- A Minecraft Movie £7,201,922 – £31,056,475
Down 52% in its second weekend
Took £2.06m 28.6% (-55.7% £4.65m) Friday; £2.58m 35.8% (-56.3% £5.9m) Saturday; £2.56m 35.6% (-42.6% £4.46m) Sunday; £2.13m Monday; £2.5m Tuesday (up 13% from last week)
42nd biggest second weekend between Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and LOTR: The Return of the King (close to Super Mario Bros, Mary Poppins Returns, Shrek 2 and Incredibles 2) and 85th biggest inflated second weekend between The World Is Not Enough and War of the Worlds (close to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Incredibles, The Lego Movie and Ice Age III)
The biggest second weekend of the year is ahead of Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, Captain America: Brave New World and Snow White
4th biggest second weekend over the last 52 weeks between Inside Out 2 and Moana 2 (close to Deadpool & Wolverine, Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, Paddington In Peru and Despicable Me 4).
There have been many articles about why the industry failed the predict the size of the opening of A Minecraft Movie, saying it was due to the “Chicken Jockey” TikTok viral, As with the Gentleminions viral with Minions: Rise of Gru three years ago, looking at the number of views these videos had, they have been seen by a small percentage of those who paid to see the film and the media has made it a far bigger story than it really is.
Exhibitors have since organised special “Chicken Jockey screenings” and actively encouraged fans to go crazy watching the film. With films like Minecraft playing on multiple screens, they should tailor these screens for different audiences, like social media-friendly screens, child-friendly and then 18-only screens for cinemagoers who want to watch films like Minecraft but without the madness. According to a 2023 YouGov survey, 11% of moviegoers are guilty of checking their phones during a film.
The real reason why A Minecraft Movie opened so strongly was similar to Super Mario Bros, having 204m+ users monthly online, selling 300m+ copies worldwide, with over 200k copies sold in the UK in 2023 12th best-selling video game in 2023. Minecraft was bought by Microsoft in 2014 for $2.5bn.
Other films that targeted a similar audience include.
2014’s The Lego Movie dropped 25.7% £5,978,904 /£6,430,751 and £21,880,053 66.53% of £32,887,286/£38,760,016
2017’s Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle dropped 36.1% £5,210,725 and £17,835,902 47.03% of £36,968,605
2022’s Uncharted dropped 19.8% £3,775,360 and £12,163,778 50.5% of £24,091,881
Unlike many recent video game film adaptations, Minecraft is an open sandbox game similar to Lego with no plot, so the film can go in any direction, as was the case with 2014’s The Lego Movie.
147th biggest between Shrek Forever After and Thor: Ragnarok (close to Gladiator II, Slumdog Millionaire, Notting Hill and The BFG) and 304th biggest inflated between Mission: Impossible II and A Fish Called Wanda (close to Stuart Little, Star Wars Special Edition, Never Say Never Again and Monsters vs. Aliens).
- 2. The Amateur £1,101,451 – NE
Took £324k 29.43% Friday; £428k 38.87% Saturday; £349k 31.7% Sunday; £241k Monday and £278k Tues.
1,598th biggest opening between Delivery Man and E.T. (close to Natural Born Killers, Eye in the Sky, Ex Machina and Layer Cake) and 2,238th inflated opening between The Manchurian Candidate and Red Riding Hood (close to The International, Don’t Say A Word, Wall Street and Side Effects)
45th biggest opening over the last 52 weekends between Trap and Babygirl (close to Speak No Evil, Longlegs, The Monkey and Conclave) and 10th biggest 2025 opening between Mickey 17 and Babygirl.
Opened in 625 cinemas 177th widest opening, similar to It Ends With Us and close to Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, The Phantom Of The Open, The Father and Alien: Covenant; 252nd 600+ cinema opening since 2015’s Jurassic World.
Disappointing opening for a well-received action/thriller that was compared to Jason Bourne, as with Black Bag set in the UK, should have opened far stronger, especially as it opened with almost half as much as last year’s Argylle.
