There had been whispers of A Minecraft Movie for years, but when actual actors were attached and the film began receiving frequent updates, I was genuinely shocked. Not only would Jack Black play Steve—the iconic, default character of Minecraft—but the film was going to be live-action with heavy CGI. There were a lot of things working against a Minecraft movie targeting an adult audience.
For a younger demographic and parents like myself, there was a lot riding on this film, especially with Minecraft’s recent resurgence into the cultural spotlight. While it’s not a perfect movie by any means, I can honestly say that A Minecraft Movie brought some genuinely funny moments to the table, and in the end, it was a decent watch.
The plot follows Steve (Jack Black) as he discovers the Overworld—the vast, pixelated world players enter when starting a new Minecraft game. Steve falls in love with this world, captivated by the endless possibilities it offers for creativity. However, his adventures take a dark turn when he stumbles upon a Nether portal, which leads him to a villainous piglin bent on taking over the Overworld. In an attempt to stop the villain’s plans, Steve sends the Orb of Dominance back to the real world.
“While it’s not a perfect movie by any means, I can honestly say that A Minecraft Movie brought some genuinely funny moments to the table.”
Fast-forward a few years, and a group of people accidentally discover it. Through their own brand of chaos, Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison (Jason Momoa), Henry (Sebastian Hansen), Natalie (Emma Myers), and Dawn (Danielle Brooks) are sucked into the Overworld. To return home, they must team up, unlock their creativity, and grow as individuals while facing the evil forces threatening the world.
While the premise is solid enough, it’s the execution that left me scratching my head. Instead of a cohesive narrative, the movie often felt like a string of set-ups designed to showcase the fun, iconic aspects of Minecraft. Once I accepted that this wouldn’t be a narrative-driven masterpiece, I was able to enjoy the film for what it was. However, one aspect that did feel completely out of place was the odd romance between Jennifer Coolidge’s character and a villager. It felt awkward and didn’t add anything to the story.
The number of times the movie set up ridiculous scenarios just to show off the various things you can do in Minecraft was overwhelming. In many ways, it felt like a giant advertisement for why you should go play the game. But here’s the crazy part — it works. Throughout the entire film, I found myself thinking about how much I wanted to get back into Minecraft once I got home.
By the latter half of the movie, there are some genuinely moving moments of despair, character growth, and compelling storytelling. The journey that Henry and “The Garbage Man” (Jason Momoa) go through is a solid one, even though Momoa’s character is largely despicable throughout. It made it difficult to empathize with him at times, but where he ends up and how he grows is satisfying and shows some depth.
The acting in A Minecraft Movie is actually quite good. Jack Black, Danielle Brooks, and Sebastian Hansen are the standouts, stealing every scene they’re in. Of course, Jack Black’s musical moments — particularly his comedic rendition of a song — earned the biggest laughs from the audience. Though it did feel a bit like someone heard him sing “Peaches” in The Super Mario Bros. Movie and thought, “Let’s get him to do a Minecraft version of that.” Still, Black’s energy and comedic timing made it work.
The music, too, adds a great deal to the experience. The iconic environmental music from Minecraft the game has always been a standout, and the movie handles it well. The main theme plays throughout the film, but it’s never overpowering; instead, it serves as a subtle backdrop, much like it does in the game. Other tracks fit in nicely, though nothing quite compares to the main theme’s serene, atmospheric tones.
One aspect that really took me by surprise was how eerie the film gets. While the Minecraft game has always had a slightly unsettling atmosphere, with elements like its eerie, blocky zombies, the movie pushes the creepiness further by making the zombies and piglins more human-like, adding a whole new level of discomfort.
“Ultimately, A Minecraft Movie is not a perfect movie. It’s not even a great movie, but it’s fun—if you go into it with the right mindset.”
The piglins, typically more monstrous in the game, felt especially unsettling with their more humanized characteristics. There’s also a particularly haunting scene set in a woodland mansion that brought a level of horror I didn’t expect from a Minecraft movie, especially one aimed at a younger audience. It was unsettling in the best possible way and reminded me how Minecraft’s eerie elements have always been a part of its charm.
Ultimately, A Minecraft Movie is not a perfect movie. It’s not even a great movie, but it’s fun—if you go into it with the right mindset. Many game-to-movie adaptations have struggled to capture the essence of their source material, and A Minecraft Movie teeters on the edge of that category. But it’s not quite there. As a parent with a child who lives and breathes Minecraft, taking them to see the film was a treat on its own. They loved the Easter eggs and little bits of Minecraft trivia peppered throughout the story, which made it an even more special experience for fans of the game.
If you’re looking for a mindless, fun time or have kids who are into Minecraft, then absolutely go see it. But if you’re hoping for a film that transcends the usual video game movie formula and offers something deeper, you’ll likely walk away disappointed. The film doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s okay—it’s a Minecraft movie, after all. It’s meant to be fun, and if you approach it with that in mind, you’re in for a good time.
