--- title: "A Minecraft Movie: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/a-minecraft-movie/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/a-minecraft-movie" critics_score: 50 critics_reviews: 15 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # A Minecraft Movie (2025): what the critics said Critics' score 50 from 15 reviews: 4 positive, 5 mixed, 6 negative. The reviews split almost evenly three ways, and the spread is wide. Most critics agree on what works: Jared Hess’s absurdist streak, Jack Black’s full-throttle turn as Steve, and his double act with a self-mocking Jason Momoa, with Jennifer Coolidge picked out more than once for the small-town scenes. The comedy-minded reviews find it a likeable, goofy quest that wisely refuses to take itself seriously. The reservations cluster around the story: a borrowed Jumanji-shaped plot, thin stakes, a muddled second half and a sense that the game’s open-ended, build-anything spirit has been swapped for a generic blockbuster template. Several critics call it closer to an advert than a film. The British press is markedly colder than the American trades: The Times awards it nothing at all and calls it commercial propaganda, and The Independent finds Black desperate rather than funny, a view a few others share once the first act’s laughs run out. ## Los Angeles Times — Amy Nicholson Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 2 April 2025. Hess infuses the adaptation with his signature absurdist humor and touchstones like tater tots and competitive dorks, delivering a solid, goofy comedy anchored by Jack Black's committed performance. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2025-04-02/a-minecraft-movie-review-jack-black-jared-hess-jason-momoa-jennifer-coolidge) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 April 2025. Hess brings genial camp and absurdist flair to this weightless quest comedy, with the standout chemistry between Jack Black and a self-skewering Jason Momoa making it likably goofy despite thin stakes. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/a-minecraft-movie-review-jason-momoa-jack-black-1236352502/) ## RogerEbert.com — Brian Tallerico Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 2 April 2025. The film rises above typical video-game adaptations thanks to flashes of quirky personality from director Jared Hess, though it falls short of its potential with muddled plotting in the second half. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/a-minecraft-movie-review-2025) ## Total Film — Neil Smith Rating 3/5. 2 April 2025. The critic praises Jared Hess's indie sensibilities and Jack Black's energetic star turn for elevating the adaptation into an entertaining fantasy adventure. Some elements like special effects and female roles are weaker, but it succeeds overall as a playful, irreverent caper. [Read the review](https://gamesradar.com/entertainment/live-action-movies/a-minecraft-movie-review) ## The AV Club — Jacob Oller Rating C-. 2 April 2025. The film jams together too many familiar plots and clichés into a chaotic, erratic mix that feels like a first in-game creation rather than tapping the game's imaginative flexibility. It offers occasional flashes of Hess-style surrealism and fun from Jack Black and Jason Momoa, but buries them under generic blockbuster obligations. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/a-minecraft-movie-review) ## The Independent — Clarisse Loughrey Rating 2/5. 2 April 2025. The critic finds the film an underwhelming and flawed adaptation that fails to capture the spirit of the game. Jack Black's performance as Steve comes across as desperate and clownish, while the story offers little creativity or reinvention. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/minecraft-movie-review-jack-black-cast-release-date-b2726057.html) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 9 April 2025. The movie is overly conventional and promotional, unlikely to entertain even children, but fans of Hess may appreciate its nods to his distinctive cinematic universe of quirky, personal details. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/a-minecraft-movie-is-a-tale-of-two-cinematic-universes) ## The Telegraph — Robbie Collin Rating 2/5. 4 April 2025. The placid, open-ended charm of the video game source material is nowhere to be found in this grindingly generic brand extension. The film fails to turn the game's creativity into an engaging feature-length plot. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/minecraft-movie-review/) ## Empire — Dan Jolin Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 4 April 2025. The critic calls it a hyperactive hot-pink mess that revels in its failure to elevate the source material. It is loud and energetic but lacks story, character depth, or meaningful engagement with the Minecraft world. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/a-minecraft-movie/) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating 0/5. 3 April 2025. The film is an unapologetic cranium-crusher and piece of dire propaganda for the bestselling video game, with ugly cash-grabbing designs and a lumpen splodge of commercial propaganda directed by Jared Hess. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/minecraft-movie-review-jason-momoa-jack-black-vb7rw322d) ## Sight and Sound 4 April 2025. The critic praises the film's fanciful adaptation that builds imaginative worlds and delivers cross-generational joy through adventure and humor. They highlight its clever use of the game's sandbox nature and nostalgic elements as a strength for family audiences. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/minecraft-movie-videogame-block-buster-has-moments-cross-generational-joy) ## The Guardian 2 April 2025. The film offers full-throttle star turns from Jack Black and Jennifer Coolidge that raise laughs but are undermined by perfunctory plotting. It is an enjoyable if hectic experience overall. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/apr/02/a-minecraft-movie-review-jack-black-jennifer-coolidge) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Lovia Gyarkye 2 April 2025. The critic finds the film disappointing and mindnumbing for failing to spark imagination or experimental play in the spirit of the game, despite its IP origins. It succeeds visually for novices in showing the Overworld's potential and championing childlike wonder, but lacks stakes, tone, and character development. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/a-minecraft-movie-review-jason-momoa-jack-black-1236179043/) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri 4 April 2025. The critic praises the film as a funny, lively comic delight that captures the game's playful vibe through the chemistry of Jack Black and Jason Momoa. It succeeds as a silly, light-footed quest comedy thanks to the director's tongue-in-cheek approach. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/jack-black-and-jason-momoa-make-a-minecraft-movie-a-delight.html) ## Deadline — Dessi Gomez Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 4 April 2025. The critic praises the film's embrace of creativity and the strong performances by Jack Black and Jason Momoa, noting it has heart and effective visual effects despite niche humor. They single out the message of nurturing creativity in young Henry and the bromance between the leads. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2025/04/a-minecraft-movie-review-jack-black-jason-momoa-1236359588/) ## /Film — Witney Seibold Rating 7/10. 4 April 2025. The critic views the film as a broad, slapstick farce that wisely avoids taking itself or the source material too seriously. Jack Black is singled out for praise as the perfect Steve in a quirky, fun adaptation that echoes the director's earlier indie comedies. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1826697/a-minecraft-movie-review/) ## Collider — Nate Richard Rating 5/10. 4 April 2025. The critic views the film as a disposable family movie that will please young audiences but feels stale and unremarkable to adults. They single out the first act's laughs and the silly performances by Jason Momoa and Jennifer Coolidge for praise, while complaining that Jack Black's performance grows tiresome and the emotional elements feel half-baked. [Read the review](https://collider.com/a-minecraft-movie-review/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 2 April 2025. The critic finds the film offers no surprises, aimed squarely at fans with fan service and slapstick, enjoyable for them but formulaic with unremarkable CGI integration and over-the-top Black performance; praises some charming elements like Coolidge and small-town scenes. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/minecraft-movie-review-jason-momoa-jack-black/) ## NME — Ali Shutler Rating 2/5. 3 April 2025. The critic notes moments of surreal brilliance and gorgeous visuals embracing the game's quirky culture, including a Technoblade tribute and fun subplots, but finds the film far too safe overall. It feels more like an advert for the game than a celebration of creativity, with a basic Jumanji-style plot that lacks innovation despite the premise. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/minecraft-movie-review-jack-black-jason-momoa-3851625) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/a-minecraft-movie.md