By Tim Lammers, Contributor. This past weekend at the North American box office has seen exciting competition, particularly between two standout films: A Minecraft Movie and the new vampire thriller Sinners. Despite the strong challenge posed by Sinners, it appears that A Minecraft Movie is set to emerge victorious for the third consecutive weekend, solidifying its position as a box office favorite.

Written and directed by celebrated filmmaker Ryan Coogler, known for his work on critically acclaimed projects like Black Panther, Sinners features a dual performance by actor Michael B. Jordan, who takes on the roles of twin brothers entangled in a web of horror and suspense. The film made its debut in 3,308 theaters across North America, also taking advantage of Thursday night previews where it garnered an impressive $4.7 million.

Despite the initial buzz surrounding Sinners, which is projected to earn around $19.2 million on Friday alone, the enduring popularity of A Minecraft Movie is anticipated to reign supreme this Easter weekend. Deadline estimates that Jack Black and Jason Momoa's live-action adaptation of the beloved video game franchise, developed by Mojang Studios, will net approximately $45 million from 4,032 theaters by the end of the weekend.

The journey of A Minecraft Movie began with a remarkable opening weekend, where it raked in a staggering $163 million, followed by an additional $78.5 million in its second weekend. As of Thursday, this cinematic phenomenon crossed the $300 million milestone in domestic ticket sales, amassing a total of $303.3 million. When factoring in its international performance, which is currently at $273.3 million, the film's global earnings have soared to a remarkable $576.6 million.

As both A Minecraft Movie and Sinners vie for the top two positions at the domestic box office, another competitor emerges in the form of The King of Kings, produced by Angel Studios. This animated biblical film is projected to earn $17 million from Friday through Sunday, only $2 million shy of its record-breaking opening earnings from April 11-14. If these projections hold true, The King of Kings will see its domestic total rise to an impressive $45 million.

Additionally, two other new releases from last week, namely 20th Century Studios' The Amateur and A24's Warfare, are also in the mix, expected to generate $8 million and $4 million, respectively, placing them in the fourth and fifth spots in the weekend rankings.

As the weekend unfolds, box office figures are expected to fluctuate, reflecting the dynamic nature of audience interest and attendance. Updates on these numbers will be provided throughout the weekend, with the final tallies for this box office weekend to be announced on Monday.