A Minecraft Movie could bolster Warner Bros. box office fortunes with new projections putting it on a course for an impressive opening.

The adaptation of the global smash hit game is tracking to open to around $58 million in its North American debut over the April 4-6 weekend, according to the National Research Group. 

The good news comes after fans worried for the brand’s foray into film, which is based on Mojang Studios’ 300 million copy-selling video game.

The first teaser, which was unveiled back in September 2024, was met with an avalanche of backlash as loyal fans of the game, first released in 2011, hit out at everything from the ‘souless’ rendering of Overworld to the decision to have live-action actors.

But fast forward to February and fans were won over by a new trailer, declaring the $150 million movie had had ‘a glow-up’ pre release.    

Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess is at the helm with a star-studded cast of Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Oscar nominee Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple), Wednesday star Emma Myers and Jennifer Coolidge.

A Minecraft Movie could bolster Warner Bros. box office fortunes with new projections putting it on a course for an impressive opening

The adaptation of the global smash hit game is tracking to open to around $58 million in its North American debut over the April 4-6 weekend, according to the National Research Group

The movie follows four misfits—Garrett ‘The Garbage Man’ Garrison (Momoa), Henry (Hansen), Natalie (Myers) and Dawn (Brooks)— who find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld: a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. 

To get back home, they’ll have to master this world (and protect it from evil things like Piglins and Zombies, too) while embarking on a magical quest with an unexpected, expert crafter, Steve (Black).

This film has actually been on the cards since the height of Minecraft mania back in 2014, originally with Rob McElhenney on to direct, and Steve Carell to star.

Mojang were protective of their prized ᴀsset from the get-go, stating they would only engage in such projects when ‘the right idea comes along’.

After studio executive changes delayed the original production, a new team settled in to the project in 2019, only for Covid to halt filming schedules. 

Director Hess signed on in 2022 with production finally getting underway in New Zealand in early 2024. 

Warner Bros. co-movie chiefs Mike DeLuca and Pam Abby will be hoping the movie will live up to its box office projections after a series of recent misses.

The good news comes after fans worried for the brand’s foray into film, which is based on Mojang Studios’ 300 million copy-selling video game

Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess is at the helm with a star-studded cast of Jack Black , Oscar nominee Danielle Brooks and Jason Momoa

The movie follows four misfits who find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld

In a sign of confidence, tickets went on sale on February 27, well over a month in advance. 

In comparision Disney’s much maligned Snow White remake only released tickets 11 days in advance, a signal that the studio was concerned about poor sales reports providing further damage. 

A Minecraft Movie opens on April 4.