By Gabriel Stanton
For several decades, videogame movie adaptations have had a reputation for being some of the worst films released in their respective years. This trend was disappointing, as fans look forward to seeing their favorite franchises have a chance to make it to the big screen, only for said franchise to blow.
While the 2025 release “A Minecraft Movie” is far from the most egregious example of this category, it unfortunately repeats some similar mistakes of its predecessors.
Warner Bros. Entertainment’s “A Minecraft Movie” features Jack Black as the iconic “Steve”, and Rachel House voicing the
As for characters not from the game, the evil Malgosha is voiced by Rachel House. Natalie and Henry are portrayed by Emma Myers and Sebastian Eugene Hansen respectively. Garrett is played by Jason Momoa, and finally, Danielle Brooks is Dawn.
The film introduces how Steve ended up in the overworld, as well as our movie-original leads. We learn bits about their pasts, and how the lack of creative opportunity makes them feel unsatisfied. Chaos ensues, and they end up being sucked into the world of Minecraft. It’s up to Steve to show these strangers how to survive in this dangerous world.
Steve and the crew’s misadventures in Minecraft are able to provide some entertainment, partially thanks to Jack Black’s performance. While he may not have been the most sensible pick for Steve’s role, his wacky antics are fun, and his character is understandable.
Jason Momoa’s performance was also enjoyable. Despite Garrett having a few unlikable moments, a lot of his dialogue is funny, and he more or less redeems himself near the end of the adventure. However, the worst moments for these two were when they sang these cringeworthy songs, as they contributed to this film’s biggest problem: its pacing.
The movie had moments that felt empty, while also having parts where too much was happening. It would’ve benefited from having less exposition, as well as its secondary plot being entirely removed. That way, those who are unfamiliar with Minecraft could have a more cohesive rundown on its significant items. As the items ended up being implemented, they just acted as fan pandering and plot devices.
The themes and characters were also impacted by this feature’s pacing. Something that connects the main characters, including the antagonist, is that they each wanted to make their dreams come true.
However, the picture failed at making audiences take its theme seriously. Malgosha’s backstory showed why she rejects creativity, but it was too brief and ridiculous for casual viewers to care. In an admittedly good contrast to Malgosha, Henry used creativity to help Steve and the crew. Those moments demonstrated his and Natalie’s sibling dynamic, which is where the heart of this whole thing lies.