2025’s Back Bag opened £915,376, taking £3,100,522
2024’s The Beekeeper opened £956,380, taking £3,830,079
2024’s Argylle opened £2,014,521 taking £5,928,971
2001’s Swordfish opened £1,615,206/£3,089,959 taking £6,725,608/£12,866,381
1992’s Sneakers opened £581,444/£1,434,591 taking £2,045,671/£5,047,263
James Hawes previously directed 2024’s One Life, which opened £3,324,502 and took £9,988,047; he also directed the first series of Slow Horses.
The Amateur is the kind of adult thriller that 20th Century Fox was successful with in the years before the studio was acquired by Disney, and also what Disney were also remarkably successful with before they went into the property-making business, making films by Touchstone Pictures.
20th Century Fox
Gone Girl, Fight Club, Black Swan, The Monuments Men, Life of Pi, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Taken, Bridge of Spies, Man on Fire, Unstoppable, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Road to Perdition, Phone Booth, The Last King of Scotland, Hidden Figures, The Revenant, Murder on the Orient Express and The Descendants
Touchstone Pictures
The Sixth Sense, Enemy of the State, The Color of Money, Good Morning, Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, Stakeout, Ransom, Face/Off, Air Force One, The Village, The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Horse Whisperer, High Fidelity, Unbreakable, The Recruit, Déjà vu, The Help and War Horse.
Releasing The Amateur in April shows again that Disney have no interest in these kinds of films, as there’s no merchandise or theme park rides; these are just films. It was originally due to open in November, as 20th Century Fox released 2018’s Widows (opened £2,409,112 taking £6,275,005.
The Amateur is yet another film set in hacking that always makes it much more exciting than it is, a group of guys in a dark room working long hours. Include 1995’s Hackers, 1983’s Wargames,2015’s Blackhat, 2013’s The Fifth Estate, 2017’s The Fate of The Furious, 2010’s The Social Network, 2014’s Transcendence, 2010’s TRON: Legacy, 2006’s Firewall, 2003’s The Italian Job, 2008’s Eagle Eye, 2014’s The Imitation Game, 2012’s Skyfall, 1995’s Johnny Mnemonic, 1992’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day, 2007’s Die Hard 4: Live Free or Die Hard, 1998’s Enemy of the State, 1999’s The Matrix and 2008’s Untraceable along with TV series including Mr Robot, Black Mirror and Silicon Valley.
- 3. Six The Musical (Musical) £915,149 – £3,944,753
Down 57.2% in the second weekend
Took £300k 32.79% Friday; £293k 32.02% Saturday; £322k 35.19% (-84.95% £2.13m) Sunday; £154k Monday and £228k Tuesday.
Impossible to compare the second weekend as very few Event Cinema screenings play for more than a week, 2023’s Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour is the only direct comparison, down 53% in the second weekend, taking £2,362,711 and £8,661,147, 71.2% of £12,164,375.
1,213th biggest second weekend between The First Wives Club and George and the Jungle (close to Better Man, Sweet Home Alabama, Mirror Mirror and The Queen) and 1,791st biggest second weekend between The Railway Man and The Whole Nine Yards (close to The Young Victoria, Amelie, Water for Elephants and The Artist).
It’s impossible to compare Six The Musical with any other film as the average ticket price is over double the industry average for cinema tickets at £7.74, with cinemas charging £15+. Despite having “broken” records for the highest opening day figure for a musical ever, the widest opening for Event Cinema in the UK in 700 cinemas and the third highest single day BO for Event Cinema.
It was surprising that the trailer for Six The Musical was only released in cinemas in February, as it should have played before Wicked, and it would have surely had an even bigger opening, targeting the same demographic. It was surely also helped by the poor performance of Snow White.
Universal Pictures has screened several stage productions in UK cinemas, including The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables and Billy Elliot, and will surely be bringing many more to cinemas in the future.
Has become the biggest Event Cinema release of the year, ahead of Macbeth: David Tennant and Cush Jumbo (Theatre) (£2.3m), which gets re-released next week in cinemas.
Six The Musical opened in London in January 2019 after premiering at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017; in June 2022, the original cast returned for the filmed version, which was released on Sunday. The musical has been seen by over 3.5 million worldwide. It’s one of the most popular musicals of the 21st century, with a score having over 1bn in 2024.
