Entertainment

“A Minecraft Movie” leveled up at the box office, collecting a blockbuster $157 million in its opening weekend. It’s not only the biggest domestic debut of the year but the best in history for a video game adaptation.

Heading into the weekend, Warner Bros. and Legendary’s PG fantasy comedy, starring Jack Black and Jason Momoa, was projected to take in $70 million to $80 million, with some bullish analysts suggesting a final number closer to $90 million.

Thanks to pent-up demand for a family film, broad appeal and goodwill toward the 2011 video game, however, “Minecraft” squashed expectations in the U.S. and abroad. At the international box office, the tentpole added $144 million for a global start of $301 million. The film cost $150 million to produce before global marketing expenses.