'The Minecraft Movie' Review: A Blocky Adventure That Knows Exactly What It Is

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When video game adaptations hit the big screen, there’s always that lingering question: Will it capture what made the game special or just use familiar characters to tell a generic story? The Minecraft Movie” lands somewhere in between, creating an experience that feels both nostalgic for fans and accessible enough for newcomers.

Walking into the theater, I wasn’t sure what to expect – and my expectations were LOW. After all, Minecraft doesn’t have a traditional narrative—it’s a sandbox where players build, explore, and survive. Director Jared Hess (known for Napoleon Dynamite) faced the unenviable task of turning blocks into a blockbuster. The result is a film that, much like its source material, is rough around the edges but surprisingly endearing.

Check out the trailer below.

The Minecraft Movie Trailer

The Minecraft Movie Review: What I Liked and Didn’t Like

This film fully embraces its silly premise without apology. The visuals pop with vibrant colors and faithful blocky designs that make the Overworld feel both familiar and fresh. Watching common Minecraft elements like crafting tables and Elytra flights brought to life delivers genuine joy, especially when paired with the film’s playful physics.

The Easter eggs for fans are plentiful but never overwhelming—spotting familiar mobs, recognizing iconic sound effects, and catching references to gameplay mechanics provides a steady stream of “I know that!” moments from the kids in the audience. And yes, there’s adult humor sprinkled in that will sail over kids’ heads while giving parents something to chuckle about.

The movie doesn’t take itself seriously, which is its greatest strength. The adventure has an almost self-aware quality that keeps it light and entertaining, even when the plot stumbles.

Unfortunately, the humor often tries too hard, resulting in jokes that frequently fall flat amid the better gags. For every genuinely funny moment (usually involving Momoa or Black), there are several that land with a thud.

The pacing feels uneven throughout—rushing through moments that could use more development while lingering too long on less meaningful scenes. The results is a disjointed experience that never quite finds its rhythm.

Most disappointingly, the film fails to capture the true creative spirit that makes Minecraft special. Instead of focusing on building and imagination, it leans heavily on standard adventure tropes we’ve seen countless times before.

The Story

Four strangers are transported to Minecraft’s Overworld through a glowing blue portal. Steve (Jack Black), a failed miner who loves this cubic paradise, has been imprisoned by the villainous Piglin queen Malgosha (Rachel House). Meanwhile, Garrett (Jason Momoa), a gaming champion from the ’80s now running a failing retro game store, accidentally gets pulled into this adventure alongside siblings Natalie and Henry.

The plot moves quickly through familiar quest tropes – the unlikely heroes must team up, learn Minecraft’s rules (crafting, fighting Creepers, using Elytra wings), and stop Malgosha from taking over both worlds. While predictable, the journey offers enough charm to keep fans engaged during its brisk 101-minute runtime.

The biggest issue with the story is that it lacks depth, rushing through plot points that needed more time to breathe. Many characters feel underdeveloped, particularly the siblings Natalie and Henry, who deserve more than their thin storylines.

The Acting

Jack Black brings his trademark energy to Steve, though sometimes his manic delivery feels too much. At 55, he’s still fully committed to every wild line reading, never holding back his enthusiasm. The problem isn’t Black’s performance but rather how one-dimensional Steve remains throughout—we never learn what truly drives him beyond surface-level quirkiness.

Jason Momoa delivers the film’s best performance. Trading his usual stoic warrior roles for a faded gaming champion in a pink fringed jacket, he brings surprising vulnerability and perfect comedic timing. His chemistry with Black creates some genuinely funny moments.

Emma Myers and Sebastian Hansen are likable as the siblings but struggle with their underwritten roles. They do their best with the material, but there’s only so much emotional depth actors can bring to characters who primarily exist to move the plot forward. Rachel House makes Malgosha memorable, injecting real personality into what could have been a forgettable villain.

The supporting cast delivers mixed results, with most being limited by the script’s superficial character development. Jennifer Coolidge appears briefly as Vice Principal Marlene but isn’t given enough screen time to make a meaningful impact beyond a few signature one-liners.

The truth is, there’s only so much any actor can do with a movie like this. The characters are intentionally thin, prioritizing comedic moments over emotional connections. Some performers manage to transcend these limitations (Momoa especially), but most are simply along for the ride.

New Movies Coming Out: The Minecraft Movie

Overall Thoughts

The Minecraft Movie knows exactly what it is – a light, fun adventure that doesn’t take itself seriously. It’s not trying to be a profound flick. Instead, it offers a colorful escape filled with blocky charm and silly humor.

The film works best when it leans into the creative sandbox spirit of the game rather than forcing traditional movie structures. Fans will appreciate the loving attention to Minecraft details, from the crafting mechanics to the distinctive creatures that populate this world.

Is it perfect? Not at all. But much like the game itself, there’s joy in the simple experience of exploring this unique universe.