A Minecraft Movieis the biggest Hollywood box office hit of the year so far, and its overperformance provides several lessons that Hollywood needs to learn. Heading into the film’s opening weekend, there were modest expectations for the video game movie’s financial outlook. No one expectedA Minecraft Movie’s opening weekend box officeto make a record $163 million domestically, with the overall earnings worldwide climbing to $313.2 million. That was just the start of the video game movie’s power housebox office performance despite bad reviews.
Currently,A Minecraft Moviehas made $816.5 million at the box officeworldwide. It was one of the two biggest movies in America for its first three weeks of release and it is still in the top five after a month in theaters. With the movie rapidly approaching the $1 billion milestone,A Minecraft Movieenters the summer movie season as Hollywood’s biggest hit. It’s nearly doubled upCaptain America: Brave New World’s total and is well above anything else that’s come out this year. Hollywood should take notes fromA Minecraft Movie’s box office surge.
4There Needs To Be More Movies For Gen Alpha
They Should Be The Target Demographic More Broadly Speaking
A Minecraft Movie’s box office success has largely been attributed to the film’s ability to captivate the minds of Gen Alpha, anyone born after 2010 until now. Warner Bros. made a smart bet by finally getting the adaptation of the hit video game off the ground here. It’s a title that is more so popular with children and teenagers, as theMinecraftgame launched in 2011. It’s essentially been around for the entirety of Gen Alpha’s existence and remains a title that kids of that generational are still playing and discovering.
its time to leave the 70s, 80s, and 90s properties behind and look at what the current generation of young potential moviegoers are interested in
Hollywood can often be stuck adapting older movies, shows, comics, games, and booksthat the adult executives know about. This can often lead to making movies based on properties that Gen Alpha isn’t familiar with, relying on the nostalgia of adults to try and make a film successful.A Minecraft Movieproves that its time to leave the 70s, 80s, and 90s properties behind and look at what the current generation of young potential moviegoers are interested in. Whether that’s video games likeLeague of LegendsorFortniteor shows likeBluey, Gen Alpha’s interests should be catered to.
3TikTok Trends Can Really Boost Awareness For A Movie
Chicken Jockeys Are Well-Known Now
There’s also a clear connection that can be made toA Minecraft Movie’s viral momentson TikTok and its sustained box office success. By now, most knowwhat a Chicken Jockey isor have heard Jack Black’s “Steve’s Lava Chicken” song. Those are but a few of the waysA Minecraft Moviebuilt a bigger cultural footprint. This, again, connects back to drawing interest from Gen Alpha. The key here is thatthe viral trends drove additional business to theatersas people wanted to make their own videos and participate in the various trends.
Studios should take note of how influential TikTok can be to a film’s box office
While the reactions and fallout of certain trends went too far, with arrests, destroyed theaters, and more transpiring,A Minecraft Movie’s popularity on social media elevating the box office is undeniable. This has happened before too.Barbiespawned several TikTok trends as it made $1.4 billion, whileMinions: The Rise of Gruused the GentleMinions to amass its $940 million haul. It’s impossible to really predict what parts of movies will start TikTok trends, so films shoudn’t include just for their viral potential. But, studios should take note of how influential TikTok can be to a film’s box office nowadays.
2Jason Momoa & Jack Black Are Pretty Bankable At The Box Office
They Appeal To All Types Of Audiences
Jason Momoa and Jack Black are two people who could directly benefit fromA Minecraft Movie’s box office success. It’s the latest film for each of them to do well financially and overperform the intial expectations.
Momoa was the star of WB’s $1 billionAquamanand its nearly $440 million sequel. He was also inDuneandJustice Leaguein scene-stealing roles, helping them make $429 million and $655 million respectively. Momoa’s charismatic villain performance inFast Xwas also a highlight of the $714 million franchise installment. Overall,A Minecraft Movieis Momoa’s fifth straight live-action movie to make over $400 millionat the box office.
Black has also become a rather bankable box office draw over the last 15 years or so.A Minecraft Moviecements Jack Black’s Gen Alpha connectionafter being in recent hit franchises likeJumanj,Kung Fu Panda, andGoosebumps, as well asThe Super Mario Bros. Movie. Even though his face isn’t always featured, his name recognition still works. He’s someone adult audiences love from some older comedic films, and now he’s managed to carve out a connection with the next wave of movie-lovers
1Kids Are The Key To Making The Biggest Video Game Movies
This Should Be Obvious By Now
Hollywood somehow hasn’t already learned this lesson, butA Minecraft Moviereaffirms that kids are the key to making video game movies massively popular.Studios have seen a lot of success with PG video game moviesthat are enjoyable for the entire family. This includes utilizing iconic video game characters like Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Pikachu. Steve fromMinecraftmight not be as iconic of a figure as them, butA Minecraft Moviesmartly targeted kids and families with its lighter story and broad comedy.
Video game movie adaptations have often gotten in trouble when Hollywood moves away from this PG framework. Sometimes that’s necessary when doingFive Nights at Freddy’s,Resident Evil,Mortal Kombat, orUncharted. But, it’s clear that if Hollywood wants more billion-dollar single video game movies or franchises, they need to make them for kids, or at least appeal to them. More adult-driven adaptations likeThe Last of UsorFalloutcan be better served on TV, while kid-friendly video games followA Minecraft Movie’s path.
