We're not 100% sure you guys are aware, but a little movie called A Minecraft Movie released over the weekend (this writer's kids loved it!) and it's already making quite a splash at the worldwide box office.
Yep, the reviews might not be so hot, but none of this is stopping Mojang's multimedia mammoth from rampaging through the movie industry's records like an extra from Jumanji.
The new Minecraft adventure, which stars Jack Black, Jason Momoa, and the amazing Jennifer Coolidge, has already raked in a record-breaking $157 million in the US and Canada, the biggest grossing opening weekend for a video game movie adaptation ever, not to mention the biggest domestic opening in the US this year so far. Adding in global takings brings the total to $301 million and counting. So take that, non-gamers.
All of this, of course, comes on the heels of 2023's similarly successful The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which also broke records when it arrived - indeed, Minecraft just leapfrogged the plumber's $146 million opening weekend. Video game movies, it seems, are just primed to do very well right now, especially when it's stuff that's been around long enough that lots of parents are also potentially emotionally involved. Sorry, Borderlands.
Interestingly, none of this matters to Epic's Tim Sweeney, apparently. When known movie-industry insider Daniel Richtman posted a (now-deleted) tweet suggesting that a Fortnite movie was a sure thing, Sweeney swept in with an abrupt "False" in response.
It's not like we'd be told anything at this stage anyway, most likely, but it does seem as though Sweeney's abrupt reaction pours cold water on the notion, for now at least. It's hard to see why Epic would straight-up choose not to do it, mind. There's a whole lot of money to be made here, and whether your movie reviews well or not, it seems, the fans are waiting. Whether Epic needs the extra cash flow when their game is still making mega bucks is another thing.
Fans of Fortnite have suggested that Sweeney's "false" tweet may be referring to the fact that a studio hasn't made a deal for the movie just yet, rather than the fact no plans exist. Whether or not this holds any water, well, Sweeney is saying nothing more, for now.
Guess we'll just have to go watch the Zelda movie instead then, Tim. Whatevs.
Comments 26
I wouldn’t call 9 mil more a beating but it’s impressive being that it’s not a better movie than Mario.
Mario had a bigger worldwide opening.
Never played Minecraft but even with all the widespread bashing of the trailer I expected it to be a giant hit if only because FNAF was 1), on streaming day one, and 2), also widely agreed to be a dumpster fire and that did huge numbers anyway. Not at all surprised it's smashing records.
That said while this movie from everything I've seen does look awful I really don't think it actually looks any worse than anything I've seen from the Mario movie. Kind of just a pick your poison between dumb ugly kid's movies.
It was really amazing, I'd recommend it if you like movies that are funny and ridiculous. From the trailer I thought it would be cringe but I was genuinely surprised at how great it was. I didn't find myself cringing even once. Jack Black and Jason Mamoa definitely carry it though - they are hilarious.
The Mario Movie debuted on a Wednesday, that's why its Fri-Sat opening weekend was lower than that of Minecraft.
Big question will be the legs. The Mario Movie made $92 million in its 2nd weekend which is very impressive. The Minecraft Movie doesn't have much competition so has the runway for a good 2nd weekend drop, but the audience reception isn't exactly the best (B+ Cinemascore) which could sting.
The Mario Movie had no traditional 3 day weekend opening including Thursday previews.
@Strictlystyles Oh no right, but this site doesn't miss a chance to knock the Big N these days.
The reviews (as in the first impressions) might not be so hot what? Please compare them to those of Borderlands shared on this very site to see actually negative ones for the most part...
Regardless, had no doubt it would have such an opening considering how popular Minecraft is and honestly I'm happy for this movie since based on what I've seen/heard it seems to be overall fun and so most watching it should enjoy it - heck, I don't rule out the possibility of giving it a watch myself at some point!
haters will say it's ai
@jetsetradion
I don't really see this article as "a chance to knock the Big N" but honestly, I prefer some criticism over blindly praising everything Nintendo does.
@jetsetradion Agreed. After the last week or so of articles, I feel like they might as well change the name of the site to Nintendo Death...
It's a different time tho, since Box Office considers "opening week" till the first sunday after release.
That means 5 days for Minecraft and 3 days for Mario, Mario should be around 200m if it counted 5 days.
Just a heads up.
@Luffymcduck I don't mind criticism either but it all just seems "overly" negative to me since the Switch 2 Direct, like over 50% of articles, whether news items or opinion pieces.
Oh no how will Mario ever recover?
Anyway, the real beating (aside from everyone who still tries to snark at Mario's success for some weird reason) is all the reviewers and commentators who tried to torpedo this movie. Minecraft still has crazy brand appeal, the movie only needed to be halfway watchable and it was going to be a smash. My oldest has never even touched the game and desperately begged to see the movie opening weekend.
With that image I am disappointed at the lack of a bleating pun in the headline.
Still makes no sense that Jack Black was Bowser or Steve.
My 12 yr old son went and watched at the weekend, he is a big minecreft fan. He siad it's bears little resemblance to the game, but he really enjoyed it.
I took my niece and nephew and unlike the Mario movie I hated every second of this crap.
Jack Black's shtick just isn't funny anymore and Jason Mamoa phoning it in wearing one of Joan Collins's old wigs from Dynasty didn't help.
4/10.
@jetsetradion they've been waiting 8 years for this. Who knows if they'll have much longer to criticize Nintendo. Negative articles tend to get more clicks (anywhere, tbf), they're cashing in.
Honestly I cringed quite a few times watching this movie. The only reason I watched it was because my kids wanted to see it and by kids I mean my 12 (soon to be 13) and my 14 (soon to be 15) year olds wanted to watch it. Glad the movie did well but it was just a little too overboard especially Jack Black which is saying something. My question though is why did it do so well? I’m thinking the name alone was the culprit.
My kid wants to see this. So I'll be watching it too sometime soon. She does play Minecraft, but she isn't mega excited, she's more about the new Unicorn Academy.
I'm not expecting to be dazzled.
@jetsetradion I thought this site was called NintendoLife not Anti-Nintendo Life?
A bad kids movie beat out another bad kids movie. Color me surprised. I expect the inevitable roblox movie to absolutely eclipse either of them
I LOVED the Minecraft movie!
It was always going to do very well with it's target audience, which is huge. But if you've never played the game, much of it will just be lost on you. Can't wait for the Zelda movie to smash this.
@Mythra 146 million was in the three day weekend but over it's whole five day opening it made 204 million dollars domestically.
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