FILM REVIEW: A MINECRAFT MOVIE (PG) ESP RATING: 4/5

It’s chaotic. It’s weird. And your kid is going to love every second of it.

I’m a little torn on how to write this review. I genuinely enjoyed A Minecraft Movie, but I keep circling back to one word: fine. That might sound lukewarm, but it’s more complicated than that.

Here’s the thing - the two six-year-olds I took to the screening absolutely loved it. And honestly, they’re the real target audience here. Part of me feels like I should be reviewing this from their perspective - especially to balance out the flood of scathing reviews from fellow middle-aged critics who, let’s be real, probably weren’t going to enjoy it anyway. It’s like judging toys meant for kids by adult standards - it was never made for us in the first place.

Based on the insanely popular video game, this opens in small-town Idaho with Steve (Jack Black), a doorknob salesman stuck in a dead-end job and dreaming of adventure. Ever since he was a kid, he’s been obsessed with the mysterious mines on the outskirts of town. One day, fed up with the monotony of real life, he snaps, quits his job, and stumbles into the Overworld — a pixel-perfect landscape of floating blocks, weird creatures, and infinite possibilities.

At first, life is great. Steve builds a cozy house, befriends a pet wolf named Dennis, and finally seems happy. But peace doesn’t last long. He and Dennis are ambushed and kidnapped by Malgosha (Rachel House), a malevolent Piglin sorceress, who hurls them into the lava-drenched Nether.

Meanwhile, we meet siblings Henry (Sebastian Hansen) and Natalie (Emma Myers), still reeling from the loss of their mum and struggling to adjust to their new life. Henry ends up crossing paths with Garrett ‘The Garbage Man’ Garrison (Jason Momoa), a washed-up ex-gamer who now runs a junk shop. When Garrett wins a mysterious glowing cube at a storage auction (as one does), he, Henry, Natalie, and eccentric animal-loving realtor Dawn (Danielle Brooks) are all transported into the Overworld.

From there, it becomes a fast-paced, chaotic quest. Steve, the kids, Garrett, and Dawn - a delightfully oddball team - must join forces, rescue Dennis, and stop Malgosha before she unleashes destruction across dimensions.

The plot is bonkers, sure, but it’s also colourful, creative, and surprisingly heartfelt. The chemistry between Jack Black and Jason Momoa is a real highlight - they’re clearly having a blast, and that energy spills off the screen. Whether they’re bickering over crafting tools or sprinting from creepers, their dynamic is pure fun.

With Minecraft being the best-selling video game of all-time, it’s no shock that the movie is breaking box office records - pulling in over $300million globally in its opening weekend (sorry, Disney). Anecdotally, a bunch of my friends have already taken their kids, and I took to Facebook to gather some quick reactions. The pattern was clear: adults are mixed, but kids? They’re obsessed. Some even called it the best movie they’ve ever seen.

And honestly, I get it. It’s fun. It’s visually wild. It captures the playful, limitless spirit of the game in a way that’s accessible and exciting. For kids, it’s like watching their imagination brought to life on a massive scale.

Now, about my rating. If I were scoring this purely from an adult critic’s lens, I’d probably land on a 3. But my son and his friend gave it a glowing 5 out of 5. So I’m meeting them halfway - and giving it a solid 4. Because while it might just be fine for me, for them and many other kids I know, it was unforgettably crafted. 

ESP Rating: 4/5

Mike Clarke

Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough & Odeon Luxe Peterborough, Out Now

Cast: Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks, Sebastian Hansen, Rachel House, Matt Berry & Jennifer Coolidge

Running Time: 1 Hr 41 Mins

Director: Jared Hess

Film Review Venue: Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough

For all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Showcase Cinema De Lux & Odeon Luxe cinemas go to www.showcasecinemas.co.uk and www.odeon.co.uk