"A Minecraft Movie" Delivers on Humor, Lacks Message

“A Minecraft Movie” website shown on an iPhone screen. Photo Creds: Koshiro K from Alamy Stock Photo.

Jax Marsh, Staff Writer to The Powderhorn

“A Minecraft Movie” released on April 5, 2025, experienced unbelievable success, earning over $157 million during the opening weekend. For reference, box office analysts believed the movie would gain at most $90 million, but instead it cemented itself as the highest-grossing opening of a video game movie ever, beating out “Super Mario Bros”. 

I watched “A Minecraft Movie” in theaters on Sunday, April 6, where I was met with a large crowd cheering popular phrases like “Chicken jockey!” and “I am Steve,” moments before the movie commenced. This level of excitement persisted throughout the film, without fail. 

SPOILERS AHEAD

The movie kicked off slowly, visually explaining the background of the film’s main protagonist, Steve (played by Jack Black). The audience was then introduced to the piglins, who ran the nether realm, which was also hinted at the first signs of conflict. The rest of the movie follows Steve and his posse of friends: Garrett, Natalie, Henry, and Dawn. The group explores the Minecraft realm, going on adventures like exploring woodland mansions and eating “Lava Chicken” in villages. 

I am personally a big fan of Jack Black. He played this role really well, and the dynamic between him and Jason Momoa’s character was, in my opinion, the best part of the movie. One of my favorite scenes shows Jack Black and Jason Momoa creating a “Man Sandwich” while falling midair. The two of them making jokes and yelling at each other drove the humor of the movie and has truly launched this into a cultural phenomenon.

However, one critique would be the absence of an impactful message. The limited dialogue surrounding the importance of creativity lacked the “hit home” feel that many audience members seek within a blockbuster movie.

Though this film is not as heavily detailed and game-accurate as die-hard fans may be hoping for, viewers should suspend these sentiments to enjoy the movie in its entirety. Overall, it was a thrill of a film, and I believe it met up to most audience members’ expectations for a lighthearted, laugh-out-loud cinematic experience.