It will have more screenings across the rest of this week and the weekend, the following Sat/Sun and with more shows in May.
- 4. Andre Rieu’s 75th Birthday Celebration: The Dream Continues £596,897 -NE
Took £241k 40.37% Saturday and £356k 59.63% Sunday.
The third lowest opening for Andre Rieu’s after COVID affected 2020’s Andre Rieu: Magical Maastricht: Together In Music (September) £124,101 #4 403 screens and 2021’s Andre Rieu: Summer Concert: Together Again (August) £420,056 #4 551 screens; similar to 2024’s Andre Rieu’s 2024 Maastricht Concert #5 £629,652 from 649 screens.
Long way from the biggest opening for Andre Rieu 2018’s Maastricht Concert Amore £1,783,222; 2019’s Maastricht Concert – Shall We Dance? £1,492,154 #4 587 screens and 2016’s Andre Rieu: Maastricht Concert £1,414,075; 2017’s Andre Rieu: Maastricht Concert £1,439,604.
After the last concert, 2024’s Andre Rieu’s Christmas Concert: Gold And Silver opened £931,024 #6 from 558 screens. Why didn’t this year’s concert open as strongly?
- 5. Disney’s Snow White £411,078 – £9,148,946
Down 38.6% in its fourth weekend
Took £112k 27.25% (-21.68% £143k) Friday; £144k 35% -52.2% £301k) Sat; £155k 37.7% (-31.1% £225k) Sun; £205k Monday (up 20%) and £286k Tuesday (up 55%)
949th biggest fourth weekend between No Country For Old Men and 127 Hours (close to Cheaper By The Dozen, The Hannah Montana Movie, 27 Dresses and Mean Girls (2004)) and the 1,229th biggest inflated fourth weekend between I Give It A Year and Rocky Balboa (close to Coraline, The Peanuts Movie, Megamind and The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water)
18th biggest Disney reimagination fourth weekend between Alice Through The Looking Glass and Haunted Mansion (2023) (close to Disney’s Christopher Robin, Flubber, Cruella and Pete’s Dragon (2016)
Fourth weekends
2012’s Mirror Mirror dropped 18.3% £437,356/£547,210 and £6,627,586 87.5% of £7,578,055/£9,422,009
2012’s Snow White and the Huntsman dropped 33% £870,402/£1,089,027 and £13,413,970 85.1% of £15,666,534/£19,478,642
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was last re-released in cinemas in 1992 and took £4,657,649/£11,491,769.
Disney re-imagination fourth weekends:
2015’s Cinderella dropped 39.3% £1,083,245 and £17,401,313 81.8% of £20,982,668/£23,048,922
2013’s Maleficent dropped 38.2% £970,381 and £15,230,777 78.3% of £19,453,353; Sequel 2019’s Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil dropped 49% £1,025,043 and £13,074,572 88.5% of £14,773,607.
2010’s Alice in Wonderland dropped 48.5% £2,496,673/£3,344,283 and £34,817,788 82.6% of £42,169,542
2017’s Beauty and the Beast dropped 59.1% £2,759,448/£2,936,288 and £58,485,266 80.8% of £72,430,579
2019’s The Lion King dropped 15.3% £4,366,824 and £59,913,197 78.9% of £75,938,299/£83,826,626
2016’s The Jungle Book dropped 62.9% £2,139,629/£2,301,328 and £36,835,516 79.7% of £46,235,032
2019’s Aladdin dropped 26.7% £2,881,535 and £30,419,724 82.9% of £36,710,978
2023’s The Little Mermaid dropped 37.7% £1,323,769 and £22,028,857 80.8% of £27,275,784
821st biggest between Cold Mountain and Arrival (close to Sleepless in Seattle, Sleeping With The Enemy, Wayne’s World and Mean Girls (2024) and 1,318th biggest inflated between Abominable and Blades of Glory (close to Big Foot and The Hendersons, Goosebumps, Edge of Tomorrow and Father of the Bride 2).
Also opened.
• Drop – Universal Pictures
Opened £382,902 #6 from 483 screens.
