and a lack of major family-friendly competition. Even with mixed reviews trickling in—some critics call it a chaotic but charming romp, while others find it disjointed, the film’s appeal seems critic-proof, much like The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which soared to $1.3 billion globally in 2023 despite middling scores.
Overseas, the film is already digging up big numbers, with $18.4 million banked through Thursday across 55 markets. China’s Friday opening added a hefty $6.6 million, the biggest Hollywood debut there this year. Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East are also showing strong early returns, setting the stage for a global haul that could justify its reported $150 million production budget and then some.
For Warner Bros., this success is a lifeline after recent stumbles like Mickey 17 and The Alto Knights. The studio’s bet on a live-action Minecraft adaptation, once mocked after a widely panned trailer, now looks like a masterstroke. Fans on social media are buzzing, with reactions ranging from “stupidly hilarious” to “a love letter to the game.” Meanwhile, theater owners are practically dancing in the aisles, hopeful that this hit could spark a wave of video game movies green lit in its wake.
For us here at Cosmic Entertainment we have no complaints about this film and enjoyed it beginning to end. Of course it was not perfect, but it perfectly captured its objective of bringing the Minecraft world and experience to life.
As the weekend unfolds, all eyes will be on whether A Minecraft Movie can sustain its momentum. If it does, it won’t just be a win for Warner Bros.—it’ll be a reminder that even in a rocky year, the right mix of nostalgia, star power, and a beloved IP can still build something extraordinary at the box office.
