A Minecraft Movie review: Is this the worst film of 2025?

In the world of video game adaptations, there are two schools: absolute bangers (e.g. The Last of Us) and immediate flops (e.g… well, A Minecraft Movie. Sorry you had to find out this way).

Since I joined the Dexerto team almost two years ago, I’ve had a knack for picking only bad live-action remakes to lead coverage for. Five Nights at Freddy’s was the first (though this feels like award-winning Shakespeare in hindsight), Borderlands was second (which I’ll let off because of LOML Cate Blanchett), and A Minecraft Movie rounds out my trilogy of nightmares. I pride myself on happily loving a bit of trash, but this takes things too far.

But why can we be so hard on new movies like these straight out of the gate? The answer is both as simultaneously simple and complex as the Overworld. Even a few days after watching it, I’m infuriated with almost every aspect of what I experienced, with the obvious exception of Jennifer Coolidge. But more on that later.

Whether it’s the atrocious dialogue, almost non-existent storyline, or the animated animals that look like they were created purely to be made into Happy Meal toys, A Minecraft Movie is only going to be a crowd-pleaser for… well, there might not be an answer to this. Should avid fans of the game be worried? Absolutely.

What is A Minecraft Movie about?

I’m going to assume you’re familiar with the logistics of the game, so imagine this all taking place in a very cube-shaped world. Steve (Jack Black) appropriately yearned for the mines as a child, but wasn’t allowed to enter until he looked like Nacho Libre. Once inside, he found the cubed orb that opened the portal to the Outerworld, with his curiosity leading him straight to Piglin Malgosha (Rachel House) in the Nether.

When good boy Dennis manages to hide the orb in the real world, Henry (Sebastian Hansen) accidentally reopens the portal. After Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison (Jason Momoa), Dawn (Danielle Brooks), Natalie (Emma Myers), and Henry all get stuck in the Overworld, it’s up to Steve to bail everyone out.

The Overworld is best left open world

Warner Bros.

There’s a big problem with adapting open-world games (and why we should be terrified of our beloved The Sims ever getting the same treatment). When something isn’t meant to have a storyline, it doesn’t work for creators to then try and jam one into the forefront. It’s the main reason why A Minecraft Movie has so many problems. Fans have spent years showcasing their creativity in the game. Is this the narrative they’d actually choose for themselves?

In short, our very ropey storyline of adventure and survival doesn’t really do the Minecraft we know any justice. It also doesn’t do the goal of creating an entertaining movie any good, either. What we have instead is something so half-baked, every detail feels underwhelming to discover in the process. Sure, the widescale visuals are beautiful and the attention to existing in-gameplay detail is spot-on. But if we want to watch creatures soaring over jaw-dropping cliffs, just stick on Avatar.

The stakes aren’t really that high, the performances aren’t really that great (though Momoa and Black have some comedic chemistry), and the action isn’t impressive in the slightest. The scariest part is Malgosha skewering a young Piglin in front of our eyes for drawing a picture of a house. It’s glossed over with sociopathic abandon, and it’s incredibly weird to watch.

Warner Bros

There’s a lot of in-game elements that look really intriguing (such as the crafting table, how to create buildings and tools, and the structure of the Overworld itself). But obviously this is all ten times better in the game, and you’d go there to experience it properly. So what is the movie adding to the viewing experience? Nothing, except nightmares about the derranged sheep pictured above.

Judging by the performances, it feels like most of the cast aren’t that invested in the original game (with the exception of Myers). This adds to the level of meandering cluelessness pulling us through this nearly two-hour experience, and that ain’t good. Henry might remind you of a more irritating version of Young Sheldon, if that’s even possible – and that arguably explains the bizarre edition of the movie sweepstakes.

There is something for players to enjoy, though. YouTuber cameos come in thick and fast, and they’ve added the detail into the setting you’d hope would be included. Keep a special eye on the mines, as a hint.

It’s Jennifer Coolidge to save the day

Warner Bros.

Thank you, Jesus, for Jennifer Coolidge. That’s something that’s often said anyway, but she’s the saving grace of A Minecraft Movie. Existing only in the human world, her storyline involves a divorce and a life-changing interaction with an Overworld villager.

She’s the only reason to genuinely laugh out loud once during your screening, and her signature kitschy style, ditzy yet shrewd approach to comedy, and killer timing makes her fleeting moments on screen sing. Frankly, she deserves this breakout section of the review, and probably a payrise.

We should be a little angry, though. After winning awards for two back-to-back series of The White Lotus, each of which essentially resurrected her career, this is what Tanya McQuoid was killed off for? This is why we lost our glamorous Peppa Pig on the small screen? Coolidge, please come back from the grave for Season 4 instead.

Dexerto Review Score: 1/5 – Awful

Let’s be real. I enjoyed the child who kicked my seat for the entirety of the train ride to the screening more than this. I enjoyed only being able to have a £1.75 Greggs sausage roll for dinner because I ran out of time more than this. I later enjoyed watching five and a half hours of Marvel unveiling Doomsday chairs more than this. You get the idea: A Minecraft Movie is one I’ll happily scroll on past whenever it starts streaming.

Players, please stick to the game. Cinephiles, please spend your money elsewhere. And parents, please try not to lose your mind when your kids ask to see this. I hope you enjoy your inevitable Happy Meal, though.

A Minecraft Movie is in cinemas from April 4, if you still want to see it. For actual gaming goodness, find out what we know about The Last of Us Season 2 and the Horizon TV show.

For more information on how we score TV shows and movies, check out our scoring guidelines here.