It’s the latest horror film to struggle to find a wide audience this year, after Wolf Man, Companion, Heart Eyes, and The Monkey. Nosferatu was the last horror that had a strong opening, but it was a different kind of horror from these other films targeting teenagers.
It’s also hard for a film like Drop to have a PG-13 certificate in the US but 15 in the UK, meaning most of its target audience can’t legally see it.
It was compared to films like 1995’s Nick of Time and 1998’s Snake Eyes a film set in real time with the victim forced to do something or something happens to their family and they can’t tell anyone, the difference is it’s with messages on the mobile featuring Digidrops similar to Apple’s AirDrop, sending images directly to the phone, but they need to be within 50ft of each other.
It’s films like Drop that are suffering as audiences have become much more selective in the films they see in the cinema and those they wait to see at home. Exhibitors want to extend the theatrical window back to 45 days, despite films like Drop being played out of cinemas within 14 days. Extending the window for 45 days won’t make audiences see it in the cinema.
Horror thriller starring Meghann Fahy, Brandon Sklenar, Violett Beane and Jacob Robinson and directed by Christopher Landon; from Blumhouse Productions; Blumhouse also have The Woman in the Yard, M3GAN 2.0, The Black Phone 2 and Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 for release this year via Universal Pictures.
Had its world premiere at the SXSW, receiving positive reviews (85% Rotten Tomatoes), laughter and applause from the audience, a roller coaster ride that never slows down, and a great Friday night cinema audience film.
Christopher Landon signed to direct Drop after dropping out of directing Scream 7 after Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega left; previously directed 2017’s Happy Death Day opened £998,388, taking £2,678,427, and 2021’s Freaky opened £344,918, taking £685,870.
Have similarities to films like 2005’s Red Eye opened £891,582/£1,499,221, taking £3,414,662/£5,741,852, and 2003’s Phone Booth opened £1,385,040/£2,470,612, taking £6,340,355/£11,309,822?
UK box office in detail
The weekend’s top 10 box office took £11,429,088, down 41.2% from last weekend’s £19,423,078: 1,367,674 admissions down 45.5% from 2,509,442 admissions.
19th biggest weekend of the last 52 weeks between 28 June 2024 #1 Inside Out 2 £6,003,526 (49.6%) and 06 September 2024 #1 Beetlejuice 2 £7,352,760 (64.47%)
76th biggest since cinemas reopened out of 230 weeks between 22 July 2022 #1 Minions: The Rise Of Gru £3,086,374 (26.94%) and 06 September 2024 #1 Beetlejuice 2 £7,352,760 (64.47%)
495th biggest top 10 of the last 22 years (out of 1,201) between 04 November 2016 #1 Doctor Strange £3,445,203 (30.14%) and 08 June 2012 #1 Prometheus £3,135,504 (27.45%) and 805th inflated between 22 May 2015 #1 Pitch Perfect 2 £2,665,428 (25.76%) and 16 May 2014 #1 Godzilla £6,385,483 (66.32%)
The top 3 took (£9,218,521) 80.7% of the top 10; A Minecraft Movie 63% (£7,201,921); The Amateur 9.64% (£1,101,451); Six The Musical (Musical) 8.01% (£915,149).
