Creeper?! Oh shoot…

Now I know why you mine for diamonds

Staff Writer

Okay, so let’s get real about the Minecraft movie. The tik tok audios and memes. When the movie was first revealed, people’s reactions varied from cautious optimism to complete bewilderment. How will we create a movie based on a game that isn’t overly computer-generated imagery but has been a meme generational icon for years? Yet somehow, the filmmakers managed to do just that. Let’s be honest—parts of the movie didn’t land. The plot felt overly familiar, borrowing tropes from countless adventures and the hero’s journey. Especially with the main protagonist Steve, casted as Jack Black. While well-intentioned, leaned heavily into cliché plot points. The writing aspects of this film were lukewarm: scenes dragged on too long, especially exposition-heavy moments, while others rushed through emotional moments that could’ve been meaningful. The dialogue, occasionally funny, sometimes felt forced or out of place.

Despite its flaws, the film had strong points. Visually, it was impressive: the animators managed to retain Minecraft’s iconic blocky look while adding depth that made the world feel immersive. The cast of actors also stood out—a mix of ambient acting. Most renowned for her role in Netflix’s Wednesday, Emma Myers also starred in this movie. Her comedy relief character she portrays, rosen up to her works as an actress. That’s not to mention how the fan base responded when it became a box office success. TikTok and Instagram users had a field day, remixing clips and creating aesthetically pleasing fan edits.

The Ender Dragon evolved into an over-the-top icon of villainy, while a simple pixelated pig — once just background noise — became an unlikely fan favorite with a cult-like following. This kind of impact shows how the movie entered the cultural conversation—even if not always in the way the creators intended. “They understood the premise of the game, but only the surface level details that are self explanatory for players to understand.” said Anthony Bollinger (12) He explains more by explaining, “I think how they made the movie’s atmosphere is by slapping random things together. But I kind of understood why because it’s Minecraft. You can create whatever you want, you can use your own imagination. So I get why they added out of pocket things.”

It’s worth asking: why do so many people enjoy movies like this, even when they’re far from perfect? Well it’s actually pretty simple. Movies like these offer a shared experience: unserious yet awe inspiring moments. They’re easy to laugh and follow through with—goofy characters that are fun to talk about with friends. Steve wasn’t exactly a jaw dropping protagonist that everyone expects him to be, but hey. It still made audiences laugh, right?

The Minecraft Movie won’t go down as a cinematic classic, but it was an entertaining, sometimes charming take on a beloved game. It’s flawed, yes, but also memorable. And in a world full of overly serious adaptations, maybe that’s exactly what we needed.