Minecraft is an open-world sandbox game with a blocky art style created by Swedish game developer Markus Persson and released under Mojang and 4J Studios in 2009.

The game has held a near-constant grip on Gen Z since its console release in 2012. In February of 2014, Persson teased the idea of a movie on X, saying, “Someone is trying to leak the fact that we’re working with Warner Brothers on a potential Minecraft movie.” Over ten years later, the film’s teaser was released on Sept. 4, 2024, to mixed reactions. Many fans of the game and its several spin-offs were concerned with the over-realistic props and set, some almost instantly claiming the movie would ruin the game.

The casting of Jack Black as “Steve” and Jason Mamoa as “Garrett (the Garbage Man) Garrison” took some viewers by surprise. 

“I mean, could be better people chosen, but I mean for what they’re doing, I think it’s fine,” Beau Weiss ‘28 said. 

Others like Brady Millet ‘27, aren’t seeing the movie because of the odd casting.

“After seeing the trailers, I thought the movie wasn’t going to be very good,” Millet said. “I felt like Jason Momoa would have been a better Steve.”

Others were excited about the film’s wait being over. As more trailers of the movie were released, many one-liners from the trailers went viral on short-form content apps like TikTok and Instagram Reels.

“It’s hopefully going to be funny,” Beau Weiss ‘28 said.

On opening day, I went to AMC Highlands Ranch for the 10 p.m. showing with a group of friends. I’ve played Minecraft for almost 8 years, and it was a very important movie for me to go see as I grew up playing it all the time with my siblings and friends. The movie was filled with energy, and so was the theater. Almost every single person was cheering for every moment that was previewed in the trailers. 

I highly recommend watching “A Minecraft Movie” in theaters if you have a few hours. The experience was unmatched through the plot, soundtrack and acting. I might even go see it again.