Minecraft Movie Box Office: $65M Second Weekend

Spring Break Box Office Bonanza: ‘Minecraft‘ Leads, Newcomers Vie for Attention

Hollywood studios are finally capitalizing on the spring break season as families flock to theaters. Can new releases steal some thunder from the Minecraft juggernaut?

April 17, 2025

Its spring break, and Hollywood is ready. With school out for many across the nation, families are looking for entertainment, and studios are vying for their attention.While Warner Bros./Legendary’s A Minecraft Movie continues its box office reign, several new wide releases are hitting theaters just before the Easter weekend, hoping to capture some of that family-pleasant box office magic.

Comscore reports a significant portion of the education sector is on break. This Friday saw 10% of K-12 schools and 1% of colleges on vacation. This will surge to 72% K-12 and 28% of colleges observing Good Friday on April 18th, signaling a prime opportunity for family-oriented films.

Minecraft continues to perform exceptionally well, raking in $12.7 million on Tuesday.This places it as the fourth-highest Tuesday in April, surpassed only by cinematic giants like 2019’s Avengers: Endgame ($33.1M), 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie ($15.4M), and 2015’s F7 ($13.3M). The film’s cumulative gross through its first five days (Friday-Tuesday) stands at a considerable $185.4 million.

While minecraft’s initial performance trails Super Mario Bros. by roughly 9% (which earned $204.6M in its first five days), it’s critically important to note the latter benefitted from a Wednesday-Sunday opening over the Easter weekend. Super Mario Bros. enjoyed a phenomenal second weekend, grossing $92.3 million with a mere -37% drop. Weather Minecraft can replicate that staying power remains to be seen.Initial projections estimate around $65 million for its second weekend,a -60% drop.

Here’s a swift look at how Minecraft stacks up against other major animated releases:

Movie Title	Opening Weekend	Second Weekend (Estimate)
A Minecraft Movie	$120.4 Million	$65 Million (-60%)
The Super Mario Bros. Movie	$146.4 Million	$92.3 Million (-37%)
Frozen II	$130.3 Million	$85.9 Million (-34%)

New releases Aim to Make a Splash

Several new films are entering the fray, hoping to capitalize on the spring break audience.

‘The Amateur’: A Thriller with Potential

20th Century Studios is releasing The amateur, a $60 million thriller starring Rami Malek, with projections estimating a $12 million opening. Directed by James Hawes, the film centers on a CIA decoder who takes matters into his own hands after his wife is murdered in a London terrorist attack. Early reviews are promising, with an 86% audience score and 68% fresh rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Previews began Thursday at 2 p.m. The Amateur is playing in 3,300 theaters, including 400 Imax auditoriums (shared with Minecraft and A24’s Warfare), 300 PLF screens (also shared), and 100 D-box/Motion screens.

“The Amateur offers a gripping narrative, blending espionage with personal tragedy. Malek delivers a compelling performance as a man driven by grief and a thirst for justice.”

Film Focus Magazine

‘The King of Kings’: An Animated Easter Offering

Angel Studios’ animated film, The King of Kings, is also expected to generate around $12 million, bolstered by an notable $7.8 million in advance ticket sales. This surpasses the pre-sales numbers of Angel Studios’ previous success, Sound of Freedom.Inspired by Charles Dickens’s work the movie follows a father and son through the life of Jesus. With a 75% fresh rating from critics, The King of Kings features a star-studded voice cast, including Kenneth Branagh as Charles Dickens, Uma Thurman as Catherine Dickens, Pierce Brosnan as Pontius Pilate, Mark Hamill as King Herod, Forest Whitaker as Peter, Ben Kingsley as high Priest Caiaphas, and Oscar Isaac as Jesus Christ. Previews began Thursday at 11 a.m.

‘Warfare’: A24 Enters the Fray

A24’s Warfare is also opening wide, aiming to attract a different segment of the audience with its unique brand of storytelling. While box office projections are more modest compared to the other releases, A24 films frequently enough generate buzz and long-term interest through word-of-mouth and critical acclaim.

The diverse lineup of films premiering this spring break aims to cater to a wide range of tastes, ensuring there’s something for everyone at the box office.

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‘Warfare’ Eyes Solid Debut, Set to Draw Heartland Moviegoers Amidst Diverse Offerings

A24’s ‘Warfare’ poised for strong opening weekend, targeting $7M-$9M, while Blumhouse’s ‘Drop’ and Fathom’s ‘The Chosen’ also vie for audience attention.

May 2, 2025

‘warfare’ Aims for Box Office Success

‘Warfare’ – A24/Everett Collection

Following the success of The Iron Claw, which grossed $4.8 million over a three-day period, and the dystopian thriller Civil War, which opened with $25.5 million a year prior, A24 is strategically targeting moviegoers in the South and Central states with its latest offering, Warfare. The film is projected to earn between $7 million and $9 million across 2,650 theaters during its opening weekend.

Co-directed by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza, Warfare immerses viewers in the intense experiences of a Navy SEAL platoon through a first-person-shooter perspective.The film has resonated strongly with military audiences and veterans,focusing on a perilous mission in Ramadi,Iraq. Early paid screenings have generated positive buzz, with those figures contributing to the film’s Friday debut. The movie boasts a 92% “fresh” rating from critics, indicating positive reviews. Previews began Thursday at 4 p.m. ET. The net production cost for Warfare was $20 million, excluding marketing and distribution expenses (P&A).

