Minecraft Movie Madness Hits $130M+ at the Box Office

Demographics: Who’s Loving the Movie, and Who’s Not

As A Minecraft Movie continues to break box office records, it’s essential to understand the demographics behind its success. According to PostTrak, the 18-24 year olds are the biggest demographic at 43% (they give it a 70% grade), followed by 13-17 year olds (35% turnout, 85% grade). Men under 25 are another big demographic at 54% (78% grade), followed by women under 25 (74%), men over 25 at 13% (81%) and women over 25 at 8% (80% grade).

Fifty percent said A Minecraft Movie met their expectations while 39% said it exceeded expectations. Latino and Hispanic audiences, who represent 31% of all ticket buyers after Caucasian’s 46%, give the Jared Hess-directed comedy a 72% definite recommend. Imax and PLFs rep a third of the weekend’s business so far with 3D driving 15% of all ticket sales.

The Competition: Snow White’s Underwhelming Performance

A Disney Princess Falls Short: $43M Domestic and $87.3M Global

While A Minecraft Movie is breaking records, Disney’s Snow White is struggling to find its footing. The live-action take of the 1937 toon is opening higher than other controversial laden movies such as Warner Bros’ Catwoman ($16.7M) and Joker: Folie a Deux ($37.6M) and even Relativity’s very expensive-at-the-time 2012 version of Snow White, Mirror Mirror ($18.1M). However, at the current level, it’s right on par with Dumbo’s lackluster start ($46M), and far behind other Disney feature takes of vaults animated movies, i.e. The Little Mermaid ($95.5M), Maleficent ($69.4M), and Cinderella ($67.8M).

B+ CinemaScore, But a Poor Grade for a Disney Live-Action Take

Snow White received a B+ CinemaScore, which is an extremely low grade for this type of Disney sub-genre. Even the middling ones, i.e. Dumbo (A-), Mufasa (A-), Pete’s Dragon (A), and the Maleficent franchise (both As) earned top grades with audiences. A fairest grade resides in the Rotten Tomatoes score of 74% for Snow White which is better than Dumbo (47%), and not far from Maleficent (70%) and Cinderella (78%).

Lessons Learned: How to Handle Negative Word-of-Mouth

Amid star Rachel Zegler’s candid comments during production of Snow White, and the whole dwarf debacle, was there any way Disney could have curtailed all the bad press on what was hoped to be a potential box office winner? Some in motion picture marketing realms firmly believe no, but there’s an argument to be made that the studio could have alleviated this. Even though critical reviews stand at 44% Rotten, there was a positive word of mouth that began to eke out of last weekend’s Hollywood world premiere about this musical with songs by Greatest Showman Pasek and Paul. Way too late! Disney could have rallied the support of millennial and Gen Z social media influencers, screened the movie to them early on, and blasted the loudspeakers instead of enduring a barrage of tabloid pieces.

The Age Factor: Snow White’s 88-Year-Old Problem

Why Little Mermaid Succeeded, While Snow White Struggled

How does The Little Mermaid, which also endured a ton of male online vitriol over the casting of its lead, in that case, Halle Bailey, open to $95.5M over 3-days and do a 3x multiple a near $300M domestic? How does The Little Mermaid get away with it and Snow White can’t? Disney

The Double Standard: How Disney Treats Its Princesses

The answer lies in the age factor. Snow White is 88 years old, making it one of the oldest Disney princesses. On the other hand, The Little Mermaid is a relatively newer franchise, with a younger target audience. Disney’s treatment of its princesses also plays a significant role. The studio has been able to revamp and rebrand its newer franchises, making them more relatable and appealing to modern audiences.

Implications for Future Live-Action Adaptations

The success of A Minecraft Movie and the failure of Snow White have significant implications for future live-action adaptations. Studios need to understand their target audience and tailor their marketing strategies accordingly. They also need to be aware of the age factor and how it affects the franchise’s appeal. By doing so, they can ensure the success of their live-action adaptations and avoid the pitfalls of negative word-of-mouth.

The Industry Implications: A New Era for Video Game Movies

A Game-Changer for the Industry: The Rise of Video Game Adaptations

The success of A Minecraft Movie marks a new era for video game movies. The film’s ability to appeal to a wide range of audiences, from children to adults, has proven that video game adaptations can be successful and profitable. This opens up new opportunities for studios to explore other popular video game franchises and bring them to life on the big screen.

The Impact on Traditional Hollywood Movies: A Shift in Power Dynamics

The rise of video game adaptations also has significant implications for traditional Hollywood movies. As studios shift their focus towards video game franchises, traditional movies may struggle to compete for attention and box office revenue. This shift in power dynamics could lead to a change in the way movies are produced, marketed, and distributed.

What’s Next for Warner Bros and the Minecraft Franchise?

With the success of A Minecraft Movie, Warner Bros is likely to explore other opportunities within the Minecraft franchise. This could include sequels, spin-offs, and even TV shows. The studio will need to continue to innovate and adapt to changing audience preferences to ensure the continued success of the franchise.