“Minecraft” Movie Box-Office Keeps Rising

The box-office estimates for Jared Hess’ “A Minecraft Movie” keep on rising with the title now headed for a $157 million opening weekend domestically and a further $144 million overseas for a $301 million opening weekend worldwide.

The numbers have shattered records left and right. It’s the biggest domestic debut of the year, trouncing the $88 million start of “Captain America: Brave New World”. It’s also the biggest debut in the history of video game adaptations, beating the $146 million that “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” pulled in. Finally it’s the biggest opening at the box-office since “Moana 2” back at Thanksgiving last year.

Reviews have been mixed for the title, but audience scores have been much more generous for the PG-rated fantasy comedy that appears to be pulling in all quadrants – especially younger ones both male and female.

Reports have emerged of almost riotous screenings for the film with wild crowd reactions to the gags and plenty of applause. The film has also been cashing in on the lack of any other family fare at the cinema of late, but also the increasing trend of successful game-to-film adaptations (“Borderlands” notwithstanding) like “Mario,” “Sonic the Hedgehog,” “Uncharted” and “Five Nights at Freddy’s”.

The FX-heavy film cost a relatively economical $150 million to produce and so is almost certain to hit profit well before it leaves theaters. It also gives hit-starved Warner Bros. Pictures a massive success story – something it desperately needs.

Jason Statham’s action thriller “A Working Man” came in a very distant second with $7.2 million followed by “The Chosen: Last Supper – Part 2” with $6.7 million, “Snow White” with $6 million, and “The Woman in the Yard” with $4.5 million. Finn Wolfhard’s horror comedy “Hell of a Summer” debuted to just $1.75 million, but its tiny $3 million budget means it’ll be fine.

Source: Variety

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