Minecraft Movie Outpaces Super Mario Bros. with Record-Breaking Domestic Box Office Debut for Video Game Adaptation

A Minecraft Movie has shattered box office records, surpassing The Super Mario Bros. Movie to claim the title of the biggest domestic debut for a video game adaptation. Starring Jason Momoa and Jack Black, the latter also featured in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, this Xbox game adaptation raked in an impressive $157 million at North American theaters. This figure eclipses the $146 million domestic opening of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which remains the highest-grossing video game adaptation to date, having premiered in April 2023.

Globally, A Minecraft Movie added another $144 million at the international box office, culminating in a worldwide opening weekend total of $301 million. Produced at a cost of $150 million before marketing expenses, the film is already showing signs of profitability for Warner Bros.

The movie, inspired by Mojang's Minecraft, leverages the success of the best-selling video game of all time. Owned by Microsoft, Minecraft continues to be a global phenomenon, and the film's release is accompanied by movie tie-in DLC to enhance the gaming experience.

IGN's review of A Minecraft Movie awarded it a score of 6/10, noting, "Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess injects a surprisingly specific and humorous comic flair into A Minecraft Movie’s kid-friendly adventure, particularly in its more subdued first half."

For those who have seen the film, IGN offers an in-depth analysis of A Minecraft Movie's Ending and Post-Credits Scene, featuring insights from director Jared Hess and Minecraft's Torfi Frans Ólafsson.

In other news, Disney's live-action Snow White is facing potential box office disappointment. With global earnings at $168.4 million ($77.5 million domestic and $90.9 million international) and a hefty $250 million production budget, a miraculous recovery akin to Mufasa: The Lion King seems unlikely.