EXCLUSIVE: “Presales just suddenly popped this week,” an exhibitor remarked today at CinemaCon, highlighting the burgeoning excitement surrounding Warner Bros/Legendary’s A Minecraft Movie.
In a climate where the domestic box office is currently trailing 11% behind last year, and amidst the economic turbulence stirred by President Donald Trump’s recent global tariffs, the Burbank, CA studio is poised for a significant weekend with A Minecraft Movie. Early previews, which began at 3 PM, are projected to exceed M+. Initial conservative estimates have now escalated to M+, with industry chatter hinting at even more ambitious forecasts. The last time the box office experienced such a surge was during the weekend of February 14-16, when only one weekend in 2025 surpassed the 0M mark, thanks to Captain America: Brave New World, which achieved an impressive .8M over three days.
The film, directed by Jared Hess and featuring stars like Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Danielle Brooks, and Jennifer Coolidge, has already outperformed the preview numbers of previous Sonic the Hedgehog films. The first Sonic opened with M, followed by M for the second installment, and .5M for Sonic 3. Notably, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 saw its previews account for 26% of its .4M Friday, leading to a .1M opening weekend, albeit during the holiday season. In contrast, A Minecraft Movie’s previews currently trail behind the .3M generated by Universal/Blumhouse’s Five Nights at Freddy’s in October 2023, which represented 26% of its first Friday and culminated in an M opening.
What sets A Minecraft Movie apart is its vast and dedicated fanbase. With 300 million copies sold and nearly 140 million monthly active players, the Mojang Studios title resonates with audiences across generations, much like Super Mario Bros (which notably did not have previews) and Five Nights at Freddy’s.
Critical Reception
As for critical reception, A Minecraft Movie currently holds a 51% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, this fan-favorite adaptation of a beloved video game appears to be largely immune to critical scrutiny. For context, Five Nights at Freddy’s garnered a mere 32% from critics but achieved an impressive 86% audience score, along with an A- CinemaScore.
Despite the buzz and anticipation, Warner Bros has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the forecasts for the film’s opening weekend.
