For Hessians only: A Minecraft Movie has little drama or comedy to recommend, but it's adorned with winks and weirdnesses that tether it to the Jared Hess cinematic universe (and he's one of the few directors to have one):https://t.co/pV0FzEmSt7
— Richard Brody (@tnyfrontrow) April 9, 2025
The highly anticipated “A Minecraft Movie” has taken the box office by storm, grossing an impressive $163 million domestically and $313 million globally in its opening weekend. This makes it the biggest video game adaptation opening to date, surpassing the previous record held by 2023’s “The Super Mario Bros Movie.”
Journalist extraordinaire @JamesFaris_ with an excellent piece for @BusinessInsider on how the success of #AMinecraftMovie will influence studios and creatives looking to get in on the action! – https://t.co/rqUaKfAfZN
"This was a wildly underrated movie, in terms of its…— Paul Dergarabedian (@PDergarabedian) April 9, 2025
The movie, starring Jack Black, Jason Momoa, and newcomer Sebastian Eugene Hansen, has become a cultural phenomenon, with clips of pivotal moments going viral on TikTok before its release. Moviegoers have been sharing videos of lively audience participation, reminiscent of the cult classic “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” but with a modern twist involving teenagers and their phones.
A perfect headline and brilliant in-depth reporting by @brianwelk for @IndieWire! – https://t.co/eCLJj4CmAJ “Hollywood has been looking for the next frontier in terms of genre they can mine, no pun intended,” @Comscore @csMoviesUS @CSGlobalMovies Senior Analyst Paul Dergarabedian…
— Paul Dergarabedian (@PDergarabedian) April 8, 2025
Roger Clark, a Twitter user, shared his experience: “I saw Minecraft in the theater with my kids last night and am still processing what I saw. The only cinematic experience I can compare the audience participation to is Rocky Horror, except it’s with teenagers and their phones and the movie is not even a weekend old.”
Jennifer Grygiel, an associate professor of communications at Syracuse University and social media expert, compares this enthusiasm to that seen with “Minions: The Rise of Gru.” She explains that social media acts as a “big water cooler,” enabling online discussions to drive real-world actions. One of the most heavily memed scenes involves the Chicken Jockey, a character from the game, making its grand entrance before an epic battle.
Grygiel notes that this scene had audiences engaging with each other as if they were in a virtual Minecraft world, bridging the gap between the virtual and real worlds.
Warnings for Minecraft movie attendees
Despite the movie’s success, some theaters have faced challenges with rowdy behavior from Minecraft-obsessed teen boys.
The Electric Palace Picture House in Cannock, Staffordshire, has banned under-18s from attending evening showings without an adult due to disturbances at weekend screenings, including cheering, shouting iconic lines, throwing popcorn, and fighting with Minecraft swords. The cinema’s management issued an apology, stating, “This decision has not been made lightly.” They acknowledged a viral TikTok trend encouraging disruptive behavior and urged fans to be mindful of other cinema-goers’ enjoyment. Similar incidents have been reported in other theaters, with some implementing policies requiring minors to be accompanied by an adult.
A staff member from an AMC theater in New Port Mall, Jersey City, reported issuing preemptive warnings to audiences about the consequences of disruptive behavior. As “A Minecraft Movie” continues to make waves both online and offline, it may pave the way for a new trend in cinema: immersive, community-driven experiences. However, it also raises questions about appropriate conduct and parental responsibility when attending public entertainment venues.