The film’s potential success can be attributed to several factors, including its focus on military themes, which often resonate with audiences in specific regions of the United States. As an exmaple,states with a high concentration of military personnel or veterans,such as Texas,North Carolina,and florida,may show stronger interest in Warfare. This demographic targeting is a key element in A24’s distribution strategy.

Marketplace Dynamics and Demographic Skews

Industry analysts suggest that the top three films in release could outperform initial projections.Specifically, warfare demonstrates stronger appeal among men under 25 as a “first choice,” while Amateur attracts more men over 25. the prevailing sentiment is that Amateur will likely perform well on the coasts, while Warfare will find its audience in the heartland, suggesting a demographic split. This divergence highlights the importance of understanding regional preferences and tailoring marketing efforts accordingly.

‘Drop’ Enters the Fray

Universal pictures

Blumhouse aims to rebound from a lackluster year with Drop, budgeted at $11 million, which is projected to gross between $6 million and $7 million across 3,000 theaters. The PG-13 rated film, premiered at SXSW, features Meghann Fahy (the White Lotus) and Brandon Sklenar (It Ends With Us). The storyline involves a blind date gone awry when Fahy’s character receives threatening messages, leading to a cat-and-mouse game in a chicago restaurant. Critics have given it a positive reception, with an 88% “fresh” rating. Previews commenced Thursday at 1:50 p.m. ET, targeting women aged 17-34 as the primary demographic.

The success of Drop will hinge on its ability to attract its target demographic, with marketing efforts likely focused on social media platforms popular among young women. blumhouse’s track record in the horror genre could also play a role,as the studio has cultivated a loyal following for its low-budget,high-concept thrillers.

‘The Chosen: Last Supper’ Continues its Run

Fathom Events is presenting the third installment of The Chosen: Last Supper in 2,297 theaters. The Chosen: Last Supper – Part 2 earned $6.9 million last weekend, while Part 1 debuted with $11.8 million two weekends ago. The continued success of “The Chosen” demonstrates the strong demand for faith-based content in the United States, with a dedicated audience that consistently turns out for these films.

Weekend Box Office Forecast

As of today,the box office landscape presents diverse options for moviegoers. Warfare aims to capture the heartland audience, while Drop targets young women. Simultaneously occurring, The Chosen continues to serve its dedicated faith-based audience. The actual results may vary considerably from these projections, depending on a host of factors, including word-of-mouth, critical reception, and audience demographics.

film Title	Distributor	Projected Opening Weekend	Theater Count	Target Audience
Warfare	A24	$7M – $9M	2,650	Men (especially in Heartland states), Military Audiences
Drop	Blumhouse	$6M – $7M	3,000	Females 17-34
The Chosen: Last Supper	Fathom Events	TBD (Continuing run)	2,297	Faith-Based Audiences

How do the diverse offerings of “Warfare”, “Drop”, and “The Chosen: Last Supper” shape the weekend box office prospects, according to Evelyn Reed?

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An Interview with Box Office Analyst, Evelyn Reed

Hello, and welcome to Archyde. Today, we’re diving deep into the weekend box office forecasts with film industry analyst, Evelyn Reed.Evelyn, thanks for joining us.

Evelyn, can you give us your overall assessment of this weekend’s box office prospects considering the diverse offerings, specifically, ‘Warfare’, ‘Drop’, and ‘The Chosen: Last Supper?’

It’s shaping up to be a captivating weekend. “Warfare” is a strong contender,especially given A24’s track record and the film’s targeted appeal. “Drop” has potential within its specific demographic, while “The Chosen” continues to demonstrate the consistent interest in faith-based content. The varied genres should draw in a wide audience, distributing the box office potential more evenly than previous weekends, when we saw a dominating title.

‘Warfare’ seems strategically positioned. What factors contribute to its expected success, particularly in the heartland of America?

A24 has become adept at identifying and serving niche audiences. “Warfare” benefits from themes appealing to military audiences and veterans, regions where those demographics are concentrated. The positive reviews undoubtedly help attract attention and promote the film on social media. The first-person-shooter outlook and intense storyline cater specifically to the interests of male viewers,creating another unique selling point.

‘”Drop” is targeting women aged 17-34. What strategies can Blumhouse implement to maximize its box office returns, and do they have the right approach?

Blumhouse is particularly shrewd at producing low-budget films with high-concept thriller elements. They’re also incredibly good at targeting specific demographics. Marketing on social media platforms frequented by young women is crucial. Leveraging influencers and building pre-release buzz thru sneak peeks and early reviews will be key, as they did with ‘The Iron Claw.’ They appear to be on the right track, though they will need to carefully track the competition, and adjust as needed.

“The Chosen” has consistently performed well. What explains the enduring popularity of faith-based films within the box office?

“The Chosen” has a dedicated audience that’s consistently shown up. It’s a testament to the power of faith-based stories and the desire for content that aligns with viewers’ values.Also, there is a scarcity of options within this niche with a dedicated audience. Fathom Events has cultivated an effective distribution strategy, ensuring the film reaches its targeted audience. This formula provides confidence for consistent success.

Looking ahead, what impact do you anticipate these films will have on the overall performance and box office trends in the coming weeks, and what do they teach the film industry?

This weekend’s performance provides valuable lessons. The success of targeted marketing and the power of specific genre appeal are key takeaways. The