4/11 – 4/13: A MINECRAFT MOVIE Continues its Box Office Rampage

Apr 13, 2025

A MINECRAFT MOVIE, Warner Bros.’ live-action feature based on the best-selling video game in history, ended its second weekend with another first-place finish at the box office. MINECRAFT’s $80.6M was aided by opening totals from four other new wide releases, lifting the total for all movies in theatres to $ 150.4 M. This was twice the amount brought in on same weekend last year when A24’s dystopian action thriller CIVIL WAR opened to $25.5M and the total box office came in at $75.2M.

Exhibitors have enjoyed back-to-back banner weekends after a disappointing first quarter. Easter arrives next weekend, and Warner Bros. will open their high-profile action-horror movie SINNERS, directed by Ryan Coogler, who is best known for his work on BLACK PANTHER (2018) and BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (2022). We fully expect the current year’s winning streak to extend to three weekends in a row.

A MINECRAFT MOVIE held onto first place, with $80.6M in new ticket sales which was a drop of 50% from its surprisingly strong $162.8M opening last weekend. After 10 days, it has earned an amazing $281.0M domestic and $550.6M worldwide. One might have expected a steeper drop from Week 1 to Week 2, but the animated action movie has held up very well, and still has a bright future ahead.

A MINECRAFT MOVIE vs. THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE

A MINECRAFT MOVIE (4/4/2025) – Domestic Opening $162.8M (4,263 locations), Domestic 2nd Weekend $80.6M (-50%), Domestic 10-day $281.0M, Budget $150M, RT Critics/Audience 46%/87%
THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE (4/5/2023) – Domestic Opening $146.4 M (4,343 locations), Domestic 2nd Weekend $92.3M (-37%), Domestic 12-day $353.2M, Domestic Total $574.9M, Worldwide Total $1.361B, Budget $100M, RT Critics/Audience 59%/95%

After breaking the record set by THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE two years ago as the top-grossing opening for a feature based on a video game, A MINECRAFT MOVIE, came down to earth in its second weekend. THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE dropped by only 37% in its second weekend, whereas A MINECRAFT MOVIE dropped by 50%. No one expected MINECRAFT to do anywhere near as well as SUPER MARIO did, so this weekend’s performance is by no means a negative for the movie.

Warner Bros. has already locked in a profit after only 10 days, having grossed $550.6M at the worldwide box office. Made for a production budget of $150M, it needed to earn $375M to cross into the black, and it has already exceeded that mark. And it’s happy studio backers will have much more to celebrate, with growing box office totals for this release and the potential for profitable sequels to follow. Warner Bros. was hoping to see such success when it secured the rights to the franchise in 2018.

Angel Studios’ animated Christian-themed movie THE KING OF KINGS finished in second place with $ 19.1 M. This is the second highest opening for the specialty studio, only slightly behind the $19.7M earned by THE SOUND OF FREEDOM in its debut from July 7-9, 2023. That film was released on Tuesday, July 4^th, and went on to make $184.2M domestic and $250.6M worldwide. THE SOUND OF FREEDOM’s success helped establish Angel as a studio force to be reckoned with, focusing on faith-based content.

Known for producing and releasing its films, Angel acquired the global distribution rights to THE KING OF KINGS in November 2024 from South Korea’s Mofac Animation and its original U.S. distributor Blue Harbor Entertainment. Sensing a possible alignment between this movie and Angel’s audience and mission, Mofac and Blue Harbor contacted Angel with a proposal to join forces for its release.

The movie was directed by Seong-ho Jang and is based on Charles Dickens’ short story The Life of Our Lord. It features an all-star cast of voice actors, including Kenneth Branagh, Uma Thurman, Pierce Brosnan, Oscar Isaac, Mark Hamill, Forest Whitaker, and Ben Kingsley. Angel timed the movie’s release to hit theatres just before the upcoming Christian Holy Week and Easter.

