**Minecraft Movie Surprises Box Office with Massive Earnings Despite Poor Reviews**

Despite critical disappointment, family audiences flocked to theaters, making the film a surprising success.

In a remarkable feat, the Minecraft Movie has stormed the box office, generating an estimated $300 million (£233 million) worldwide during its opening weekend. The film, which is based on the immensely popular video game franchise, had faced significant delays before finally screening on Friday. Featuring a star-studded cast that includes Jason Momoa, Jack Black, and Jennifer Coolidge, its earnings considerably surpassed the reported production budget of $150 million.

According to data from EntTelligence, approximately half of the film's total earnings came from North America, signifying a strong domestic performance. This box office success comes despite the film receiving mostly lukewarm reviews from critics. The Telegraph rated it two stars, noting that the charm of the original game seemed absent, while The Guardian gave it a meager one star, criticizing its cobbled-together feel.

Nevertheless, families showed up in droves to experience the film. Steve Buck, chief strategy officer at EntTelligence, mentioned that the film exceeded industry projections and resonated with various demographics, highlighting that around 25% of viewers were under the age of 13, and more than half were male. "When dads like a family film, that’s a good thing," he remarked to BBC News. The opening weekend marks the largest domestic debut of 2025 and Warner Bros’ biggest since 2023.

Minecraft remains one of the best-selling video games in history, with over 300 million copies sold, according to Statista. The film follows four misfit characters who are unexpectedly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld, the starting point for all players in Minecraft. While the gaming industry has seen its share of unsuccessful game-to-film adaptations, titles like Sonic the Hedgehog and The Super Mario Bros Movie have proven to be significant hits.

Black, who plays a prominent role in the film, acknowledged the immense pressure on filmmakers to please fans of the beloved franchise, stating, "This game has been loved by millions and millions all over the world for years now, and I think this movie is a big deal for a lot of people because now it’s generational."