N.America moviegoers embrace 'Sinners' on Easter weekend

Michael B. Jordan and director Ryan Coogler on the set of "Sinners." Handout/Warner Bros. Pictures

LOS ANGELES -- North American moviegoers feasted on Warner Bros.' vampire thriller "Sinners" as it debuted to an estimated $45.6 million over the Easter holiday weekend, analysts said Sunday.

The first original film from Ryan Coogler -- director of Oscar-nominated "Black Panther" -- has Michael B. Jordan playing twins who encounter a sinister force as they return home to Jim Crow-era Mississippi. Hailee Steinfeld and Delroy Lindo also star in the music-driven thriller.

Riding on "near-perfect reviews," according to the Hollywood Reporter, "Sinners" outperformed another Warner Bros. blockbuster, "A Minecraft Movie," which kept up its solid run with $41.3 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported.

"Minecraft," co-produced by Legendary Pictures, has recorded $344.6 million in domestic ticket sales and $376.2 million internationally for a total haul of $720.8 million in just three weeks out. Analysts say it could be the year's first billion-dollar blockbuster.

Starring Jack Black and Jason Momoa, "Minecraft" already ranks as the all-time most successful film adaptation from a video game.

"The King of Kings," an animated telling of Jesus's life from indie media company Angel Studios, did well over Easter weekend, scoring an estimated $17.3 million in ticket sales.

Oscar Isaac, as Jesus, leads the voice cast, along with Kenneth Branagh, Pierce Brosnan, Uma Thurman and Mark Hamill.

20th Century thriller "The Amateur" slipped one spot to fourth place, taking in $7.2 million. Rami Malek plays a nerdy CIA analyst who turns vicious as he tracks down his wife's killers. Rachel Brosnahan, Laurence Fishburne and Jon Bernthal also star.

And in fifth place, also down one spot from last weekend, was A24's "Warfare," at $4.9 million. Based partly on the experiences of co-director Ray Mendoza as a navy SEAL, the film follows a platoon of soldiers moving amid high tension through hostile territory.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

"Drop" ($3.4 million)

"Colorful Stage! The Movie: A Miku Who Can't Sing" ($2.8 million)

"Pride and Prejudice" (20th anniversary re-release) ($2.7 million)

"The Chosen: Last Supper Part 3" ($1.7 million)

"Snow White" ($1.2 million)

© Agence France-Presse