Many people have fond memories of playing “Minecraft.” Not only was the game an instant hit when it was released in late 2011, but it stood the test of time through COVID-19 and continues to be a favorite of a new generation of fans. Its simple-to-pick-up nature and endless gameplay make it possible for anyone to have a blast playing with blocks. This success led to a movie being made which will be released on April 4, 2025.
This movie couldn’t have come at a better time in the world of video game movies. Video game movies are in a golden era as of recent. Big-time movie studios now deem video games worthy of being treated like blockbusters. But “Minecraft” is already being viewed as a potential bust in theaters due to its lackluster first trailer
The age of video game movies began when “Detective Pikachu” hit theaters on May 10, 2019. With a production budget of $150 million, Nintendo and Legendary Studios walked away with a net budget of $450 million. This success carries over to other big-name video game titles, such as “The Super Mario Movie” and “The Sonic the Hedgehog Movie.” “The Super Mario Movie” exceeded all expectations, grossing over $1.3 billion worldwide, making it the 17th highest-grossing movie of all time.
Although a sequel is almost guaranteed for the Nintendo plumber, the “Sonic the Hedgehog” franchise is on the verge of releasing its third movie in four years. This is due to the financial surplus gained through the first two movies, with the first two movies earning a combined $711 million and the second movie earning approximately $100 million more than the first.
On paper, this would lead fans to have optimism for a potential movie based on a game with 186 million registered players worldwide. To add hope to its success, the film has garnered a star-studded cast including Jason Momoa and Jack Black. However, there are multiple reasons fans are concerned about the project.
The movie was first announced to be in production in 2014, and now over 10 years later, is only now being released to theaters. This was due to a multitude of reasons such as COVID-19, changes in the script and different directors picking up and dropping the project.
The most worrisome part of the movie, however, is the reaction to its first trailer. Minecraft the game was never designed to have real-life people being able to explore its worlds and it shows in the trailer. The movie built a world looking unpolished and like something out of the uncanny valley.
This notion is carried out in an article from Forbes where they state the initial trailer has already surpassed 1 million dislikes. Plus, the main character of “Minecraft,” Steve, is being played by the aforementioned Jack Black, who does not resemble Steve.
There is little doubt the movie will do great at the box office. It will be a go-to movie for parents looking to entertain their kids for an hour and a half. The question remains, however, if the quality of the movie is worthy of a blockbuster. The “Detective Pikachu,” Mario and Sonic movies aren’t loved only for the recognizable IPs, but they are great movies that give people a better sense of joy watching their favorite childhood games being adapted to a great standard on the big screen.
All eyes now shift to Warner Bros, the studio producing “The Minecraft Movie.” One can only hope the studio can not only focus on bringing in the most money in theaters but also give fans who spent their hard-earned money an enjoyable movie bringing them back to being a kid and playing this sacred game for the first time.
Quinn Elfers is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to share your thoughts about the column? Let Quinn know by emailing him at me989022@ohio.edu.
