A Minecraft Movie is the live-action adaptation of Mojang’s iconic sandbox game of the same name. Directed by Oscar-nominated Jared Hess, the film features the talents of Jack Black and Jason Momoa, as well as Emma Myers, Sebastian Hansen, and Danielle Brooks. It attempts to bring Minecraft’s imaginative world to life by mining what’s best about the game, whilst adding a few extra things. But did it craft the perfect video game movie?
The story follows Henry (Hansen) and his sister Natalie (Myers), who move to Chuglass, Idaho, after their mother’s passing. There, they meet Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison (Momoa), a former video game world champion who’s still clinging on to the glory days, and Dawn (Brooks), a real estate agent with a love for animals. A series of unfortunate events leads them to the Overworld, where the day and night cycle lasts 20 minutes, and everything is made of cubes.
Struggling to survive their first night, they are saved by Steve (Black), who is after the Orb of Dominance, a glowing blue cube that transports our main characters to this new world. However, the orb is also sought after by Malgosha (Rachel House), a Piglin leader who plans to use it to destroy the Overworld and all things creative. A Minecraft Movie has a handful of easter eggs that will catch the eyes of fans. Some will be obvious, and others require a keen eye. But once spotted, it’s so worth it.
On the surface, A Minecraft Movie is able to showcase what Minecraft is in a film setting. It captures the world and its mechanics, the dangers, and the endless possibilities that can happen with a bit of imagination. And since it’s a live-action film, the characters and mobs feel more lifelike. Meanwhile, it has an underlying theme of the power of creativity and how the game can inspire real-world innovation, something that’s happening in real life. Henry, for instance, builds a jetpack prototype but fails, whereas in Minecraft, he freely experiments and succeeds, like when he immediately found out that using fireworks while wearing elytra will give you a boost.
The Overworld serves as a learning ground, but unfortunately, the film doesn’t fully explore what each character gains from their journey.
With a runtime of just 1 hour and 40 minutes, A Minecraft Movie struggles to develop its characters meaningfully. Natalie and Dawn are sidelined so many times, with little insight into their growth or motivations. It feels like the film is more focused on Henry and Garrett, with the female characters seemingly added as an afterthought. Henry and Garrett get to go on crazy adventures with Steve and do amazing things in the Overworld. Meanwhile, the ladies are just walking around, and all their progress only happens off-camera.
A Minecraft Movie also offers a bizarre B-plot that follows a somewhat rushed romance between Nitwit the Villager and Vice Principal Marlene (Jennifer Coolidge). Honestly, it feels unnecessary. Maybe Warner Bros. paid lots of money for Coolidge to be in this movie and wanted to make the most of her. But in terms of serving the movie’s plot, it’s useless. It could have used this time to develop the other characters, share their story, and give us a reason why they all deserve their endings.
Something worth addressing is how A Minecraft Movie portrays Steve. Fans were curious how Steve would be adapted, as he’s a player-controlled character. Making Steve relegated to a guide/mediator for our main characters while also showcasing his human side is a great approach. He helps the characters get around this strange new place while, in turn, convincing Steve that his old home isn’t that bad. Black’s performance brings energy to the well-known video game character, but the subtle yet frequent references to Kung Fu Panda make Steve feel more like Po.
A more intriguing approach would have been showcasing Steve’s long captivity under Malgosha’s rule, hinting at potential brainwashing. There was a moment in the second act when it felt like he was willing to serve this pigling leader in exchange for his dog’s life, thus adding more depth to who Steve is and how long he’s been in the Minecraft world. But, alas, that’s not the case, and probably for the best because this is a kids’ movie, and making Steve be some sort of bad guy with a redemption arc might be too dark.
The one thing A Minecraft Movie did right regarding character development is the friendship between Garrett and Steve. At first, there is a sense of envy and some transactional relationship surrounding the two. Eventually, they learn to trust each other, which benefits the rest of the main ensemble. It could have been explored even further, considering their ending, but for now, it’s enough.
“Black’s performance brings energy, but the subtle, yet frequent references to Kung Fu Panda make Steve feel more like Po.”
Visually, A Minecraft Movie excels at bringing the game’s world to the big screen. Details in Steve’s builds mirror elements familiar to experienced players, such as labeled signs on structures. While the film takes creative liberties, such as including a working Ferris wheel, it stays true to the spirit of Minecraft’s boundless imagination, art style, and how there is more to discover if given the time. Shame there was not enough time to see the other biomes, though.
However, the film’s music choices are questionable at best. The soundtrack uses a mix of the game’s original soundtrack, new music with elements of C418, new songs made exclusively for the film, and licensed music with elements of 8-bit/chiptune. While it’s not a full-fledged musical, Steve does burst into song. The soundtrack is not as bad when compared to The Super Mario Bros. Movie using “Take on Me” in The Mushroom Kingdom. Still, it does miss the opportunity to showcase the potential of C418’s songwriting or challenge the film’s composers to create something inspired by the game’s original soundtrack.
The film’s dialogue is alright at best. There is a lot of explaining, which makes sense when Steve teaches how things work. But the characters barely talk to each other and constantly explain why they are the way they are. Fortunately for the adults in the room, some jokes are made with them in mind, so they don’t have to feel bored when they bring their kids to the cinema. However, some reactions and comments sometimes feel out of place and don’t feel authentic or human.
A Minecraft Movie has done a decent job of turning this sandbox game into a workable story about friendship and being creative. While it missed the opportunity to do more with its narrative, soundtrack, and dialogue, it did enough to entertain adults and children alike. Was it worth the wait and being placed in development hell for many years? Probably. In the end, it did a decent job of sharing a great story with a decent life lesson that can resonate with anyone. But if given the chance to mine for a better execution, it could have crafted a better and compelling narrative.
A Minecraft Movie releases in Australian theaters on April 3, 2025.
About the Author
Erielle Sudario
If she's not podcasting, Erielle Sudario is seen either playing Baldurs Gate 3, The Sims, or a really cute cozy indie game that she found either in conventions or on TikTok. Outside of gaming, she's either embracing her inner Swiftie, building keyboards, or watching shows/films in theatres or streaming platforms.
