A Minecraft Movie (2025) is one of the most anticipated films of the year, blending fantasy, adventure, comedy, and action. Directed by Jared Hess, and starring Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, and Sebastian Hansen, this English-language film was released theatrically on April 4, 2025.
Movie Overview
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | A Minecraft Movie |
| Genre | Fantasy, Adventure, Comedy, Action |
| Language | English |
| Release Date | April 4, 2025 |
| Director | Jared Hess |
| Writer | Chris Bowman, Hubbel Palmer, Neil Widener, Gavin James, Chris Galletta (screenplay); Story by Allison Schroeder, Chris Bowman, Hubbel Palmer |
Introduction
Based on Mojang Studios’ wildly popular sandbox video game released in 2011, A Minecraft Movie had long intrigued fans eager to see the blocky world translated to the big screen. Directed by Jared Hess—known for offbeat comedies—this fantasy adventure comedy hits hard with its vibrant visuals, humorous cast, and quest‑driven narrative.
Plot Summary
The story follows four misfits—Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison (played by Jason Momoa), youth Henry (Sebastian Hansen), his protective sister Natalie (Emma Myers), and mobile zoo‑running real estate agent Dawn (Danielle Brooks). They are unexpectedly pulled through a portal into Minecraft’s cubic “Overworld,” where they meet Steve (Jack Black), an expert crafter who guides them on a quest to return home :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.
In parallel, in that world’s past, Steve accidentally discovers the Orb of Dominance and the Earth Crystal—items that open portals to the Overworld. He is imprisoned by Malgosha, a piglin ruler of the Nether, who despises creativity and hoards power. Steve’s loyal dog Dennis escapes with the Orb and Crystal and hides them in the real world under Steve’s bed :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.
Garrett discovers the Orb and Crystal while clearing out belongings from an old auction related to Steve’s house. Unwittingly, he reunites with his old friend from the Overworld and opens the portal again. Alongside Henry, Natalie, and Dawn, Steve embarks on a block‑by‑block adventure to thwart Malgosha and return everyone safely home :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
Cast and Characters
- Jason Momoa as Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison, a former gaming champion and owner of a struggling video game store :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.
- Jack Black as Steve, a former doorknob salesman turned expert crafter who lives in the Overworld :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.
- Sebastian Hansen as Henry, the creative younger brother :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
- Emma Myers as Natalie, Henry’s caring older sister and guardian :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.
- Danielle Brooks as Dawn, a real estate agent with multiple side hustles who also runs a mobile petting zoo :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.
- Jennifer Coolidge as Marlene, high‑school vice principal who becomes romantically involved with a Nitwit after accidentally running into him with her car :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.
- Rachel House (voice) as Malgosha, the gold‑obsessed piglin ruler of the Nether; Allan Henry performs as her physical actor :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.
- Jemaine Clement voices Daryl the auctioneer and Bruce the piglin, and plays General Chungus; Jared Hess also lent his voice to General Chungus :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.
- Matt Berry voices Nitwit, the villager who ends up on Earth and becomes Marlene’s romantic interest; Bret McKenzie physically portrays Nitwit :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.
Production Details
Plans for a Minecraft film began as early as 2014 when Markus Persson revealed development talks with Warner Bros. However, the project remained in limbo until April 2022, when Jared Hess signed on as director, and Jason Momoa joined to star :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}. The screenplay was authored by Chris Bowman, Hubbel Palmer, Neil Widener, Gavin James, and Chris Galletta, derived from a story by Allison Schroeder, Bowman, and Palmer :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}.
Principal photography took place in New Zealand beginning early 2024 and finished in April. The production emphasized faithful Minecraft‑style aesthetics, ensuring all visuals—including characters and props—retained their cubic, voxel‑inspired design :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}.
The film’s score was composed by Mark Mothersbaugh, with nods to the original game’s soundtrack by C418 and Lena Raine. It also features original songs—most notably “I Feel Alive,” performed by Jack Black with Dave Grohl on drums—and a viral song, “Steve’s Lava Chicken,” which charted in the UK and US :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}.
Release & Box Office
A Minecraft Movie premiered at London’s Empire Leicester Square on March 30, 2025, before releasing theatrically worldwide beginning April 4, 2025 :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}. The digital release followed in mid‑May, with streaming to begin on Max (HBO Max) starting June 20, 2025 :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}.
Against a reported production budget of around $150 million, the film achieved blockbuster success: over $423.9 million in the U.S. and Canada, and $955.1 million worldwide—making it one of the highest‑grossing films of 2025 and among the top video game adaptations ever :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}.
In its opening weekend, it earned $162.8 million domestically, breaking records for video game-based movies and besting even *The Super Mario Bros. Movie* :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}. In its second weekend, it held remarkably strong with $80.6 million, becoming the highest-grossing domestic release of 2025 at that point :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}.
Reception & Cultural Impact
Critics responded mixedly—many noted the film leaned heavily on a Jumanji‑style structure lacking originality, despite its colorful design and fan service; The Guardian described it as feeling disjointed with an over‑abundance of jokes :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 48% critic score but an 85% audience score, indicating stronger reception with general viewers :contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}.
CinemaScore polling gave the film a “B+,” and PostTrak reported that 67% of audiences would definitely recommend it. Kids under 12 rated it a perfect 5 out of 5, while parents gave it 4.5 out of 5 :contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}.
The film also sparked a cultural craze: audiences shouted “Chicken Jockey!” during screenings, echoing block‑party and Rocky Horror‑style interactive cinema performances. However, the trend escalated to the point where some cinemas imposed restrictions on children or rowdy behavior :contentReference[oaicite:24]{index=24}.
Conclusion
A Minecraft Movie (2025) is a bold, high-grossing adaptation that blends slapstick comedy, fantasy adventure, and nostalgic fan service. With Jared Hess’s vivid direction, standout performances from Momoa and Black, and an epic box office haul, the film solidified itself as a landmark in video game cinema—sparking audience participation trends, chart-topping songs, and setting the stage for a sequel in development :contentReference[oaicite:25]{index=25}.
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