As Warner Bros./Legendary\’s
\”A Minecraft Movie\”
aims to demonstrate that its popularity isn’t just a one-time occurrence, several films from mainly niche distributors are entering cinemas this weekend with hopes of generating positive buzz leading up to Palm Sunday. Among these newcomers are Disney’s 20th Century film “The Amateur” and Angel Studios’ “The King of Kings,” along with three others.
However, everyone\’s attention will undoubtedly be on \”Minecraft\” as it aims to transform the typically slow April box office into the robust pre-summer success that movie theaters generally experience in March. Since its debut, which saw it outperform \”Barbie\” with a impressive $163 million domestic start, the buzz around both the film and its special screenings has continued to escalate through viral videos and internet memes.
When viewers are increasingly choosy and tend to swiftly dismiss a movie if negative reviews spread through word of mouth, “A Minecraft Movie” possesses an unusual level of attention that isn’t based on how good it actually is (it holds a 47% rating on Rotten Tomatoes). As mentioned
Velvet Voque\’s analysis
Earlier this week, the experience of watching the movie in theaters has emerged as the primary attraction, rather than the film itself.
And although this has caused frustration among some theater staff members, as portrayed in various news articles about law enforcement issues,
invited to raucous film showings
If anything, it has turned \”Minecraft\” into a Gen Z phenomenon akin to \”
Gentleminions
Craze occurred about three years ago when many young men came dressed in suits and ties to watch \’Minions: The Rise of Gru,\’ contributing to the movie’s impressive haul of $370.5 million.
Regarding \”Minecraft,\” organizers anticipate that the movie will maintain a second-week decline under 60%. This could result in earnings of at least $65 million during the second weekend. However, significant growth potential exists, with projections suggesting a possible revenue exceeding $75 million—a figure originally anticipated as its opening weekend gross. Should the retention rate dip to around 50% or less, \”Minecraft\” might swiftly reach the milestone of over $1 billion in box office takings.
For new releases, none are expected to debut with over $15 million this weekend. However, one film that might unexpectedly perform well is \”The King of Kings\” from Angel Studios and Mofac Animation. This animation revisits the Gospel story featuring a star-studded vocal ensemble where Kenneth Branagh voices Charles Dickens recounting the Christian narrative to his child, alongside Oscar Isaac portraying Jesus Christ.
Following approximately $8 million in pre-sales, \”The King of Kings\” is expected to generate between $12 and $13 million. This figure would match or marginally exceed the $11.8 million debut from \”The Chosen: Last Supper — Eps. 1-3\” two weeks prior.
Fathom is set to release the concluding episodes of \”The Chosen: Last Supper\” in selective screenings this weekend. Many of these theaters will also show previous episodes for devoted followers of Dallas Jenkins’ series, allowing them to enjoy binge-watching on a large screen over Palm Sunday.
Alongside \”The King of Kings,” which Angel Studios obtained from Mofac last November, there will be numerous religious content options available for Christian film enthusiasts. For certain cinema operators like B&B Theatres based in Missouri, “The Chosen” was their top-grossing feature before “Minecraft.” Adding both an animated interpretation and a live-action version of the Gospel could potentially boost earnings significantly for these theaters during the upcoming Easter season.
For viewers who prefer less religious-themed movies, options like stories of vengeance, conflict, and mobile phone-induced fear are available. Disney/20th Century’s “The Amateur” is expected to vie for the second position against “The King of Kings,” projecting an opening weekend revenue of around $12 million from approximately 3,300 screens, which includes additional premiums for certain formats.
In \”The Amateur,\” Rami Malek portrays a CIA cryptographer who takes matters into his own hands after his spouse is murdered, opting to use a firearm. The film comes with an estimated production cost of $60 million and will likely need international box office success to recoup this investment. Critics have offered somewhat mixed reviews, awarding the movie a 68% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, audience reactions during previews were notably more favorable, garnering an 86% approval rate.
Anticipated to debut within the low figures are A24\’s
\”Warfare\”
And Universal/Blumhouse\’s \”Drop.\” Helmed by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza with a $20 million budget, \”Warfare\” draws from Mendoza’s memories of combat during the Battle of Ramadi in the Iraq War when he served as a Navy SEAL. The film chronicles his unit\’s experiences in real-time.
Despite earning high praise as one of the most realistic and intense cinematic portrayals of warfare, with a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, \”Warfare\” is expected to appeal primarily to niche viewers. Consequently, it is forecasted to debut at around $8 million over the weekend across approximately 2,650 screens.
\”Drop,\”
In the meantime, it\’s not anticipated to lift Blumhouse out of their recent downturn, likely earning around $6-7 million from approximately 3,000 theaters during its debut weekend. It would rely heavily on positive reviews and recommendations to gain traction, particularly since it has earned an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This thriller features Meghann Fahy as a single mom who embarks on an extravagant date but soon finds herself coerced into murdering her dinner partner after receiving threatening texts stating that her child and sibling will face dire consequences otherwise.
The post
As \”Minecraft\” Surpasses $65 Million in Its Second Week, Revenge, War, and Jesus Provide Alternative Box Office Choices
appeared first on
Velvet Voque
.