A Minecraft Movie didn’t just open big; it rewrote the “video game movie” record book in its first weekend. Warner Bros./Legendary’s adaptation debuted to an estimated $157 million domestically (North America) and around $300+ million globally, depending on the outlet’s finalization window, instantly becoming the largest opening weekend ever for a film based on a video game.
Trade reporting shows the movie’s weekend started strong and only accelerated as walk-up crowds and families piled in. By the end of the frame, multiple box office trackers and trades described it as the biggest domestic debut of 2025 at that point, with a massive per-theater average across more than 4,200 locations.
The record matters because it’s not just “good for a niche.” This opening cleared the prior benchmark set by The Super Mario Bros. Movie (also starring Jack Black) and, in at least one industry comparison, even edged out Barbie’s domestic start, a sign the audience wasn’t just gamers showing up out of loyalty, but a broader crowd treating it as a must-see event.
The film’s appeal is built like the game: simple premise, big communal energy. Directed by Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite, Nacho Libre), it stars Jason Momoa and Jack Black, and leans into the “Overworld” adventure angle rather than trying to turn Minecraft into prestige lore. Analysts credited the PG-friendly positioning, heavy marketing, and the built-in familiarity of the brand for turning what could’ve been a risky translation into a mainstream box office jolt.
And the timing couldn’t have been better for theaters: multiple reports framed the opening as a badly needed surge for a sluggish stretch of the theatrical calendar, giving exhibitors a genuine four-quadrant hit and reminding studios why recognizable IP — when packaged accessibly — still moves tickets in huge numbers.
