** Shares of theater chain AMC Entertainment AMC.N rise 4.5% at $2.77

** AMC says the success of "A Minecraft Movie" helped it record the best weekend in 2025

** "We look forward to the movie's continued success in our theaters over the next several weeks, and to welcoming more exciting and guest-pleasing titles in the weeks and months to come," says AMC CEO Adam Aron

** Co says the success of the film helps reinforce belief that box office will be stronger going forward

** Minecraft film has made $301 mln worldwide on a budget of $150 mln, according to data from film website IMDb.

** Up to last close, stock had fallen ~35% last year

(Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru)

((Zaheer.Kachwala@thomsonreuters.com))