125th biggest percentage share #1 (63.01%) between 30 November 2001 #1 Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone £5,809,759 (63.04%) and 16 November 2012 #1 Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 £15,850,825 (62.96%)
314th biggest admissions #1 (930,481) between 09 January 2015 #1 Taken 3 £6,714,530 (931,280) and 15 January 2010 #1 Avatar £5,527,039 (928,914)
Up 14.97% from 2024; (£9,940,796); Back To Black (£2,772,698); Civil War (£1,823,179); SUGA – Agust D TOUR ‘D-DAY’ THE MOVIE (£114,394); #1 Back To Black £2,772,698 1st week 719 screens (27.89% of top 10)
Down 7.4% from 2023; (£12,342,706); Renfield (£680,661); Suzume (£469,100); Der Rosenkavalier – Met Opera 2023 (£96,666); Assassin Club (£43,187); Raging Bull (4K Restoration) (£27,981); #1 Super Mario Bros £7,568,523 2nd week 51% drop 722 screens (61.32% of top 10)
Down 0.3% from 2022 (£11,463,631); The Lost City ( £2,743,211); The Northman (£897,737); Operation Mincemeat (£895,008); K.G.F: Chapter 2 (£357,038); Benedetta (£62,056); Dr. No (60th Anniversary) (£8,349); #1 The Lost City £2,743,211 1st week 617 screens (23.93% of top 10)
2021 Lockdown
2020 Lockdown
Up 4.89% from 2019: (£10,896,294) Wonder Park (£1,586,003); Hellboy (£989,562); Wild Rose (£772,060); Little (£540,579); Mid90s (£100,454); #1 Dumbo £2,345,046 down 33% 3rd-week 2nd-week #1 split over 3 weeks 697 screens (21.5% of top 10)
Down 10.08% from 2018: (£12,710,945); Rampage (£4,109,247); Truth or Dare (£931,250); Luisa Miller Met Opera 2018 (£231,297); #1 Rampage £4,109,247 55 screens 1st week.
Down 51% from 2017: (£23,324,163); Fast & Furious 8 (£14,026,301); The Handmaiden (£474,752); The Sense of an Ending (£329,948); #1 Fast & Furious 8 £14,026,301 1st week 572 screens (60.14%)
Down 27.1% from 2016: (£15,777,777); The Jungle Book (£9,901,921); Eye in the Sky (£1,110,959); Criminal (£248,376); 28 Days Later (Secret Cinema) (£160,185); #1 The Jungle Book £9,901,921 594 screens 1st week (62.7% of the top 10)
Down 7.8% from 2015; (£12,405,583); The DUFF (£891,691); John Wick (£539,602); Woman in Gold (£494,512); Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (£480,158); Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (£90,301); Force Majeure (£87,398); Lost River (£54,264); #1 Fast & Furious 7 £5,407,918 2nd week 57% drop 540 screens.
Up 30.25% from 2014: (£8,774,743); The Quiet Ones (£681,305); Calvary (£571,489); The Raid 2 (£454,150); The Last Days on Mars (£46,925); #1 Captain America: The Winter Soldier £1,782,201 2nd week split over 3 weeks (3rd week) #1 517 screens.
Up 4.17% from 2013: (£10,971,615); Oblivion (£4,959,386); Scary Movie 5 (£1,085,932); The Place Beyond the Pines (£671,119); #1 Oblivion £4,959,386 520 screens 1st week
Down 9.12% from 2012 (£12,576,386); Battleship (£3,763,348); Cabin in the Woods (£1,601,161); Delicacy (£81,683); A Night to Remember (Re) (£3,273); #1 Battleship £3,763,348 1st week 496 screens.
Down 42.46% from 2011; (£8,022,776); Scream 4 (£2,061,885); Your Highness (£926,338); Red Riding Hood (£842,398); Winnie the Pooh (£159,369); Little White Lies (£125,273); #1 Scream 4 £2,061,885 408 screens 1st week (25.7% of top 10)
Up 25.17% from 2010: (£9,130,568); Dear John (£1,995,3010; The Ghost (£853,679); Cemetery Junction (£641,218); Repo Men (£182,798); #1 Dear John £1,995,301 402 screens 1st week
Down 18.07% from 2009; (£13,950,469); Fast & Furious (£4,928,784); 17 Again (£2,564,102); Race to Witch Mountain (£581,250); Dragonball Evolution (£379,777); Let the Right One In (£224,154); 50 Dead Men Walking (£99,440); #1 Fast & Furious £4,928,784 364 screens 1st week.
Up 78.48% from 2008; (£6,403,618); 21 (£1,649,855); Leatherheads (£474,780); Shine a Light (£338,061); Pathology (£313,886); Rec (£92,545); Strange Wilderness (£13,360); #1 21 £1,649,855 1st weeks.
Up 67.02% from 2007: (£6,842,807); Wild Hogs (£1,691,797); Shooter (£716,202); Curse of the Golden Flower (£362,169); Perfect Stranger (£277,047); The Lives of Others (£223,586); #1 Wild Hogs (£1,691,797 1st week
Up 29.09% from 2006; (£8,853,843): Scary Movie 4 (£1,953,094); Take the Lead (£621,735); An American Haunting (£541,446); Glastonbury (£23,893); #1 Ice Age II £3,608,531 2nd week 67% drop.
