Minecraft Movie: Is It the Worst Film of 2025?

For those unfamiliar with the beloved game, picture this: a cube-shaped universe rife with creativity. We’re introduced to **Steve** (voiced by the incomparable Jack Black), who dreams of mining as freely as he does in his childhood fantasies. When he stumbles upon a mysterious orb that opens a portal to the **Outerworld**, chaos ensues, leading him to confront **Piglin Malgosha** (Rachel House) in the treacherous Nether.

When a good-hearted boy named **Dennis** hides the orb in the real world, fate takes a turn for the worse. With a ragtag crew, including **Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison** (Jason Momoa), **Dawn** (Danielle Brooks), **Natalie** (Emma Myers), and **Henry** (Sebastian Hansen), who accidentally reopens the portal, it falls to Steve to rescue them from impending doom.

The Overworld is Best Left as an Open World

Warner Bros.

The inherent challenge with adapting **open-world games** lies in imposing a forced narrative upon a canvas designed for infinite possibilities. *A Minecraft Movie* attempts to do just that, and it fails miserably. Dedicated fans of the game have spent years cultivating their own unique stories—does this film reflect that creativity? Spoiler alert: **not even close**!

What we witness is a **lackluster storyline** that squanders the essence of Minecraft. Sure, the visuals are vibrant, and the in-game elements are accurately represented, but the narrative drags like a poorly constructed redstone machine. The stakes are minimal, the performances wavering (bar a few standout moments between Momoa and Black), and the action sequences barely leave an impression. The quirkiest moment involves Malgosha scaring off a young Piglin for attempting to draw—a scene treated with alarming and jarring nonchalance!

Warner Bros.

There are clever nods to various in-game elements, such as crafting tables and building mechanics, but honestly, they’re far better experienced within the game itself. What does the film contribute to the audience? **Zilch**, unless you enjoy a heaping dose of absurdity featuring deranged sheep.

The overwhelming sense of detachment is palpable, as if the majority of the cast, save for Myers, weren’t in tune with the original game’s allure. Watching Henry might remind you of a more grating version of Young Sheldon—and that’s saying something! Our cringeworthy moments extend further with a suspect movie sweepstakes.

To their credit, the film does feature numerous cameos from popular **YouTubers**, lending a wink to the gaming community. Keep an eye out for hints in the mines—it’s one of the only redeeming aspects!

Thank God for Jennifer Coolidge

Warner Bros.

In a film fraught with disappointment, **Jennifer Coolidge** emerges as a beacon of light. The comedic powerhouse provides a subplot revolving around a divorce, leading to a delightful encounter with an Overworld villager, and her scenes are the only moments that truly shine. Her quirky humor and impeccable timing garner genuine laughs that are sorely lacking elsewhere in the film.

However, it’s hard not to feel a tinge of sadness. After winning accolades for her remarkable work in **The White Lotus**, it feels like a disservice to see her talent wasted on a film like this. Will she ever return to the illustrious world of *The White Lotus*? One can only hope!

Dexerto Review Score: 1/5 – Awful

To put it bluntly, I would rather endure the incessant kicking of a child behind me on a train than sit through this abomination again. Having only a £1.75 sausage roll for dinner felt more rewarding than enduring this cinematic misstep. In fact, I’d take watching five hours of Marvel chair reveals over *A Minecraft Movie*. The reality? This is a film I will easily bypass when it hits streaming services.

Gamers, stick to what you know and skip this film. Film buffs, consider other viewing options. And parents, prepare for the inevitable requests from your kids—you may want to soften the blow with some Happy Meals in advance. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

*A Minecraft Movie* is now in cinemas as of April 4, 2025. For a dose of quality gaming content, explore what we know about the upcoming The Last of Us Season 2 and the anticipated Horizon TV show.

For information regarding our review process, check out our scoring guidelines here.