They played a new "Superman" clip and trailer before "A Minecraft Movie." My excitement for that DCU launcher has increased significantly. I won't spoil what it features, but seeing it felt special. I felt shivers through my body because of how awesome that preview was. Of course, they released it online a few hours later, but watching it on a Dolby screen was astounding. July 11 can't come soon enough. Wait, this is a review of "A Minecraft Movie."
Unlike most video game adaptations I've seen, I have prior experience playing Minecraft, undeniably one of the most popular video games in history and the best-selling of all time. I used to play it for hours on end, and it never got tiring. YouTubers made their careers posting Minecraft gameplay videos. I can't downplay Minecraft's legacy and impact, and ever since 2014, there has been talk about turning it into a movie. After eleven long years in which people like me thought it'd never come out, we finally have it, and since I'm both a fan of the game and movies in general, I can hopefully tell whether or not this caters exclusively to one group or both. To an extent, it does for both audiences, I'll admit, but I didn't exactly like it.
Let me start with the visuals. The entire VFX crew brought iconic Minecraft characters and places to stunning life. I was in awe at how much I wouldn't mind living in this world.
Next, the actors do a solid job. Jack Black, Sebastian Hansen, and Danielle Brooks all do well with their characters, although Jason Momoa and Emma Myers as Garrett and Natalie were the best, in my opinion. Though issues with the screenplay exist, the cast (mostly) makes their dialogue work.
Yes, the references to the game made me smile a bit. Then again, any Minecraft player would be happy seeing their favorite elements from the game translated to the big screen. That may be the saving factor for most people, given that they've played it extensively. It's fun to notice the callbacks to the game, and that's sometimes not bad. I didn't find it detrimental to the overall experience.
For the remaining positives, two scenes - including the final act - were wildly fun and had me excited, while Jared Hess's directing was vibrant, and the runtime rarely drags.
Before moving into the mixed-to-negative aspects of this experience, remember how most of us collectively disliked the film's first trailer? I admit, I didn't like it, but the film strangely became my 9th most anticipated movie of 2025, and I ceased to mind the following trailer. It's important to keep expectations in check, but I couldn't help but have hope that it may subvert my worries and be outstanding. Unfortunately, it didn't happen, but it's not the worst video game adaptation or movie of 2025, and I understand that you may be able to move past the flaws and have a delightful time. Either way, I have to be honest.
As I foreshadowed earlier, the screenplay from Chris Bowman, Chris Galletta, Gavin James, Hubbel Palmer, and Neil Widener was very weird, not weak per se. Minecraft as a game is conceptually simple, but I feel this film's narrative isn't straightforward enough. Additionally, the movie feels like it has an identity crisis at times. It's a comedy, yet they try to make the Overworld - it's not called Minecraft, although they name-drop it for a completely different reason - this big deal, but I feel they didn't do a good enough job with that.
I saw missed potential with the villains as well. They're not terrible, but I never felt the threat of Malgosha or her piglin army. In their defense, I didn't invest in the central five as much as the movie wanted me to.
Oh, and there's a side plot that, no spoilers, didn't add to the story whatsoever. It's semi-cute, but in all seriousness, what was it doing here?
Going back to the comedy, I only laughed twice. I'm not angry that I didn't think it was funny; I'm just disappointed. These are jokes geared more toward younger audiences, but they don't overstay their welcome as much as other films.
One more thing, and it's not as much of a bother for me: they go into song-and-dance four times here. A song towards the end aside, it feels like the team only did it because "Peaches" from "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" was so beloved. The songs are fine inclusions that don't entirely justify their inclusion.
Overall, if you had fears beforehand, they're in "A Minecraft Movie," but if you expected a "Snow White" failure, prepare to be pleasantly surprised. It's simultaneously the best and the worst film I hoped and feared it'd be, but it has two target audiences in mind: younger audiences and dedicated Minecraft fans, both of whom may be okay with an imperfect feature.
Technically, the acting, directing, breathtaking visuals, and decent screenplay make the technical score an 8/10.
For the enjoyment score, it was a 5/10 for me. However, I may be in the minority who feel this way. An 8/10 experience is in the cards if you only want a fun adventure and could care less about its weaker elements. I can't be mad at it, because it did its job, even if I didn't admit it at first: entertain!