Up 73.86% from 2005 (£6,573,859); The Interpreter (£1,589,829); The Amityville Horror (£1,339,417); #1 The Interpreter £1,370,577 1st week £1,589,829 1st week 370 screens (24.2% of top 10)
Up 17.3% from 2004 (£9,743,104); 50 First Dates (£1,651,544); Shaun of the Dead (£1,603,410); Capturing the Friedmans (£66,689); Blind Flight (£6,634); #1 Scooby-Doo Too £2,038,602 2nd week 43% drop 20.9% of top 10 (20.9% of top 10)
Up 59.76% from 2003 (£7,153,823); Johnny English (£3,435,342); The Jungle Book 2 (£1,436,730); S Club Seeing Double (£338,383); The Little Polar Bear (£71,408); #1 Johnny English £3,435,342 445 screens 1st week 48% of top 10)
Up 60.99% from 2002 (£7,099,174); Bend It Like Beckham (£2,001,795); The Queen of the Damned (£611,440); K-Pax (£567,349); The One (£493,491); Y Tu Mama Tambien (£182,166); #1 Bend It Like Beckham £2,001,795 1st week 384 screens 28.2% of top 10)
2024 Next week: (£6,309,075); Abigail (£596,590); La Rondine – Met Opera 2023/24 (£88,426); An American In Paris – The Musical (Re: 2024) (£72,387); Butterfly Tale (£63,708); The Book Of Clarence (£36,255); #1 Back To Black £1,897,014 2nd week 32% drop 748 screens (30.07% of top 10)
US Box Office
- A Minecraft Movie – Warner Bros
Dropped 55% in its second weekend, taking $80.6m and $310m.
16th biggest second between Wicked and Incredibles 2 (close to Frozen II, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Avatar); it’s Warner Bros’ second biggest second weekend ever after Barbie ($93.01m and The Dark Knight $75.16m)
129th biggest between Meet the Fockers and The Hangover; 410th biggest inflated between 48 Hrs. and A Time to Kill; 2nd biggest film based on a video game between The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Sonic the Hedgehog 3; 24th biggest Warner Bros film between The Matrix Reloaded and The Hangover.
2019’s Pokémon Detective Pikachu dropped 53.8% to $25.1m and $94.25m from $144.17m and $450.06m worldwide
2020’s Sonic The Hedgehog dropped 54.9% to $26.19m and $106.49m of $148.97m and $319.71m worldwide
2022’s Uncharted dropped 47.7% $23m and $83.13m of $148.64m and $407.49m worldwide
2023’s Super Mario Bros dropped 36.9% $92.34m and $353.17m of $574.93m and $1.36bn worldwide
2014’s The Lego Movie dropped 27.8% $49.84m and $130.14m of $257.96m and $470.75m worldwide
2017’s Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle up 38.4% $50.05m and $169m of $404.54m and $962.54m WW
Two weekends ago, US BO was 11% below 2024 levels and 40% behind 2019; now it’s down to 0.5% of 2024 and 31% below 2019.
Took $79.6m (down 42%) from 76 territories $269.6m total and $550.6m worldwide; UK $39.8m; China $20.3m; Germany $18.9m; Mexico $18.7m; Australia $18.5m; has taken $9.6m from IMAX internationally and $26.6m worldwide.
219th biggest worldwide between Armageddon and Mission: Impossible 2; 2nd biggest video game worldwide between The Super Mario Bros. Movie ($1.359bn) and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 ($489.9m); 36th biggest Warner Bros film worldwide between Kong: Skull Island and American Sniper.
- Warfare – A24
Opened $8.3m #4; received positive reviews (93% Rotten Tomatoes) and B+ CinemaScore.
Took $1.16m from Thursday previews.
2024’s Civil War opened $25.53m and $68.75m, and $127.33m worldwide
2014’s Ex Machina opened $5.34m, taking $25.44m and $36.86m worldwide
- Drop – Universal Pictures
Opened $7.39m #5; received positive reviews (83% Rotten Tomatoes) and B CinemaScore.
