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.