Minecraft Movie Surpasses Super Mario Bros. with Record Video Game Film Debut

The Minecraft Movie has made a monumental impact at the box office, 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, the film opened with an impressive $157 million in North American theaters. This debut outshone The Super Mario Bros. Movie's domestic opening of $146 million in April 2023, though the latter still holds the record as the highest-grossing video game adaptation to date.

Internationally, A Minecraft Movie added another $144 million, bringing its global opening weekend total to an astounding $301 million. With a production budget of $150 million, not including marketing costs, the film is already on track to be profitable for Warner Bros.

Adapted from Mojang's Minecraft, which remains the best-selling video game ever and a staple in the gaming community, A Minecraft Movie has also launched movie tie-in DLC to further engage fans. Directed by Napoleon Dynamite's Jared Hess, the film received a 6/10 from IGN, with our review noting, "Jared Hess puts a surprisingly specific and funny comic spin on A Minecraft Movie’s kid-friendly adventure, especially in its less antic first half."

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

In contrast, Disney's live-action Snow White has faced a challenging start, earning just $168.4 million globally, with $77.5 million from domestic markets and $90.9 million internationally. With a hefty $250 million production budget, the film's path to profitability seems uncertain, making a Mufasa: The Lion King-style comeback unlikely.