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A month ago, if you mentioned “A Minecraft Movie” in a public place, an exasperated groan could be heard from every movie fan in a two-mile radius. However, despite audiences’ increasing impatience with half-baked IP vehicles (see “Snow White” and “Captain America: Brave New World”), “A Minecraft Movie” has emerged as a box office smash, securing the biggest domestic debut of 2025 and the best in history for a video game to big-screen adaptation.
But what’s especially fascinating about WB’s blocky adventure is that no one can agree if it’s really good. Letterboxd, the cinephile social media platform for sharing movie reviews, has the average rating for “Minecraft” at an abysmal 2.8 out of 5 stars, yet the most logged rating by far is a perfect 5 out of 5. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie sits at a rotten 48% on the Tomatometer, but on the Popcornmeter, which polls audience opinion, “Minecraft” stands at a mighty 87%.
So what’s going on? Are the inflated audience scores a symptom of “A Minecraft Movie’s” incessant memeification, or did Jared Hess strike diamonds with a universal IP? Variety‘s resident Zoomers, the presumed target audience of this film, have compiled their thoughts about the video game tentpole to answer all lingering questions and shed light on how “A Minecraft Movie” fits into the zeitgeist of popular cinema.
What We Liked
“A Minecraft Movie” is classic dumb fun shepherded by two completely unhinged performances from Jack Black and Jason Momoa. Every line from the leading pair is delivered with such excessive bravado that you can’t help but laugh at everything they say. I think this is mostly to the credit of Jared Hess, who brings a comedic irreverence to the whole picture. Also, there is certainly something to be said about the theater experience. On opening night, it was a packed house, and not a soul in the theater under the age of 20. Even still, every memeable line was met with raucous cheers. Such a blast from start to finish. – Jack Dunn
It’s no “Lego Movie” or even quite “Jumanji,” but there is still a charm to seeing iconic Minecraft moments and references brought to the big screen after so many years. It helps that the script (mostly) leans into being self-referential and never takes itself too seriously, which makes it fun to watch in a crowd. All the stuff that takes place in The Nether — the game’s version of hell — was also quite entertaining. The energy is just so chaotic that it’s hard not to go along for the ride. – Matt Minton
Especially as Steve is discovering the world of Minecraft for the first time, it’s gratifying to see Jack Black live out experiences every player has had. There’s a magic to watching him go through the familiar process of making a wood house, then a slightly fancier stone house, then a pink wool house. Even if the story itself isn’t a particularly moving one, the film clearly wants to honor the experience of playing Minecraft and mirror how players move through the game. – Lauren Coates
What We Hated
Just to keep it real, this is still an IP-forward blockbuster made more for bottom lines than anything in the name of quality cinema. That comes with all the usual problems: A thoughtless plot, mechanical action sequences and a dreadfully forgettable cast of characters outside of Jack Black’s Steve and Jason Momoa’s Garrett. It works less as a movie and more as an entertainment experience, which, as fun as that can be, is a purely capitalistic product. To be fair, it does it better than most, but I pray studios can soon move away from these kinds of projects as their typical fare in favor of something made with heart. Also, Black didn’t say “lapis lazuli” a single time, which was a major letdown. – JD
All the scenes in the human world, minus Jennifer Coolidge dating the villager, can be a bit of a slog to sit through. As talented as the ensemble cast is, it doesn’t quite feel like “A Minecraft Movie” ever takes full advantage of everyone’s talents and ability to play off of one another — even by the end. Especially Danielle Brooks, who totally deserved a musical number or moment to sing (CaptainSparklez parody song, anyone?). Also, no discredit to any of the actors, but any time the script tried to lean into emotional beats with the sibling storyline, you could hear people in my theater audibly laughing. Better to 100% lean into the offbeat and eccentric tone that everyone is really seated for! – MM
Too much mine, not enough craft. The mine cart sequence is a clever way to translate the (often plodding) experience of trying to mine enough diamonds for new armor, but the characters (besides Steve) barely interact with the world. The joy and beauty of Minecraft is the possibility to make anything, but instead it’s an arbitrary story about a mob of villains fighting mostly hand-to-hand with everyday people. They should be crafting crazy vehicles and weapons for themselves. Why is Jack Black the only one having fun? The musical number also felt shoehorned in, and like Matt said: if anyone on that cast should be singing, it’s Danielle Brooks. – LC
©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection
Is “A Minecraft Movie” A Good Film?
I think studios everywhere are trying to figure out what a “good movie” means to modern audiences. “A Minecraft Movie” is pure frivolity. It’s making people excited to go to the theaters and giving a much-needed boost to a floundering 2025 box office. So, on that level, it’s doing what good movies are supposed to do. But is it a “good movie” when dissected under critical analysis? Certainly not. – JD
I wouldn’t say that “A Minecraft Movie” is a “good” film, but it’s also not the complete disaster that a lot of people were probably expecting. I think it falls somewhere in the middle and will be remembered more for specific “meme-worthy” moments than the actual story as a whole. When the ensemble is really allowed to shine, particularly Jack Black, it’s genuinely a lot of fun. It’s admittedly a bit hard to separate what I ironically and unironically enjoyed — it’s such a fever dream of the movie. It almost doesn’t feel real. – MM
Not really. The best “bad movies” move fast enough to still always be entertaining, but “A Minecraft Movie” is at times the worst thing a bad movie can be: slow. Jack Black isn’t so much acting as doing an impersonation of himself, which is fine because Steve’s not a real character, but sometimes it begins to feel like the Jack Black show and not a cinematic ode to a beloved video game. – LC
What Should Studios Learn About Appealing to Audiences Under 25
Make audiences feel like they’re participating in something greater than themselves when they go to the movies. Create something unexpected and offer them an experience they can’t get anywhere else but in a theater. –JD
Creating an experience where people have to be seated in theaters on opening weekend — that factor of “you have to see this or you’re missing out on something bigger” — especially when there’s so many alternative viewing options at home. Also, as proven with movies like Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” having a filmmaker behind a big studio project that people feel really connected to is important. With “A Minecraft Movie,” bringing “Napoleon Dynamite” director Jared Hess onboard was really smart because you can feel his comedic sensibility and energy shine through. While the marketing and brand deals for this movie have been everywhere and made people aware of it coming out, it’s the filmmaker you have behind the engine that will determine if people actually remember it months later. -MM
If you’re going to put IP on the big screen, do your homework. Unsuspecting couples on date night are hearing teens scream “chicken jockey” at the screen in theaters across the globe because (if nothing else) “A Minecraft Movie” knows what players love about Minecraft. It’s not enough just to have a recognizable title or a familiar face. – LC
Favorite Moment
When Jack Black suddenly breaks out in song about his lava chicken restaurant. – JD
Every moment with Jack Black in the Overworld and Jennifer Coolidge going out with one of the villagers in the human world. I also have a soft spot for building montages. If the goal was to get me back into playing Minecraft, it certainly paid off. – MM
The use of C418’s iconic “Minecraft” theme in the final bittersweet moment during Steve’s goodbye was unexpectedly moving. – LC
Favorite Performance
Has to be Jack Black. Honorable mention to Jennifer Coolidge. – JD
Jack Black for sure — he just brings such an insane level of energy and comedic timing. His line delivery of “I am Steve” was gold. He understood the assignment. – MM
I can only assume Jennifer Coolidge was romancing a stand-in wearing a morph suit, so her. – LC
