[UPDATE] The newly released A Minecraft Movie has made headlines by earning an impressive $57 million in its opening day in the United States—setting a record for the highest first Friday gross of any video game film. This figure surpasses the first Friday earnings of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which made $54.8 million; however, that film launched on a Wednesday.
According to projections, A Minecraft Movie could reach a staggering $145 million over its first weekend, considering the Friday through Sunday totals. This forecast draws a close comparison to the $146.3 million amassed by The Super Mario Bros. Movie during its initial weekend, though it’s essential to note the different release days.
In historical context, only three movies that debuted in April surpassed A Minecraft Movie’s opening Friday gross in the U.S.: Avengers: Endgame, which drew $157.4 million, Avengers: Infinity War at $106.3 million, and Furious 7 with $67.4 million.
Stay tuned for further updates on A Minecraft Movie’s box office performance.
The original story follows below.
A Minecraft Movie debuted to strong box-office numbers, amassing $10.55 million during its Thursday previews. For perspective, Five Nights at Freddy’s brought in $10.3 million in previews, while The Super Mario Bros. Movie generated $26.5 million.
Industry analysts predict A Minecraft Movie will gross between $70 million and $80 million over its opening weekend, while its distributor estimates a more conservative figure of $65 million. Some estimates even suggest the film could reach as high as $90 million.
This puts it in a competitive landscape alongside Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which opened with $60 million and later grossed a total of $491 million worldwide.
Globally, estimates indicate A Minecraft Movie might achieve up to $150 million in its first weekend. With a reported production budget of $150 million and significant marketing expenditures, early assessments suggest that A Minecraft Movie could still become a financial triumph despite its high costs. This would be welcome news for its distributor, following disappointing performances from some recent releases.
A Minecraft Movie features a star-studded cast, including Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Daniella Brooks, Sebastian Hansen, and Emmy Myers, under the direction of Jared Hess, known for his work on Napoleon Dynamite.
The film has received mixed reviews, currently holding a score of 47 on Metacritic and 49% on review aggregation sites. ECNETNews rated A Minecraft Movie a 7/10, with the reviewer encouraging viewers to embrace their childhood nostalgia while enjoying the film this weekend.
