The Wasteland Reviewer

A MInecraft Movie (2025) Written Review

Are moviegoers ready to be whisked away to the Overworld, a land of cubic…well, everything? Minecraft is a widely loved and played game by many people of all different ages with its simple structure and general accessibility. An open world where you can just build anything you want and craft something deeply personal. There is no surprise that so many people connected to a game can be such a great avenue for creative expression. But the big question is…how do you adapt this game for the big screen? The world-building is certainly there but the story to tell is the puzzle to crack.

 What is the big key to making the expansive world come to life on the big screen? You need to find the right cinematic voice to convey it. Jared Hess is an interesting filmmaker who has delivered a quirky and offbeat voice with such films as Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre. The most impactful element of Hess’ effort with A Minecraft Movie is the hilarious tone that the film has. This is a silly movie through and through. When A Minecraft Movie does take itself too seriously is when it really soars. The humor is not the most consistent (there are moments where the film is trying too hard to be funny) but there are some gags or lines that elicit enormous laughs out of you. There is certainly a love for 80s culture in the film and Hess leans into that (there is a music-infused scene at the end that channels this and hits the sweet spot). The visual effects are quite impressive with the cubic world vibrantly popping off the screen. The film has a strong pace that shines most when it lets loose. 

Does the writing of the film match the fun atmosphere and silliness of Hess’ direction? The overall narrative is quite loose with a MacGuffin at the core and some standard and familiar thematic beats. The antagonists are thin, and the motivations of the heroes are quite simple. Depth is not A Minecraft Movie’s strength. There are some clunky storytelling elements that just feel awkward. The whole first ten minutes or so speed runs through Steve’s story (Jack Black) and there are plenty of elements of the film that just feel over-explained. There are plenty of fun bits of dialogue and gags that shine in the script including some unexpectedly dark and mature jokes along the way. There are quite a few characters to balance with most of them not receiving much depth from them. There are whole subplots that are set up (the Earth elements of the film take up a huge chunk of the first act) that could have easily been cut. Where Hess’ direction shines as one of the bright spots of the film, the biggest shortcoming is there in the screenplay. 

Can the cast bring the goods (and humor) to really make this film work? Black is probably the biggest source of energy in this whole film. His antics are completely on brand with his “kid friendly” persona. Some of his choices are a little too many (especially when he is dropping a bunch of expositional dialogue) but overall, he is a delight in the film and understands the tone that Hess is going for. When he does physical comedy and some singing, he really shines. Momoa is a hoot as well with his over-the-top goofy gimmick working well in Hess’ canvas as well. His comedic timing is great, and he fully embodies the over-the-hill 80s kid vibes. There are some fun voice performances too with Rachel House always bringing her all (no matter how thinly written the character is). Jemaine Clement and Jennifer Coolidge are cartoony as well, but they fit right in. Danielle Brooks has her moments as well but gets overshadowed by the Black/Momoa shenanigans. The young leads (Sebastian Hansen and Emma Myers) are not given a lot in terms of depth or material, but they serve their roles just fine. 

Is A Minecraft Movie just another bland and clunky video game flick? Absolutely not. This might not always work and there is a lack of depth all around…but this is just a silly good time. The Black/Momoa combo understood the assignment (along with some of the supporting cast) and delivered buckets of fun and plenty of humor. This film even delivers some shockingly great gags that will get big laughs out of the audience. The world-building is engrossing but overbearing (there are so many exposition dumps in this movie). This is a solid cinematic experience that makes for a family-friendly fun time. If you are a fan of the game though…this will be a roaring good time (as based on my audience for sure).