When it comes to video game adaptations, films trip over their own feet trying to either prove themselves to the title’s fanbase, or choose to ignore them and stand apart. Most of the time, no one comes away happy. And when you’re talking about a game like Minecraft, what kind of movie do you really think you’re going to get? It’s not steeped in lore like Fallout, or the Legend of Zelda. Minecraft’s charm has always been about players getting the chance to make their own world with their own rules. Frankly, it’s absurd in a fun and silly way, which is evident even in its graphics. While much of the gaming world was pushing boundaries in 3D rendering and motion-sensing capabilities, Minecraft the game was sticking to blocky easy to render graphics.
Ultimately, how can the silly, absurd but approachable nature of Minecraft be projected onto the big screen? The answer seems pretty obvious now that I’m writing it all down. Step 1: hire Jack Black, Step 2: embrace the silliness and lean into the absurdity. Step 3: name it A Minecraft Movie and If there’s space for a fourth-wall breaking joke, don’t be shy.
Director Jared Hess ultimately delivers a fun, lighthearted romp that never takes itself too seriously. And honestly? That’s a good thing.
From the very start, the film makes it clear that it knows exactly what it is: a goofy, action-packed kids’ adventure that just happens to be based on one of the most popular video games of all time. The film oozes self-awareness and revels in its blocky ridiculousness. It’s loud, it’s fast, and it never really stops to catch its breath, and at the same time never pretends to be more than what it is. That’s where the fun comes in.
The plot is refreshingly simple: A ragtag group of real-world people find themselves in the Overworld. They must quickly learn the rules of survival, meet quirky characters like Steve, played by Jack Black, and defeat the evil Piglin Malgosha, voiced by Rachel House… That’s about it and it works because the movie isn’t trying to be high art.
As usual Black is basically plays himself and fully commits to his role as a bearded, slightly unhinged Steve who has embraced the bizarre logic of this world. His performance is a delightful mix of enthusiasm and absurdity, and his scenes are easily some of the funniest. The only character as absurd as Black’s would be Jason Mamoa’s character Garrett. These two combine to form some of the cringiest, most eye-rolling takes ever and they are completely delightful. Their wacky-stupid chemistry goes so hard, it smacks of 90s Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, Chris Farley and David Spade.
It’s a shame though that Mamoa’s and Black’s on screen performance completely overshadows the main characters, Henry and his sister Natalie, played by Sebastian Hansen and Emma Myers, respectively. Mobile petting zookeeper/real estate agent Dawn, played by Danielle Brooks is also lost in the mix for the most part. Focusing on anyone who is not Black or Mamoa is like going to a hibachi grill and trying to really focus on the salad while the chef is launching three-foot walls of fire inches from your face.
Visually, ‘A Minecraft Movie’ does a solid job of translating the game’s aesthetic into a live-action setting. The pixelated world feels immersive, the mobs are instantly recognizable, and there are plenty of nods to game mechanics that will have players grinning. From crafting to Redstone contraptions, it’s all there—but never over-explained. To my personal favorite line from Black “First we mine, and then we craft! Let’s minecraft!” So yes, they do say it out loud and it is super obvious.
Is the movie predictable? Absolutely. Is the humor sometimes a little too on-the-nose? Without a doubt. But does any of that really matter when the film is so clearly having a blast? Not really. I can tell you my 9-year-old and 6-year-old daughters both loved it. I can say that was pretty much the standard when I left the theater, kids were all over the place completely over the moon about what they just saw. They didn’t care if the story was one dimensional. This is the kind of movie where logic takes a backseat to fun, and while some critics may groan at the by-the-numbers storytelling, kids (and kids-at-heart) will be too busy laughing to care.
Frankly, I was relieved. Part of me knew Black would be fine, I’m not always sure about what Mamoa will deliver. Who can blame me for worrying a little bit that I was walking my kids into a snoozefest. Video game movies don’t have a fantastic track record and are usually, at best, hit or miss.
One of the better examples in recent years is The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023). It fully embraced the source material’s colorful chaos and sense of fun. The film didn’t try to be anything more than an entertaining ride packed with nostalgia, and it worked. And, funnily enough, Jack Black once again stole the show, this time as Bowser. His ridiculous, over-the-top performance (and that unforgettable “Peaches” song) cemented the film as a crowd-pleaser.
On the other hand, there are films like Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010). A movie that wasn’t exactly bad but wasn’t particularly good either. It was watchable, with decent action and an attempt at epic storytelling. Jake Gyllenhaal as a Persian prince? That was a choice. Then there’s Borderlands (2024). A movie no one should have to sit through. It was drowned in forced humor, poor pacing, and a script that seemed allergic to the actual appeal of the games.
At the end of the day, ‘A Minecraft Movie’ is a rollercoaster of pixelated chaos that knows exactly what it wants to be: a fun, dumb, and highly entertaining ride. It’s not groundbreaking, it’s not deep, and it’s certainly not trying to redefine cinema. But it is a wildly enjoyable adventure that understands its audience and delivers exactly what it promises—a movie kids will love and parents won’t mind sitting through. And sometimes, that’s more than enough.
