Theater counts: A Minecraft Movie thrusts into 4,263 theaters

April 3, 2025

It was a dogfight at the weekend box office with newcomer A Working Man edging out the previous chart topper, Disney’s Snow White, by $1.18 million, hauling in $15.51 million in its first three days. It will be one and done at the top of the box office for the Jason Statham action pic, however as another newcomer makes its cinematic arrival, this time in the form of the adventure-comedy, A Minecraft Movie.

Making its start in 4,263 locations, A Minecraft Movie follows four misfits 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. The film, which is based on the 2011 video game, features an ensemble cast including Jason Momoa, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, Sebastian Hansen, and last but not least, Jack Black, who has experience with similar films, playing lead in both 2017’s Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle as well as the follow-up, Jumanji: The Next Level.

Also making its theatrical debut this weekend is the latest from Neon with the release of the comedy-horror film, Hell of a Summer. The movie stars Fred Hechinger as a 24-year-old camp counselor who must take charge of a summer camp after a serial killer begins picking his fellow counselors off one at a time in a film reminiscent of the classic Friday the 13th movies. Billy Bryk and Finn Wolfhard direct the film, which will be available in 1,250 movie houses throughout North America.

Coming in just above the wide release threshold, making its entrance in 659 venues, is the film The Luckiest Man in America. The movie is based on the 1984 Press Your Luck game show scandal in which ice cream truck driver Michael Larson pulls off a heist in front of a live TV audience. Paul Walter Hauser portrays the so-called “Luckiest Man in America”.

Expanding from two locations last weekend to 1,237 this weekend is The Friend. The film, which is based on the 2018 Sigrid Nunez novel, follows a writer and teacher whose comfortable life is thrown into chaos after her closest friend and mentor bequeaths her his beloved 150-pound Great Dane. Naomi Watts and Bill Murray star in this lighthearted drama.

Rounding out the top five widest releases this weekend is the aforementioned Snow White, which dips to 3,750 cinemas heading into its third weekend on the big screen. Occupying the spot as third most available film is A Working Man, holding onto its opening count of 3,262 locations. Next up is Death of a Unicorn, playing in 3,005 locations. Lastly, adding a trio of theaters for its second week is A Woman in the Yard, showing in 2,845 venues.

Looking ahead to next weekend, we see the opening of four new films in domestic theaters, including Rami Malek’s thriller feature, The Amateur, expected to debut in approximately 3,200 theaters; true life war drama, Warfare, Angel Studios’ faith-based animated film, The King of Kings and lastly, the Christopher Landon-directed thriller, Drop, which is projected to land in approximately 3,000 locations.

Filed under: Theater Counts, Jack Black, Rami Malek, Bill Murray, Jason Statham, Naomi Watts, Christopher Landon, Jason Momoa, Danielle Brooks, Fred Hechinger, Sebastian Eugene Hansen, Emma Myers