United News of Bangladesh

Blending gaming’s endless creativity with cinematic excitement, ‘A Minecraft Movie’ has carved out a remarkable place in theatres. Its explosive success, fuelled by passionate fans and undeniable box office power, now prepares for a new chapter. With the sing-along Block Party Edition screening, excitement is mounting again. Let’s dive into how the theatrical format is reshaping the movie’s journey and keeping the Minecraft magic alive. Viral Fandom Meets the Box Office When Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures greenlit ‘A Minecraft Movie,’ expectations were high, but the results exceeded even the most optimistic projections. Directed by Jared Hess, the movie brings the voxel-based universe of Mojang Studios to life with a playful blend of absurdity and heart. The fantasy-comedy features a charismatic cast that includes Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Emma Myers, Sebastian Hansen, and Danielle Brooks. Eventually, the film drew large crowds and secured its spot as one of the year’s most impactful theatrical releases. Despite being critically panned, the epic adventure broke records with a stunning USD 313 million global debut. It was the highest opening ever for a video game movie adaptation. Its momentum didn’t slow down; the figure has already hit USD 816 million in global ticket sales. Read more: Weapons’ 2-Hour Footage Ignites Trailer Buzz: USD 38 Million Bet for an Original Horror Pays Off Now, to keep that momentum alive, Warner Bros. is gearing up for a new theatrical wave. On May 2nd, fans will be invited to return for a sing-along screening experience. While clearly aimed at building repeat attendance, this version also responds to something unexpected that unfolded in theatres during the film’s original run. The Enthusiasm Went Too Far What began as celebratory fandom soon turned into a theatrical spectacle of its own. Upon release, the fantasy movie didn’t just draw large crowds; it ignited an intense wave of youthful energy. The audiences turned screenings into social events, complete with chants, memes, and spontaneous cheers for Jack Black’s scene-stealing figure. Lines such as “I am Steve!” and “chicken jockey!” became instant crowd triggers. A viral trend quickly caught on, where moviegoers screamed during pivotal scenes, tossed popcorn, and treated the auditorium like a live concert. In some theatres, the situation escalated enough to prompt police intervention. Showtimes across various chains began issuing warnings, reminding patrons of acceptable behaviour. Read more: Meta's Movie Mate to Chat with M3GAN in Theater: Interactive Experience or Distraction On one hand, the fan reaction demonstrated intense affection for the film and the world it built. On the other hand, traditional moviegoers and exhibitors needed structure. The studio’s official stance attempted to acknowledge both sides, releasing notices discouraging rowdiness while expressing appreciation for the passion. The Block Party Edition: Channeling Chaos into Celebration This theatrical presentation is nothing but a response to fan fervour without compromising the cinema experience. This sing-along and meme-along version invites audiences to participate actively. It is a curated environment that welcomes energy and interaction while protecting the theatregoing experience. Universal’s Wicked (2024) had previously set the tone with its sing-along edition, backed by a strong soundtrack. It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, marking a milestone for musical adaptations. Read more: Karate Kid Legends Unites Two Miyagi-verse Icons- Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio Although Minecraft does not ride on a stage-musical legacy, it still boasts memorable tracks. Particularly, Jack Black’s now-iconic “Lava Chicken” number has become a crowd favorite. This version allows fans to shout, sing, and react during select moments, transforming standard screenings into participatory events. It’s a strategic balance between honouring the fanbase’s enthusiasm and maintaining order. Rather than suppressing audience expression, the studio has effectively redirected it. Box Office Power-Up: Can the Craze Keep Climbing? With its initial wave of success setting a strong foundation, ‘A Minecraft Movie’ now enters a new phase with the sing-along Edition. This fresh release aims to reinvigorate public interest, encouraging audiences to experience the chaos more, this time with their voices included. Read more: Sinners Makes Horror History: Blockbuster, Top Ratings, and Oscar Buzz As the summer box office schedule intensifies, this adventure comedy will soon face off with heavyweights like Marvel’s upcoming ‘Thunderbolts*’. These new releases bring direct competition, meaning the new version is not only a creative venture but also a tactical one. The film’s long-term performance will depend on whether this second wind translates into sustained momentum. It may not be poised to unseat ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ as the all-time video game adaptation leader. However, it has carved a path all its own, defined by spontaneous fandom, unexpected incidents, and a studio that listened. In the crowded blockbuster arena, this reinvention might just be what keeps Minecraft mining box office gold. Read more: Best 10 Korean Dramas Releasing in May 2025 Summing Up Amidst big hype, A Minecraft Movie faces chaos from moviegoers, with viral antics prompting concern from theatres. In response to that over-enthusiasm, Warner Bros. introduces a sing-along block party edition to channel fan energy more constructively. The new format resonates with the community’s passion, offering an interactive and controlled outlet for expression. This theatrical version re-engages audiences and equips the movie to compete with contemporary blockbusters entering the fray in the coming weeks. Read more: Thunderbolts*: The First Non-Sequel Movie Breaking the 13-year Marvel Trend

