Following a disappointing Q1 at the box office, A Minecraft Movie is generating buzz in Hollywood for a potentially huge opening weekend. Based on one of the most popular video games of all time, the film opens today with Warner Bros. aiming for a $140 million debut.
While critics have given mixed reviews, the $150 million investment from Warner Bros. was not solely for critical acclaim. With stars like Jack Black and Jason Momoa, A Minecraft Movie is looking to capitalize on the success of recent video game adaptations, including:
- The Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, which has earned Paramount Pictures $1 billion after the release of the third film in January.
- Universal Pictures’ The Super Mario Bros. Movie brought in $1.3 billion in 2023, becoming the highest-grossing video game adaptation to date.
Could Minecraft follow suit? Box office experts are optimistic. Fandango named it the top PG-rated advance ticket seller of the year, and McDonald’s is set to offer block-headed toys to coincide with the film’s release.—MM
This report was written by Matty Merritt and was originally published by Morning Brew.
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
