Alexander Skarsgård and Stellan Skarsgård make ‘SNL’ a family affair
As the ‘Murderbot’ star was joined by his dad for the show’s 1,000th episode, Ashley Padilla and Andrew Dismukes reunited on ‘Weekend Update.’
Popculturology • The Box Office Report
‘A Minecraft Movie’ digs up box office gold
The video game adaption blew away expectations, dominating the weekend with a $157M debut.
3 min read
Hello! Welcome to The Box Office Report for the weekend of April 4-6, 2025.
1. A Minecraft Movie
Weekend gross: $157M
Total domestic gross: $157M
Last weekend: New release
Percent drop: NA
Wow. I did not see a whopping $157 million opening weekend coming for A Minecraft Movie.
Just earlier last week, the movie was tracking for a domestic debut around $65 million, which would have been part of an estimated $130 million to $140 million worldwide haul. Instead, the Jack Black/Jason Momoa adaptation of the insanely popular video game (which also inspired a new flavor of McNuggets dipping sauce), absolutely blew away those estimates.
A $157 million opening weekend is the second biggest debut for a Momoa movie, trailing only Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’s $166 million. It’s the biggest first weekend for Black, leaping past The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s $146.4 million. And it’s easily the best opener for director Jared Hess, trouncing the $28.3 million that Nacho Libre (another Black movie) opened with in 2006.
I totally underestimated how successfully the popularity of Minecraft would drive A Minecraft Movie to this level of box office power. Sure, I love watching Black host SNL — but did this movie ever really need that kind of promotion? Or was it going to be a success from the day it was greenlit?
➕ Already a Popculturology subscriber? Please consider becoming a supporter by upgrading your account.
🍪 Wanna add Snackology to your subscription? Update your email preferences on your account page.
🍪 Wanna add Snackology to your subscription? Update your email preferences on your account page.
2. A Working Man
Weekend gross: $7.3M
Total domestic gross: $27.8M
Last weekend: 1st
Percent drop: 53
After whistling while it worked Snow White out of first place last weekend, A Working Man dropped to the No. 2 spot this past weekend. It definitely feels like the Jason Statham movie threaded a very fine needle when it came to capitalizing on the box office failure of Snow White right before A Minecraft Movie took over.
Read next
Stephen Colbert reveals date of final ‘Late Show’ episode
The late-night host joined Seth Meyers to reflect on the impending end of the longtime CBS franchise. PLUS: Trailers for ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ and ‘Daredevil: Born Again,’ a new look at Jason Momoa as Lobo, and ‘Ted Lasso’ returns this summer.
Chris Pratt shows ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ no ‘Mercy’
I could’ve written a much better headline about this movie if it had starred John Stamos instead.
There’s too much f*cking sh*t on Joel Kinnaman
‘For All Mankind’ gets a Season 5 premiere date and an even older looking Ed Baldwin. PLUS: Oscar nominations announced, ‘Maul’ lords over a new trailer, and Seth Meyers and Molly Baz face off in a sandwich draft.
‘Sinners’ breaks record for most Oscar nominations with 16
Ryan Coogler’s film leads fellow nominees ‘One Battle After Another,’ ‘Marty Supreme’ and ‘Hamnet’ while ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ somehow scored a nomination for Costume Styling?