“A Minecraft Movie” released in theaters Apr. 4, and it is a MASSIVE hit. The movie has been long anticipated since its first teaser trailer was released in September 2024. Hit actors like Jack Black, Jason Momoa and Danielle Brooks in the lead roles gave the movie the traction it needed to build its way to the top of the box office. The movie also drew fans of Minecraft YouTube stars like DanTDM, LDShadowLady and Mumbo Jumbo, who played cameo roles. 

The movie made around $313 million globally and $163 million domestically in the box office during opening weekend, surpassing “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” for the top start ever for a video game adaptation by tens of millions. 

The PG-rated movie follows the story of two young orphans trying to survive in a new town. Henry, played by Sebastian Eugene Hansen, is an outcast at his school for being smart and creative, and his sister, Natalie, played by Emma Myers, is trying to find a job so that she can take care of them because of their mother’s recent passing. Additionally, they become friends with Garrett, an old video game rockstar with a failing business, and Dawn, a realtor with a zoo-on-the-go side business. 

With Garrett’s help, Henry is able to activate a portal with an orb from Garrett’s shop that leads them to a new dimension that viewers are most likely familiar with. The group enters the Minecraft realm, where they encounter a mob of monsters that attack them and break the key to going home. Fortunately, a crafty hero comes to their rescue; this is when the characters meet Steve.

The plot of the movie was an interesting take on the story of the actual game. Instead of the primary goal of beating the ender dragon like in the video game, it focused on the threat of the piglins in the Nether. The subplots added to the film as well, as they were funny and well-written. 

A Minecraft Movie is a film with cheesy one-liners, beautiful animation and an entertaining plotline. Steve was such a genuine character because of Jack Black’s comedic acting. His quips made the movie all the more fun. In many videos online, during the showing, the audience would join in on his popular lines like “I am Steve” and “Chicken-jockey”. In my theater, the movie received three standing ovations, which brought the audience together in shared joy. One critique I have of the movie is Jason Momoa as Garrett. Although he added comedic relief in some parts of the movie, it didn’t feel like Jason Momoa really fit into the lead role because the role seemed too far out of the scope of the other characters he has played in the past.

That being said, the animation in the movie was top-tier. It brought the fantastical elements of the video game to life while still maintaining its classic look. Additionally, the dullness of the real world in the movie made entering the Minecraft world much more exciting. The screenplay writers really nailed the script, which made the movie feel like the sandbox that the Minecraft game was meant to be because of the creative liberty that the character Steve took within the Minecraft dimension.

Overall, the Minecraft Movie is a great movie for people of all ages to enjoy, whether you’ve played the game or not. If you’ve seen the film, leave a comment with your opinion of the Minecraft Movie!