A Minecraft Movie was released last week, and as a longtime Minecraft enthusiast, I had to go see it. My expectations were low after watching the trailers, but I still wanted to give it a chance. And, as it turns out, it wasn’t a movie made for me. I didn’t enjoy A Minecraft Movie.
That said, there were a few things that stood out. When I first saw the trailers, I wasn’t keen on the idea of combining CG with live-action actors. But surprisingly, this actually works. The CG is near photo-realistic, and despite some initial concerns about the creature designs, they all look fantastic.
I was also glad to hear C418’s music included in the score. It plays as the characters first enter the Minecraft world, and for a brief moment, I was transported back to the early days of playing Alpha. That moment hit a nostalgic note.
Another touching detail was the tribute to Technoblade, the beloved YouTuber who sadly passed away from cancer at age 23. His character makes a brief cameo, and Steve, played by Jack Black, calls him a legend. I wasn’t a regular viewer of Technoblade myself, but it was a thoughtful gesture, and it’s clear the filmmakers wanted to honor someone important to the community.
As for the story, it’s very by-the-numbers and predictable. That in itself isn’t a dealbreaker – many great stories follow familiar formulas. But what matters is the execution, and unfortunately, the script just doesn’t bring anything fresh to the table. I didn’t laugh once and never felt especially engaged. The film is full of “jokes” where characters shout, overreact, or say something outrageous, but it all falls flat.
One of the more bizarre subplots involves a villager entering the real world and getting married. I assume this was meant to appeal to the adults in the audience, but it mostly just comes off as cringey rather than funny.
That said, I’m not upset the movie exists. The cinema was filled with kids who seemed to be having a great time, laughing every ten minutes. So if you have children who are into Minecraft, there’s a very good chance they’ll enjoy it.
As for me? I think I’ll just go back to the game and work on my mob farm.
