‘Minecraft’ Movie Reviews Are In: A Blocky Blend of Fun and Frustration

A Minecraft Movie hits theaters this week, carrying massive box office expectations that could shape the future of Warner Bros.’ leadership. With the studio desperate for a win after recent high-profile flops.

The review embargo has finally been lifted following a slew of mixed social media reactions and the reviews are mixed. Some critics think A Minecraft Movie is a shallow, corporate cash grab that lacks the creativity and fun of the game. Many say it feels empty, like it’s just using the Minecraft name to make money instead of telling a great story.

Some found it boring, frustrating, and aimed only at kids, with little for adults to enjoy. Others felt it copied parts of the game’s look but didn’t capture its real sense of adventure. Overall, they see it as a safe, uninspired movie that doesn’t take risks or do anything special.

A Minecraft Movie is the cinematic equivalent of digging straight down: a terrible idea that only results in frustration. If you’re an adult hoping for an enjoyable experience, do yourself a favor — stick to the game.

Jonathan Sim ComingSoon.net

Block-headed from start to finish, it’s cinema in service of nothing more than IP exploitation.

Nick Schager The Daily Beast

A corporate affair as soul-crushing as working in a mine shaft.

Rendy Jones Rendy Reviews

Thinking deeply about any aspect of the movie at all causes it to crumble. This is an adaptation that keeps the surface trappings of the original material, but fails to capture any of the joy and adventure in Minecraft.

Cass Marshall Polygon

It’s the kind of formulaic brand-extension tale a writer could pitch while in a coma.

Johnny Oleksinski New York Post

There’s a through line, buried in here somewhere, about how it’s harder to be creative, easier to destroy. Unfortunately, A Minecraft Movie proves its own point. Creativity took too much effort. Easier to destroy the spirit of the video game instead.

Clarisse Loughrey Independent (UK)

Some critics however liked the movie for its fun and colorful style. They said it has lots of energy, silly humor, and action that kids will enjoy. The animation looks great, and the movie captures some of the game’s playful feel. Jack Black and Jason Momoa give fun performances, with Momoa especially standing out.

A few critics also liked that the movie doesn’t take itself too seriously and has a loose, goofy vibe. Even though it’s not perfect, some felt it was still an entertaining family film.

A Minecraft Movie not only doesn’t suck but is also rather fun, its exuberant colour palette and playfully irreverent vibe turning what could have been a cynical exercise in brand proliferation into a goofily knockabout caper.

Neil Smith Total Film

If it does anything, “A Minecraft Movie” marks the comedic coming of age of Momoa, who has shown glimpses of his chops in the “Aquaman” and “Fast X” movies. But when he’s not on screen in this one, it leaves the movie slack.

Mark Kennedy Associated Press

Though [Jack Black] might strike you as a little long in the tooth to still be doing his happy dazed stoner line readings, he invests them with so much conviction that he spikes the film right along.

Owen Gleiberman Variety

It’s the faintest of praise to say that it’s the best video game movie Jack Black has made in the last year. However, the Jared Hess-directed adventure is a relatively accessible, often enjoyable adaptation.

Liz Shannon Miller Consequence

A little more craft on the storytelling side could have elevated this to something special a la Dungeons and Dragons from 2023, but it’s an enjoyable if hectic experience nonetheless.

Catherine Bray Guardian

Thanks to the exuberant cast and the kind of contagious entertainment they dispensed, you may just come to love something you didn’t know a lick about 101 minutes earlier.

Don Shanahan Film Obsessive

Rotten Tomatoes score coming soon.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!