A MINECRAFT MOVIE, US, 2025. Starring Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Sebastian Hansen, Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Coolidge, Rachel House. Directed by Jared Hess. 101 minutes. Rated PG (Mild fantasy violence and coarse language, some scenes may scare young children).
It seems that there are nearly 170 million monthly active players of Minecraft. Minecraft is the bestselling video game of all time, with more than 300 million copies sold. Now that’s a potential worldwide audience.
In fact, on its opening day in the US, including $10 million in previews, the box office was $157 million. Which means, in terms of potential audiences, a review is probably not necessary. However, there are the other hundreds of millions who are not familiar with Minecraft and will be wondering what it is all about. It is a video game, players having the opportunity to explore different worlds, or, of course, set up competitions and rivalries, chases, the good defeating the bad.
The film defines itself as ‘A’ Minecraft movie, so there are all kinds of possibilities for more. This one starts in the real world, introducing the character, Steve, a young boy forbidden to go into mines, then an adult bored with his desk job, going into the mine, and finding a blue-glowing cube with extraordinary powers. But what enlivens all this is that Steve is played by J Black, extrovert and exuberance personified, with that overwhelming manic energy he has shown over so many years. And he has the opportunity to do some of his Tenacious D singing.
And then the cube opens up a whole world of magic and mystery . . .
While the action opens in the real world, especially with the gaming champion of 1989, Garrett (Momoa, playing against type as something of a loser and even some sook moments.) There are two youngsters, the intelligent Henry (Hansen) and his protective sister, Natalie (Myers), along with Dawn (Brooks, the exuberant singer in the musical version of The Color Purple).
There is also the Overworld, bright and sunny, with all kinds of combination cube characters, intriguing, friendly, especially a dog called Dennis. And there is the Netherworld, ruled over by the evil Malgosha (House) with her minions and an army of pig-like soldiers. Steve enters the Overworld with zest, but is imprisoned by Malgosha. He sends Dennis to get help – and that means the motley group finding the cube, banding together, found by Dennis and beginning their adventures in both worlds.
Lots of adventures, spectacular action and stunts, dangers galore, heroism, using wits, discovering Steve. Plenty to keep the younger audience excited – and remembering the ways they have played Minecraft.
If non-playing parents and grandparents accompany the youngsters to the movie, something of this background will help them to adapt – and even to enjoy. They will have the extra bonus of seeing Coolidge the school principal, doing her now-familiar and popular comic thing – even during the final credits.
Future researchers on the history of video games and cultural symbols of the early 21st century will be intrigued.
Universal
Released 3 April