Angel has used its unique crowdfunding and community-driven model to support the film’s release, enlisting their loyal followers who are referred to as the “Angel Guild.” During their presentation at CinemaCon last week, the studio touted that over one million members have joined their fan community, which plays an active role in helping decide which projects the studio will take on. Each Premium Member also receives two movie tickets to every Angel release in theatres. This has been key to Angel’s unique approach and guarantees a baseline box office for its titles.

Critics have had varying responses to THE KING OF KINGS. The Guardian described it as “serviceable,” praising the animation’s richly textured backgrounds and lighting effects. However, the character animation was criticized, particularly the representation of Jesus, and they noted that the film’s somewhat extended runtime (1h 50m) could limit its appeal to younger audiences.

Religion Unplugged criticized the movie for making Jesus appear “boring,” especially to young boys. Their review claims that the film tells, rather than shows, Jesus’ power over evil, and may not engage its intended audience of younger viewers.

Movie Insider liked the movie’s unique perspective to tell the story from Dickens’ point of view, focusing on the imagination of young Walter as he visualizes the life of Jesus, aiming to inspire faith and wonder in a new generation. Rotten Tomatoes reports a critics’ rating of 63%, but a much higher audience score of 97%. The film was produced on a reasonable budget of $15M, and after its opening weekend success, it is destined to be highly profitable.

In third place was 20th Century Studios’ THE AMATEUR, the action-thriller that earned $15.0M during its opening weekend. This film is directed by James Hawes, known for his work on the critically acclaimed series “Slow Horses” that is currently showing on Apple TV+. Hawes brings his experience with espionage stories to the movie, based on Robert Littell’s 1981 novel of the same name.

It was previously adapted as a feature film in that same year, produced in Canada. The plot revolves around Charles Heller, a CIA cryptographer, who seeks revenge after his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack. When the agency refuses to act, he blackmails them to agree to train him as a field operative so he can pursue the killers. THE AMATEUR stars Rami Malek, an Academy Award winner for Best Actor for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury in BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY from 2019. In this film, he plays the protagonist Charles Heller.

Malek is backed up nicely by Rachel Brosnahan, who also stars as Lois Lane in this summer’s SUPERMAN LEGACY and the hit TV series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” She plays Heller’s wife in the movie, alongside Laurence Fishburne (Morpheus in The MATRIX trilogy of movies) as his mentor Robert Henderson.

To prepare for his role, Rami Malek underwent intensive physical and tactical training to convincingly portray a cerebral CIA analyst turned field agent. At 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing only 154 pounds, Malek expressed that he never envisioned himself leading an action movie but embraced the challenge, describing his character as “quite the badass.”

THE AMATEUR was filmed at several international locations, including London, Paris, and Istanbul, to add a global panache to the movie. Filming was interrupted temporarily during the 2023 actors’ strike. Critics have been lukewarm with Rotten Tomatoes scores of 61% from critics and 89% from audiences. RogerEbert.com gives the film 1.5 out of 4 stars, saying that its lack of personality and shallow characters lead to a disengaging experience.

Variety (Owen Gleiberman) states that while the movie is “never less than watchable,” it feels overstuffed with pulp elements, leading to a lack of cohesion. Time Out highlights Malek’s portrayal of a tech-savvy CIA analyst, calling it a great role and noting the film’s unique approach to the genre. Finally, AP News acknowledges the film’s strong performances and modern espionage elements but criticizes its pacing and tonal inconsistencies.

The film’s excellent and expensive cast, its on-location filming in European locations, and the effect of the labor strikes, boosted the production cost to $60M, which will now require a total worldwide box office of $150M to get into the black. Based on its opening weekend of $15.0M domestic, it will need to do well in theatres for several more weeks to reach that number.

Perhaps, its appeal to an older demographic will work in its favor, since this age group does not always rush to see a movie on its opening weekend. The international locations may also provide some appeal for European audiences. Its favorable response from audiences may also help it hold in.

