The first-ever big-screen adaptation of the world’s best-selling video game, A Minecraft Movie, debuted in theatres this weekend and is already being hailed as a box office smash. The release comes shortly after Disney‘s live-action remake of Snow White, which has received criticism that it’s too “woke.”

Here’s how the two films compared at their opening weekend at the box office.

Why It Matters

Disney’s live-action remake of the 1937 film Snow White, starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, has been followed by controversy. The film took center stage in the ongoing culture wars about the film industry, with decisions to modernize the story being labelled as too “woke” or too “feminist.”

Zegler also faced scrutiny over her comments about President Donald Trump after his victory in last year’s presidential race, including writing in an Instagram post, “May Trump supporters and Trump voters and Trump himself never know peace.”

Meanwhile, others took issue with the casting of Gadot who previously served in the Israeli army prior to its latest conflict with Hamas.

Anticipation for the Minecraft movie was high. Starring Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge and Jason Momoa, teasers and trailers for the movie had racked up millions of views on YouTube while the game itself had more than 200 million active monthly players as of December 2024, as per Demand Sage. But it was not clear before its release how the film would fare, and if it would join the ranks of other ill-fated video game films.

What To Know

Both Snow White and A Minecraft Movie were widely panned by critics. The former has received a 40 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes while the latter has received a 47 percent score.

However, A Minecraft Movie has proved to be a box-office smash in spite of this, while the same cannot be said for Snow White.

A Minecraft Movie is the biggest opening of 2025 so far, earning $157 million in ticket sales from theatres in the U.S. and Canada, as per studio estimates on Sunday.

The film has made an additional $144 million in ticket sales internationally, teeing the title up for a global debut of $301 million. It has also broken the record for a video game adaptation, which was previously held by The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which grossed $146 million.

Snow White, on the other hand took, an estimated $87.3 million overall during its opening weekend and $43 million domestically, according to Box Office Mojo. The film cost a reported $270 million to make.

Though it did top the box office chart on its opening weekend, it sits at second-to-lowest in terms of income on an opening weekend compared to other Disney live-action remakes.

What People Are Saying

Pamela Abdy, co-chair and co-CEO of the Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, said about A Minecraft Movie: “We’re just thrilled that audiences are responding and that everyone’s going to the theatre.”

Actor Jack Black speaking to The Hollywood Reporter about the film: “What the world needs now is love, sweet love… We’ve got to work together, my God. There’s so much violence and war and hatred. And that’s what I love about this movie—there’s a lot of love in it and there’s a lot of creativity. There is some anger and violence too, but in the end it’s about friendship and working together to make [the world] a better place.”

Shawn Robbins, director of movie analytics at Fandango and founder and owner of Box Office Theory, previously told Newsweek about Snow White: “I imagine the film will bring out some families in the weeks ahead as exit polls from family audiences aren’t as negative as the other discourse surrounding the film. It will face some competition from Minecraft but otherwise will have spring break in major markets and no additional direct competition until late May.”

One social media user wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “A Minecraft Movie is the perfect ‘turn your brain off’ film Has tons of heart and is made for the fans Genuinely had me crackin up, Jason Momoa and Jack Black made this thing fr.”

Another X user wrote: “If you trash the new Snow White live-action film but praise the Minecraft film you’re a clown.”

What Happens Next?

Both films are currently showing in cinemas.