Now Streaming: ‘A Minecraft Movie'
A Magical Realm, A Hero’s Journey, And A Lava Chicken
Editor’s Note: This edited review of “A Minecraft Movie” appeared in Media Room on April 4, 2025, opening day of its wide theatrical release. It is now streaming at HBO HBO Go HBO Now HBO Max Max HBO Max.
Although I have no memory of doing so, I evidently promised my son I would take him to see “A Minecraft Movie.” Thus, a rain-soaked Holy Saturday found me wandering the concrete bunker near the old mall looking for Theater 17.
Maybe it’s the viscous, goldenrod liquid the nice teenage girl called “popcorn butter,” maybe it’s the imperial gallon of Pepsi Zero® I consumed, I don’t know I’m not a doctor.
I liked the movie.
The action takes place in the “Minecraft Universe” which I didn’t know was a thing. I have never played the game (I assume it is a video game?) and my son pretended not to hear my several requests for background information.
Put simply, I had no idea what the hell was going on.
That said, “A Minecraft Movie” strictly follows the plot conventions of “a hero’s journey,” with the variation that the journey’s stages were shared by the three male characters.
An enchanted item transports Steve (Jack Black) to a magical world. The enchanted item later returns to the ordinary world and is found by a sensitive, genius child (Henry, played by Sebastian Hansen) and his aging mentor of faded glory (Jason Momoa), who are delivered to the special realm and meet Steve.
Gender equity is achieved by including Henry’s sister (Emma Myers) and a real estate agent (Danielle Brooks) in the quest; the journey continues According to Hoyle with the monomyth’s call to action, ordeals, and return.
Although formulaic and predictable, the Black/Momoa bromance felt genuine, the production values were high, and no one seemed to take it all too seriously, as evidenced by Jack Black occasionally breaking into song (oh, yeah - it’s a musical).
Escape From Trumpworld
The always funny Jennnifer Coolidge anchors the ordinary world plot, playing the Vice Principal of the MAGA-like Idaho high-school that hasn’t seen a new student “since those school rankings came out.”
When young Henry demonstrates facility in the use of a pencil, a classmate harangues, “what are you a rocket scientist?” and he replies, “I’d love to be a rocket scientist!” A student grunts, “my dad says math has been debunked!”
It’s probably me, as “A Minecraft Movie” was conceived and executed before the 2024 Presidential Election, but the toxic douchebaggery of the rural American town from which our heroes escape hit a little too close to home.
That could just be the Pepsi Zero®, though.
“A Minecraft Movie” was produced by Warner Brothers and has a running time of 101 minutes. It is rated PG. It was released in theaters nationwide April 4, 2025. It is now streaming.
Cover image: A Lava Chicken in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ “A Minecraft Movie,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures
Great review. STEVE!!