Fantasy animation movie ‘Ne Zha 2,’ released on January 29, 2025, is running successfully at the worldwide box office. It now fends off fresh competition from the live-action fantasy comedy ‘A Minecraft Movie,’ which debuted on April 4 this year. Their cinematic face-off brings new energy to global screens. Let’s dive into how a mythical hero from the East keeps building victories over a pixel-powered quest from the West. Ne Zha Universe at a Glance The ‘Ne Zha’ universe, delicately woven from ancient Chinese mythology, is brought vividly to life by writer-director Jiaozi (Yang Yu). The saga began with ‘Ne Zha’ (2019), a groundbreaking fantasy animation inspired by Xu Zhonglin’s 16th-century epic ‘Investiture of the Gods’. It introduced a fiery yet misunderstood boy born from a spirit bead, destined to battle evil while carrying the weight of society’s fear and rejection. Amidst chaos and heroism, Ne Zha’s clash with Ao Bing ended in sacrifice, though their souls endured. In the direct sequel, ‘Ne Zha 2: The Devil Boy Churns the Sea’, the narrative rises again, this time with Taiyi Zhenren’s mystical plan. The deity aims to restore the two fallen warriors using the sacred seven-coloured lotus. Read more: South Indian Films Releasing in May 2025: Must-watch Lineup Ne Zha 2’s Journey From Mainland China to Hollywood With a production budget soaring to 600 million yuan, 'Ne Zha 2' stands as a creative milestone and China’s most expensive animated film to date. The figure is more than USD 80 million, based on an exchange rate of 1 Chinese Yuan = USD 0.14. Within just three days of its domestic release, the film surged past 1.1 billion yuan (USD 150.95 million). With the figure, it gets the fastest title ever to cross the 1-billion threshold in the Chinese movie industry. By its eighth day, it had already eclipsed 5 billion yuan (USD 686.15 million), overtaking the lifetime total of its predecessor. Meanwhile, it solidifies its place as the highest-grossing animated feature in mainland China. As of February 8, 2025, ‘Ne Zha 2’ had amassed over 7.2 billion yuan (USD 988 million), earning the historic title of the top-grossing Chinese film of all time. In doing so, it became the first non-Hollywood production to break the 7-billion mark globally. It even outperformed the single-territory box office record of the 2015 film Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Read more: Kesari Chapter 2 Review: Akshay Kumar Fronts a Bold Patriotic Courtroom Saga Within weeks, ‘Ne Zha 2’ outpaced the global lifetime earnings of Inside Out 2 (2024), becoming the highest-earning animated film in history. The fantasy epic crossed the USD 2 billion mark on March 9, becoming only the seventh film in history to achieve this feat. It stands as the first animated feature from outside the United States to reach that level. Remarkably, it’s also the first non-English-language animation to do so and only the second ever not produced by Disney. Its overseas debut at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles sold out instantly, with the film pulling in USD 7.2 million on its U.S. opening weekend. The English dub, now rolling out across theatres in Australia and the United States, promises to reignite its momentum. Ne Zha 2 vs. A Minecraft Movie Helmed by Jared Hess, 'A Minecraft Movie' opened strong in China, delivering the most impressive debut in the country this year. Between April 4 and 6, the Legendary and Warner Bros.-backed live-action fantasy comedy collected 105.5 million yuan (USD 14.7 million). While this performance marked a domestic triumph, it wasn’t enough to challenge ‘Ne Zha 2’ on the international stage. Read more: Top Pakistani Dramas in 2025 Showcasing Strong Female Leads In its tenth weekend, ‘Ne Zha 2’ continued its financial ascent with another USD 10 million, raising its global haul to USD 2.11 billion. The Cococartoon-produced mythological animation remains the top-grossing film of 2025 by a comfortable margin. With support from premium screening formats like IMAX, its momentum shows few signs of slowing, even in the face of new releases. On the contrary, the Jason Momoa and Jack Black-starrer film finished its opening weekend with USD 162.8 million in domestic earnings and USD 313 million worldwide. Its timing, arriving over two months later, meant it faced a global market already captivated by the Chinese fantasy epic. As of now, ‘Ne Zha 2’ leads the box office with USD 2.15 billion, while ‘A Minecraft Movie’ stands at USD 729.2 million. Read more: Popular Indian Universities and Institutes to Learn AR-VR Technology Critical reception reflects this divide: the Mandarin movie holds an IMDb rating of 8.2 and scores 95% from critics and 99% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. In contrast, the Hollywood film sits at 5.9 on IMDb, with a critic score of 48% and an audience score of 86%. This is a respectable showing but far from rivalling the acclaim of its Eastern counterpart. What’s So Special About Ne Zha 2 The mythology-based movie stands as a brilliant fusion of cultural authenticity and universal storytelling. The movie’s themes are confronting institutional prejudice, challenging destiny, and carving one’s own path. All these resonate deeply across cultures, yet are rooted in Chinese traditions and folklore. Read more: May 2025 Bollywood Releases: 10 Most Hyped Hindi Films To Watch The movie’s opening, featuring the Grand Song of the Dong ethnic group, highlights China’s rich cultural heritage. It also pays homage to a music form inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. This gesture serves as a poignant reminder of the nation’s deep-rooted traditions while offering a window into its diversity. Behind The Screen The film’s graphics, meticulously crafted under the expert direction of Shi Chaoqun. It captures the essence of Chinese landscapes and mythological realms with striking precision. The battle sequences are nothing short of a visual masterpiece, blending cultural symbols and folklore. The timeless action sequences are beautifully rendered in the visuals. They showcase the artistry of Chinese animation, brought to life by over 4,000 professionals from 138 studios across five years. Read more: May 2025 Amazon Prime Video Originals Streaming Lineup: Movies, Series, Shows The production credit goes to Liu Wenzhang and Wang Jing. Lending the voices are Lu Yanting, Han Mo, Lu Qi, Zhang Jiaming, Wang Deshun, and Zhuo Yongxi. Verdict The ongoing box-office clash between ‘Ne Zha 2’ and ‘A Minecraft Movie’ continues to captivate audiences worldwide. While the Hollywood film had a strong debut, the Mandarin one remains a powerful force, steadily building global dominance. Whether the live-action adventure can sustain its momentum or if the animated epic will reclaim its crown is yet to be determined. What’s certain is that this cinematic rivalry is poised to leave lasting marks on the box office landscape. Read more: 10 Best Films, Documentaries on Palestine That Everyone Should Watch