Took $730k from Thursday previews (including previews on Mon/Wednesday $1.4m)
Another disappointing horror opening this year, despite receiving positive reviews since its world premiere at SXSW.
- The Amateur – 20th Century Studios
Opened $14.8 #3m; positive reviews (62% Rotten Tomatoes) and B+ CinemaScore.
Took $2m from Thursday previews; The Beekeeper $2.4m; The Creator $1.6m.
Comparisons include.
2002’s The Bourne Identity opened $27.11m, taking $121.66m and $214.03m (the first of 5 Bourne films with a reboot currently in development).
2008’s Taken opened $24.71m and $145m, and $226.83m worldwide
2009’s The International opened $9.33m and $25.45m, and $60.25m worldwide
2016’s The Accountant opened $24.71m, taking $86.26m and $155.56m worldwide
Opened with $17.2m from 52 territories and $32.2m worldwide; France $1.6m; UK $1.4m; Mexico $1.4m; Germany $1.1m; Japan $1.1m.
- Snow White – Disney
Dropped 51% in the fourth weekend, $2.89m and $82.01m
1,069th biggest between Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows and The Post; 2,194th inflated between Leaving Las Vegas and Planes: Fire and Rescue; 4th biggest in 2025 between Dog Man and One of Them Days; 184th biggest Disney film between Bridge to Terabithia and Eight Below.
Fourth weekends
2019’s The Lion King dropped 47.5% $20.2m and $473.3m of $543.63m and $1.662bn worldwide
2015’s Cinderella dropped 40.3% $10.17m and $167.39m of $201.15m and $542.35m worldwide
2023’s The Little Mermaid dropped 52.3% $11.05m and $253.01m of $298.17m and $569.62m worldwide.
2019’s Aladdin dropped 29.9% $17.3m and $264.04m of $355.5m and $1.054bn worldwide
2014’s Maleficent dropped 30.2% $12.91m and $185.87m of $241.41m and $759.85m worldwide
2019’s Maleficent: Mistress of Evil dropped 35.7% $8.41m and $97.71m of $113.9m and $491.7m worldwide
2010’s Alice in Wonderland dropped 48.2% $17.7m and $293.53m of $334.19m and $1.025bn worldwide
2016’s Alice Through the Looking Glass dropped 24% $4.29m and $69.99m of $77.04m and $299.82m
2012’s Mirror Mirror dropped 35.6%, $4.4m, and $55.49m of $64.93m and $183.01m worldwide
2012’s Snow White and the Huntsman dropped 39% $8.08m and $137.12m of $155.33m and $396.59m worldwide
Snow White should have taken a similar BO as 2017’s Beauty and the Beast, $174.75m, taking $504.48m and $1.356bn worldwide, and 2019’s The Lion King, $191.77m, taking $543.63m and $1.662bn worldwide.
Took $4.7m from 51 territories, $99.7m total, and $181.6m worldwide.
1,052nd biggest worldwide between Cape Fear and While You Were Sleeping; 5th biggest worldwide between Captain America: Brave New World and Dog Man; 162nd biggest Disney worldwide between Sweet Home Alabama and While You Were Sleeping.
UK Box Office Top 10
UK Box Office Preview
Over the colder and wet long Easter weekend, A Minecraft Movie will remain #1 for its third weekend, dropping about 45%, similar to 2023’s Super Mario Bros, 43.5% drop £4,271,315 and £41,605,147 76.23% of £54,578,335. By Sunday, Minecraft Movie will have taken similar BO to Super Mario Bros, showing that its BO wasn’t such a surprise as the industry claims.
Do believe Warner Bros underestimated Minecraft, so they would gain much-needed positivity after films like Mickey 17 and The Alto Knights, as surely a comparison film to Minecraft was Super Mario Bros?
Supernatural horror Sinners has received incredibly positive reviews over the last week and had a big London premiere this week with the cast and director in town. Director Ryan Coogler previously worked with Michael B. Jordan in 2016’s Creed (opened £2,221,758, taking £5,684,690.
