Minecraft Movie: A Blockbuster Surprise

The Minecraft movie has made a huge splash at the box office. It raked in $163 million in its first three days in North America. That's a massive leap over the previous record holder, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which took in $146 million in its opening weekend in the US and Canada in 2023. The Minecraft movie didn't stop there. It also pulled in $151 million from 75 other territories around the world. In China, it earned about $14. 5 million, beating out Ne Zha 2, which was the top-grossing animated film in March. The UK saw even higher numbers, with the movie bringing in £15. 5 million, making it the top performer outside North America. The success of the Minecraft movie is no surprise. Minecraft is the best-selling video game ever, with over 300 million sales and more than 140 million players each month. The game has also racked up over 1. 3 trillion views on YouTube. In 2014, Microsoft bought the game's developers, Mojang, for $2. 5 billion. The movie has been in the works since then, with Warner Bros and Legendary involved in production. The film started shooting in January 2024 and is directed by Jared Hess. It stars Jason Momoa, Jack Black, and Danielle Brooks. The story follows a group of humans who find a portal to the blocky world of Minecraft. The journey to the big screen hasn't been smooth. An initial trailer released in September faced backlash, similar to the first Sonic the Hedgehog trailer in 2019. Some fans felt a movie was unnecessary, given the vast amount of Minecraft content already on YouTube. One YouTuber, ElVitt0ri0, even said any Minecraft adaptation should be a genuine tribute to the fans, not just a cash grab by a big company. Despite the initial criticism, the movie has received mostly positive reviews. Critics praised it for being funny, lively, and a refreshing change from typical family films. However, not everyone was impressed. The Observer's Wendy Ide called it "cobbled-together" and an "egregious IP cash-in. " Audience reactions have been enthusiastic. Fans have been posting videos online, cheering moments like the "chicken jockey! " scene, a nod to a popular Minecraft meme. The movie's success shows that even with a rocky start, it can win over fans and critics alike. It's a testament to the enduring popularity of Minecraft and its ability to adapt to new platforms. The movie's journey from concept to box office hit is a story of perseverance and the power of a dedicated fanbase.