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‘A Minecraft Movie’ smashes box office expectations with $157 million opening weekend

Industry analysts had initially projected “A Minecraft Movie” would gross $60 million before adjusting that estimate to about $100 million.

The blockbuster adaption of the 2011 video game “Minecraft” shattered box office estimates, grossing $157 million domestically, and marking the biggest opening weekend of the year. “Pre-sales and interest accelerated in a remarkable way during the run-up to opening night,” Shawn Robbins, director of movie analytics at Fandango and founder of Box Office Theory, told CNN in an email. “There is a treasure trove of storytelling and (intellectual property) in that arena, making it a sweet spot where the industry can meet young moviegoers and general audiences who’ve become more selective,” Robbins said.

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