“A Minecraft Movie” Reviews Are In

We’re in the midst of something of a video game adaptation renaissance with HBO’s “The Last of Us” and Amazon’s “Fallout” both launching to strong acclaim and great ratings, while the “Sonic the Hedgehog” films have gotten more critical praise with each entry.

That said, it hasn’t all been wine and roses. “Borderlands” was a disaster, “Five Nights at Freddy’s” made major coin but the film wasn’t well received, “Monster Hunter” and a new “Resident Evil” were duds on arrival, while “Uncharted,” “Mortal Kombat” and “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” scored mixed reviews but earned well – ‘Mario’ becoming a box-office juggernaut.

Now comes “A Minecraft Movie,” a film based on the biggest game in the world for much of the past decade, and the consensus is…. another mixed review adaptation. With 43 reviews counted, the film sits at 56% (5.4/10) on Rotten Tomatoes which is on par with 2021’s “Mortal Kombat” reboot at 55% (5.5/10) and 2022’s “Tomb Raider” reboot at 52% (5.5/10).

Here’s a sampling of reviews:

“Hess’ take on Minecraft is essentially a meathead version of “The Wizard of Oz.” Four ragtag Idaho acquaintances blunder into the Overworld and beg Jack Black’s wizard-bearded blowhard for help returning home. Yes, Toto, there’s a cubist dog, too” – Amy Nicholson, LA Times

“Th[e] loosey-goosey attitude, an “open sandbox” if you will, is a breath of fresh air after so many family films that seem preordained by lore.

“A little more craft on the storytelling side could have elevated this to something special a la Dungeons and Dragons from 2023, but it’s an enjoyable if hectic experience nonetheless.” – Catherine Bray, The Guardian

“It’s the faintest of praise to say that it’s the best video game movie Jack Black has made in the last year. However, the Jared Hess-directed adventure is a relatively accessible, often enjoyable adaptation.” – Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence

“There’s something almost refreshingly bold in the full-tilt inanity here… In a world of such factory-line adaptations, there’s more of an identity here, even if it’s a mindless one.” – Brandon Yu, New York Times

“There’s a through line, buried in here somewhere, about how it’s harder to be creative, easier to destroy. Unfortunately, A Minecraft Movie proves its own point. Creativity took too much effort. Easier to destroy the spirit of the video game instead.” – Clarisse Loughrey, Independent (UK)

“The makers of the video game-based “A Minecraft Movie” know their built-in audience and ruthlessly target them with fan service and slapstick galore. For the rest of us, it’s a by-the-numbers Hero’s Journey amid colorful digital backgrounds.” – Michael Ordona, The Wrap

“Those behind A Minecraft Movie saw infinite possibilities laid out before them and opted for the one that’s been made a thousand times before.” – Jacob Oller, AV Club

“It’s the kind of formulaic brand-extension tale a writer could pitch while in a coma.” – Johnny Oleksinski, New York Post

“Block-headed from start to finish, it’s cinema in service of nothing more than IP exploitation.” – Nick Schager, The Daily Beast

Jack Black and Jason Momoa lead the ensemble cast of the live-action film which follows a group of misfit humans who must are transported into the world of the popular video game and must learn to survive. Sebastian Eugene Hansen, Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks and Jennifer Coolidge also star in the PG-rated film which opens Friday.

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