LOS ANGELES, April 7 — Warner Bros. new video game-based film A Minecraft Movie smashed records in its opening weekend in North American theatres, digging up an estimated US$157 million (RM701.5 million) in ticket sales, analysts said yesterday.

That total for the film, made along with Legendary Pictures and starring Jack Black, Jason Momoa and Jennifer Coolidge, far surpassed expectations, making it the year’s biggest domestic release.

It was also the most successful adaptation ever from a video game, bettering the US$146 million opening of 2023’s Super Mario Bros. Movie.

With US$144 million in overseas ticket sales, film’s estimated US$301 million take more than doubled its non-paltry US$150 million production budget, Variety reported, crediting in part the huge popularity of the video game, which has sold more than 300 million copies.