Warner Bros' highly anticipated Minecraft Movie has turned out to be a surprise box office triumph, raking in an estimated $300 million (£233 million) globally during its opening weekend. Delayed multiple times before its official release on Friday, the film is based on the beloved video game that has captivated millions. Featuring a star-studded line-up including Jason Momoa, Jack Black, and Jennifer Coolidge, it has exceeded its production budget of $150 million, with about half of its revenue stemming from North America, according to EntTelligence.
Despite predominantly lukewarm reviews — The Telegraph awarded it two stars, lamenting the absence of the game's charm, while The Guardian rated it just one star, criticizing its disjointedness — audiences flocked to theaters in large numbers. Steve Buck, the chief strategy officer at EntTelligence, noted, "It has definitely overperformed all industry projections." The film has resonated with a broad demographic, with approximately 25% of viewers under the age of 13 and over half being male. Buck remarked that "when dads like a family film, that's a good thing," highlighting the film's appeal to family audiences.
The Minecraft Movie has achieved the largest domestic opening of 2025 and marks Warner Bros' biggest success since 2023. As one of the best-selling video games in history, with over 300 million copies sold according to Statista, the film's narrative revolves around four misfits who are unexpectedly transported through a portal into the game's Overworld, the origin point for all players.
While the realm of video game adaptations has seen its fair share of disappointments, hits like Sonic the Hedgehog and The Super Mario Bros. Movie offer contrasting examples. In promotional notes leading up to the release, Jack Black acknowledged the significant expectations placed upon the film, emphasizing its generational importance and the lasting impact of the game on its devoted fan base.
