Paradox alert: A Minecraft Movie is the worst movie of the year — but I still loved it.
The plot is predictable and subpar, the characters are cliched and stereotypical, and the realistic CGI is weird — but it was the most fun theater experience I’ve ever had.
When I saw Five Nights at Freddy’s two years ago — a surprise hit that critics hated and fans loved — I thought the audience reactions were crazy, but the A Minecraft Movie audience was on an entirely different level.
Every time Jack Black’s character, Steve, said a line from the trailer, the theater exploded into applause and cheering. I was no exception.
The movie itself holds few redeeming qualities, but it’s one of those it’s-so-bad-it’s-good type of movies. Watching it by yourself when it arrives on streaming or going to the theater after everyone has already seen it is not a good idea. The movie would be half as good without the audience interaction.
As the movie was promoted on TikTok and other social media for weeks before its release, people became familiar with certain lines.
Steve narrates everything throughout the movie and explains every Minecraft reference to the other characters, and because this is such a large part of the movie it is in many trailers.
Often repeated terms in the trailers are “chicken jockey” and “flint and steel,” which quickly became memes on TikTok.
As the release date of the movie got closer, many people posted videos of themselves rating lines from the trailers— adding to the hype. So when people were finally able to watch it, they cheered for the lines that had become unironically funny.
But some people have taken their reactions too far. While it is fun to cheer and clap, throwing popcorn and drinks in the auditorium and at the screen is unfair, disruptive, and destructive for workers and filmgoers.
As for the movie itself, it lacks substance and is incredibly predictable — but it was fun to watch. I definitely recommend watching it with a group of friends.
And while I enjoyed the movie, I did take issue with the treatment of the female characters. There are only two female characters in the entire movie, and they do not get as much screen time as their male counterparts. While this is a children’s movie, it is disappointing to see the only female characters be pushed to the side and forgotten about until the final fight.
I also took issue with the treatment of the only black character in the movie, as she is relegated to the stereotypical funny black friend. For a movie made in 2025, I expected more than the same stereotypical treatment of people of color and women.
Despite all the negatives, I did genuinely enjoy the movie as an experience, although I don’t think I’ll watch it again.
A Minecraft Movie: three out of five stars.