In fourth place is A24’s Iraqi war film WARFARE, which earned $8.3M in its opening weekend. The movie was produced by DNA Films, the British company that is best known for making last year’s CIVIL WAR and the entire 28 DAYS LATER franchise. The film is co-directed by filmmaker Alex Garland and former Navy SEAL Ray Mendoza, bringing together cinematic expertise with a firsthand military perspective.

It is based on Mendoza’s real-life experiences during the Iraq War and offers a realistic portrayal of military operations. The on-screen action takes the audience inside a Navy SEAL mission in insurgent territory. Its running time of only 95 minutes adds to the pace and action of the movie.

Instead of hiring well-known actors whose on-screen presence might have detracted from the film’s authenticity, the movie features skilled but little-known actors such as D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Kit Connor, and Charles Melton, who all portray members of the SEAL platoon. The cast underwent intensive training while living together, fostering genuine bonds that translated on screen.

As a testament to their camaraderie, several cast members got matching “Call on Me” tattoos, symbolizing their mutual support. The film employs minimal dialogue, relying on visual storytelling and sound design to convey the soldiers’ battlefield experiences.

Critics have come out strongly in favor of the film. Its Rotten Tomatoes scores have made it one of the highest-rated films so far in 2025, with Rotten Tomatoes scores of 94% from both critics and audiences. The Los Angeles Times describes it as “taut, terrifying, and scrupulously realistic,” praising its commitment to depicting the raw realities of combat without sentimentality.

The Atlantic highlights the film’s immersive approach, stating that it “rejects traditional war-movie tropes” and offers a “raw, unsettling portrait of combat.” Business Insider notes the film’s basis in true events, emphasizing its authenticity and the directors’ dedication to accurately portraying the experiences of soldiers during the Iraq War. Finally, People Magazine recommends WARFARE as a must-watch movie, citing its harrowing depiction of real-life experiences and its emotional resonance.

Given that the film is receiving such high praise, it is a credit to its creators that it was made on a budget of only $ 20 M. After a solid start in its first three days, it has started on a path to earn back the $50M necessary in worldwide sales to make a profit. We shall see what appetite there is outside the U.S. these days for an American war film.

Fifth place this weekend goes to the Universal and Blumhouse thriller DROP, which took in $ 7.5 M. Directed by Christopher Landon, who took on this project after exiting his role on SCREAM VII due to some behind-the-scenes controversy. Landon is best known for directing horror films, including PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE MARKED ONES from 2014 and HAPPY DEATH DAY from 2017.

DROP tells the story of Violet, a widowed mother whose first date in years turns terrifying when she receives anonymous threatening messages on her phone. The title DROP refers to the AirDrop feature on iPhones, central to the film’s plot involving anonymous digital threats.

Meghann Fahy stars as Violet, marking her first major starring role in a movie after achieving notoriety from her performance in “The White Lotus.” Principal photography took place in Ireland, across various locales that give the film a suspenseful atmosphere. Shooting began in late April 2024 and finished up within a few months, keeping to a tight schedule that is characteristic of Blumhouse films.

DROP premiered at the South by Southwest festival on March 9, 2025, and was an instant hit with critics. DROP has received an 82% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an audience score of 80%. RogerEbert.com describes DROP as an “efficient thrill ride” that effectively utilizes its confined setting and strong performances. Fahy is commended for creating a compelling character, noting that her performance anchors the suspense in the film.

AP News acknowledges the movie’s take on a classic phone-based horror trope, emphasizing its commentary on digital dependency and the dangers of modern dating. While noting some implausibility, it praises the film’s pacing and performances.

Vulture highlights DROP as a worthy addition to the “bad first date” thriller genre, drawing parallels to films like RED EYE. The review appreciates the film’s balance of real and believable behavior with its outlandish plot. As with all Blumhouse films, the production budget was tightly controlled, coming in at only $ 10 M. Therefore, the movie will only need to earn $25M globally to be profitable, and after its domestic three-day opening of $7.5M it appears to be well on its way.

Where Are We as of 4/10/2025

After the 14th week of 2025, the domestic box office stands at 96% compared to 2024 and 64% compared to 2019.

Where Are We as of 4/10/2025