Jared Hess’s A Minecraft Movie was always going to be a divisive proposition: how do you adapt a sandbox game with no story into a coherent film? The answer turns out to be: with a lot of Jack Black energy and a willingness to lean into the absurdity.

The Game’s Essence, More or Less

The film captures something of what makes Minecraft special: the freedom of creation, the terror of nightfall, the satisfaction of building something from raw materials. Jason Momoa, unexpectedly, is a genuine delight as the over-committed gamer guide.

The TDW Verdict

More fun than it has any right to be. Kids will love it, adults will mostly survive it.