‘A Minecraft Movie’ Is Already Mining For A Sequel

When “A Minecraft Film” was initially introduced, I had considerations that it was going to undergo the identical destiny because the “Borderlands” film, which is presently sporting a ten % approval score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Not solely was it a field workplace flop, but it surely additionally appeared to tank the concept audiences had been inquisitive about films primarily based on online game collection. Nonetheless, “A Minecraft Film,” which additionally satirically stars Jack Black, has two issues that “Borderlands” didn’t: a youthful viewers and a thriving IP.

With a price range of $150 million, it’s clear that Warner Bros. and Common Footage executives had been sweating a bit when the movie was launched theatrically on April 4. Though it garnered combined opinions from critics, youthful audiences flocked to the film and gave it an awesome two thumbs-up.

Not solely did it gross over $300 million worldwide, greater than doubling its price range, but it surely additionally turned the fourth-highest-grossing movie of 2025. That quantity is anticipated to develop as phrase of mouth continues to unfold. Whereas “Borderlands” was a bit grownup for youthful audiences, “A Minecraft Film” was solely rated PG, giving dad and mom someplace to take their children on a wet weekend.

Because the film confirmed, Minecraft is basically what you make of it, which is why it appeals to so many individuals of all totally different age teams. Merely put, it’s a sport the place you place blocks and create your personal journey. You possibly can craft weapons and hunt monsters. You possibly can construct homes, cities, and even mechanical units: the selection is yours.

The issue is, with such a giant sandbox, how would writers have the ability to inform a narrative that each defined the idea of the sport effectively sufficient to welcome these new to the franchise and fulfill followers who’ve been taking part in for many years? At the moment, it’s a combined bag amongst critics as as to whether or not they efficiently managed to tug that off.

Contemplating that it’s an open-world sport, studio heads had been very conscious that their film was simply one among 1000’s of potentialities. Director Jared Hess informed Variety that “We’re not the official story,” including, “We’re not canonizing something. We’re simply one among a zillion tales.”

Mary Dad or mum, chairman of worldwide manufacturing for Legendary, echoed this, stating, “We’re calling it ‘A Minecraft Film’ as a result of we’re respecting the truth that there’s nobody story that drives the sport.”

That being stated, Hess does have concepts for extra tales. Hess informed Games Radar, “Oh, it’d be a lot enjoyable” if he was requested to direct one other movie. “I imply, look, there’s the world’s infinite, so many superb mods and characters and biomes we’ve not explored but, so it would be superb.”

Personally, I get pleasure from Jack Black’s humorousness and was acquainted with the sport, so I used to be proper in step with the audience and did benefit from the movie. Nonetheless, there have been parts of the plot that had been complicated and appeared to primarily be glossed over in favor of a comic book distraction.

The performing was spot-on, however there appeared to be an excessive amount of of an emphasis on Black and Jason Momoa, in my view. The ever-funny Danielle Brooks virtually appears to be wasted as soon as the story actually will get going.

Stephen Thompson of NPR appeared to agree. In his review, he states, “Turning Minecraft right into a film presents a problem, as a result of the movie has lots of character growth to make amends for. However, as The Lego Film and Barbie have demonstrated, it is attainable to get it spectacularly proper.”

Contemplating that the film appears primarily focused to kids, it was by no means going to enchantment to everybody. Maxwell Rabb of the Chicago Readergave a very harsh evaluation, writing, “A Minecraft Film feigns creativity by hollowing out a reputation model and inserting a zombified story that does little greater than capitalize on (or cannibalize) the identify.”

Dan Jolin of Empire Magazine additionally felt that the movie fell flat, writing, “A hyperactive hot-pink mess of a film, which fails to raise its cubic supply materials and revels in that failure prefer it’s attaining one thing.”

Though “A Minecraft Film” could not enchantment to all audiences, the infinite creativity of the online game itself does encourage the concept there are extra films but to come back. And, if nothing else, its success on the field workplace all however confirms that in a world of dying IPs, Minecraft remains to be shining like its coveted diamond armor.