Sinners doesn’t have the existing fanbase as Creed or Black Panther, but the trailer reaction has been positive. I would expect a similar opening as 2018’s A Quiet Place, £2,696,892, taking £11,801,912. Another comparison film would be Nosferatu, but its £5,246,910 opening was inflated with £2,181,447 previews taking £12,547,480.
Could open similar to other films, including 2023’s Evil Dead Rise, £1,477,840, taking £5,288,972 or Jordan Peele’s Nope, Get Out and Us.
One issue is that films targeting older audiences have struggled to find wide audiences since January, so many wouldn’t have seen the Sinners trailer for several months in cinemas, and all horrors since Nosferatu in January have struggled to find wide audiences despite many of them receiving positive reviews. While it’s also Easter, a time when families try to do things together, and Sinners isn’t a film they will see as a whole family, why some day and dating makes no sense, similar to last weekend with The Amateur and Drop opening.
Also, have to question the dating of Warfare against Sinners and the weekend after The Amateur, as these films are all targeting similar audiences. Alex Garland previously directed Civil War opened £1,823,179 (including £216k IMAX previews) £499k 27.4% Friday; £612k 33.6% Sat; £712k 39% Sun; taking £6,123,850.
Alex Garland previously directed 2022’s Men opened £519,907 #3 568 screens, taking £1,004,483; 2018’s Annihilation was released theatrically in the US and internationally on Netflix; 2015’s Ex Machina opened £1,093,952 #5 442 screens, taking £2,890,149.
He wrote the screenplay to 2002’s 28 Days Later opened £1,500,079 (£2,769,377), taking £6,315,553 (£11,659,482 inflated), as well as 28 Days Later, Sunshine, Never Let Go, The Beach and Dredd and 28 Years Later opening in June.
Mid-April is often a time when distributors release British films, but it’s normally the week after schools have reopened, not the weekend of Easter (schools do reopen on Tuesday). Comedy drama The Penguin Lessons has received positive reviews and strong positive reactions from talker screenings, despite doing will struggle to find a wide audience. The film stars Steve Coogan and is directed by Peter Cattaneo, based on Tom Michell’s 2016 memoir.
Director Peter Cattaneo had massive success with 1997’s The Full Monty, but all the films he has directed since have struggled to find similar success; 2001’ Lucky Break, 2006’s Opal Dream. 2008’s The Rooker and 2020’s Military Wives (opened £968,468, taking £2,499,922 (COVID affected cinemas closed two weeks after opening). Lionsgate acquired UK rights in December 2023.
Going back to the suggestion by former Lionsgate UK BO in 2014 to try to get British films like Penguin Lessons to a wider audience, prices should be cheaper, not all films should be priced the same. Of course, if that did happen, exhibitors wouldn’t book Penguin Lessons.
Anime Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon opens on Wednesday, likely to open similar to last year’s My Hero Academia: You’re Next, £216,844 #9 from 269 screens and 2021’s My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission £218,956 #12, 261 screens.
- Opening in three weeks
- The Wedding Banquet – Universal Pictures
Rom-comedy starring Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Han Gi-chan, Joan Chen, and Youn Yuh-jung and directed by Andrew Ahn; remake of the 1993 film directed by Ang Lee.
Had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, receiving positive reviews (97% on Rotten Tomatoes). It had its UK premiere at BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival in March.
- Clown In A Cornfield – Entertainment Films
Slasher horror starring Katie Douglas, Aaron Abrams, Carson MacCormac, Kevin Durand, and Will Sasso and directed by Eli Craig (Tucker & Dale Vs Evil), based on the 2020 novel by Adam Cesare. Produced by Temple Hill Entertainment which made Smile.
Had its world premiere at SXSW in March, receiving positive reviews (93% on Rotten Tomatoes). Saying “Clown in a Cornfield doesn’t reinvent the corn-maze, but its clever insights, subversion of expectations, and solid foundation slash its way to the top.”
Entertainment Films acquired UK rights in February 2023.
Most horrors released this year have struggled to find an audience. Will Clown In A Cornfield over a quiet weekend ahead of Final Destination: Bloodlines opening 5 days later.