Rating: 3/5 

Whether you happen to know someone who loves Minecraft or you grew up playing it, everyone knows the iconic game from Mojang. The surge in video game film adaptations has grown significantly, as studios increasingly feel compelled to transform popular games into movies, resulting in both spectacular successes and dismal failures.

Warner Bros. Pictures’ movie, “A Minecraft Movie,” is no stranger to this phenomenon. Despite earning $351 million at the box office, the highly anticipated film with its $150 million budget fell short of delivering a clear, cohesive plot.

The movie opens awkwardly, focusing on the introduction of Steve, our protagonist, but when it comes to the rest of our main cast, their stories feel rushed and unnatural, leaving little to no character development later in the film. 

While the characters feel flat and one-dimensional, the movie also fails to stay true to the game, as scenes that make sense to casual moviegoers feels completely out of the ordinary to those who are cult followers of the game. 

What makes this movie difficult to watch is the performances by the actors. Jack Black’s portrayal of Steve clashes with the game’s blank slate protagonist, who lacks a predefined personality. The addition of new characters like Garret, Natalie, Henry, and Dawn—none of whom appear in the original game—further gives the impression that the plot was hastily put together.

Overall, “A Minecraft Movie” falls short as a meaningful adaptation, with its success largely driven by the devoted cult following of the original game. While the film may provide a fleeting, entertaining experience, it fails to truly capture the heart and essence of Minecraft, leaving fans wanting more.