Minecraft is more, much more, than just a game. Since its November 18, 2011, release, Minecraft has evolved continuously, growing alongside its player base. Its creative, open-world, choose-your-own-adventure style gained the video game a strong following—with some of its players even creating entire careers off videos of their gameplay.
Given this strong community, it is not surprising that fans flocked to the movie theater in droves when Warner Brothers released A Minecraft Movie. In the article “A Minecraft Movie Smashes Box Office Expectations With Nearly $163 Million Opening Weekend” from CNN (cnn.com), the movie apparently “shattered box office expectations, grossing $162.75 million domestically, marking the biggest opening weekend of the year.”
Directed by Jared Hess, known for his comedic movies including Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre, A Minecraft Movie does not take itself too seriously. It stars Jason Momoa as Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison, a former video game champion living in his past success, and Jack Black as Steve, a man who has yearned for the mines since he was a child. The two, alongside two siblings and their real estate agent, embark on a journey to save the Overworld and return to Earth. In terms of plot, the film does not have much to offer. It takes creative liberties, introducing new characters and concepts while refusing to build upon Minecraft lore in favor of surface-level storytelling and comedic gags, often in the form of exaggerated action sequences.
Despite the weaker storyline and mixed reviews, the film resonated with audiences, achieving an 87% verified audience score on Rotten Tomatoes (rottentomatoes.com). Viral scenes like the “Steve’s Lava Chicken” song and the Chicken Jockey fight scene garnered strong reactions in theaters, with audiences cheering and quoting them word for word. The film also paid tribute to those who contributed not only to Minecraft’s popularity but also to its community, featuring prominent Minecraft YouTubers like DanTDM (Daniel Robert Middleton), Aphmau (Jessica Bravura), and LDShadowLady (Elizabeth Dwyer). Additionally, the film paid heartfelt homage to Technoblade, real name Alexander, who passed away from cancer in 2022.
The movie is not so much a film as it is a reflection of Minecraft’s community—messy, passionate, and sometimes overwhelming.
