.jpg){kind=icon}
A Minecraft Movie
Part of a series on Minecraft. [View Related Entries]
[View Related Sub-entries]
Featured Episode
About
A Minecraft Movie refers to the 2025 live-action film based on the video game Minecraft. The film was first hinted at in 2014 but received multiple postponements. The film was directed by Jared Hess (known for directing Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre) and starred actors Jason Mamoa (known for Aquaman) and Jack Black as Steve, among other cast members. In September 2024, the movie's first teaser trailer was released, resulting in memes and reactions, many of which panned the film's CGI and dialogue. Much of the viral criticism focused on the pink sheep seen in the teaser trailer. Upon the film's April 2025 release, multiple videos of people cheering and chanting the famous Minecraft Movie quotes, like "Chicken Jockey," went viral online, stemming from the brainrot edits made with soundbites from the trailers prior to the film. Others pirated A Minecraft Movie and discovered a copy that had unfinished CGI and gambling advertisements. Clips from the pirated version spread en masse on social media. Also, fans and viewers believed that late Minecraft YouTuber Technoblade was referenced in the film, which was later confirmed by director Jared Hess. YouTuber Tobuscus also believed that he was referenced in the movie.
Background
On February 27th, 2014, the creator of Minecraft, Notch, posted a tweet[1] that hinted at the development of a new Minecraft movie produced by Warner Bros. The tweet received roughly 5,000 likes over the course of eight years (shown below). It was reported by Time[2] magazine that the film was piggybacking off of the success of The Lego Movie.
Developments
On October 8th, 2014, The Guardian[3] reported that the movie was set to release in 2018. Vu Bui, the Chief Content Officer at Mojang Studios, stated in the article, "It's in its early days of development," adding that it's "large-budget production." On July 21st, 2015, Vu Bui said in a statement[4] that the film was going to be directed by It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia actor Rob McElhenney, known for playing Mac on the show.
On June 27th, 2016, Mojang Studios announced[5] the title and release date for the movie, giving the date May 24th, 2019. On August 3rd, 2018, it was reported by The Wrap[6] that Rob McElhenney had dropped out of the movie.
2022 Release Date
On April 16th, 2019, the official Twitter[7] account of Minecraft tweeted a new release date of March 4th, 2022. The tweet (shown below) earned roughly 58,600 likes in three years.
Twitter[8] user @ShapedInternet posted a reply to the tweet, claiming that Steve Carrell was cast as Steve in the movie, sharing a screenshot that earned roughly 2,400 likes in the same amount of time (shown below, right).
The film received little press shortly after due to many movie halting their operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On March 4th, 2022, the April 2019 tweet from Minecraft resurfaced on Twitter, where users started posting memes about the movie not releasing when it was promised.
For instance, on March 3rd, 2022, Twitter[9] user @LSMark_ quote retweeted it, ironically captioning it, "Who’s coming with me to see the Minecraft Movie tomorrow? I can’t wait to see those epic creepers on the big screen!" earning roughly 17,800 likes in one day (shown below).
April 4th, 2025, Release Date
On April 18th, 2022, Variety[11] reported that Jared Hess (known for directing Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre) was chosen as the director.
About a year later, on April 5th, 2023, news outlets like The Hollywood Reporter[12] reported that the Minecraft movie had a new release date of April 4th, 2025.
The news quickly spread on social media, such as in a tweet posted by the Twitter[13] account @DiscussingFilm on April 5th, which gained roughly 127,900 likes in one day. Various memes were posted about the news, like a tweet from Twitter[14] user @NicholasPascar5 on April 5th that questioned how it was going to be live-action, gaining roughly 96,800 likes in one day (shown below).
Cast
The 2022 Variety[11] article also reported that Jason Mamoa (from Aquaman) was to star in the upcoming Minecraft movie, alongside Emma Meyers from Wednesday and Danielle Brooks from The Color Purple.
Nearly two years later, on January 2nd, 2024, Variety[15] released another article announcing that Jack Black had been cast in the film. It was confirmed the same day by various news outlets that he would be playing the game's protagonist, Steve.[16]
Jack Black's casting generated a lot of interest online, particularly on Twitter. Fans celebrated his casting, and many compared this to his previous roles in video game film adaptations, particularly his role as Bowser in the Super Mario Bros Movie.
On January 2nd, 2024, X[17] user @pinreelinc celebrated the news by posting artwork showing Jack Black as a Minecraft character, earning over 300 likes in a few hours (shown below).
Also on January 2nd, X[18] user @uorplefever reposted the news with the caption "Jack Black collecting every role in a video game adaptation film like infinity stones," earning over 1,300 likes in a few hours (shown below).
First Trailer
On September 4th, 2024, the first teaser trailer for A Minecraft Movie was released online. On YouTube,[10] the teaser received over 42 million views in seven months.
Online Reactions
After its debut on September 4th, 2024, the trailer was widely reviled online, as many viewers did not like the quality of the CGI or the quality of the dialogue in the teaser.
For instance, on September 4th, X[19] user @paigedustzone tweeted a YouTube thumbnail of a realistic Minecraft screen, captioned, "I'm crying dude, they managed to make it look exactly like this," gaining over 90,000 likes in five hours (shown below).
Similarly, on September 4th, X[20] user @RavioliCraft tweeted an image of a Minecraft cow with a realistic skin, writing, "The new Minecraft movie looks like this, I'm sorry," gaining over 29,000 likes in less than a day (shown below).
Ugly Sonic Comparisons
On January 16th, 2024, IGN[23] published a quote from Minecraft Movie director Jared Hess saying that he wanted to avoid an Ugly Sonic situation (shown below).
Following the teaser trailer's release, many online compared the movie's animation style to Ugly Sonic. For instance, on September 4th, 2024, X[22] user @RealYouTubeKids posted a Reject Modernity, Embrace Tradition meme that received over 740 likes in two hours (shown below).
Release
On April 4th, 2025, A Minecraft Movie was released in American theaters.[21]
Minecraft Movie Audience Reactions
Upon the film's release in early April 2025, a series of videos showing the audiences cheering, applauding and reciting the many Minecraft Movie quotes in theaters surfaced online. The phenomenon was similar to the Gentleminions trend from 2022.
One of the earliest examples was shared by TikToker[25] @ickysnotbubble_ on April 4th, 2025, showing the audience's reaction to the Chicken Jockey scene, gaining over 9 million plays and 2 million likes in three days (shown below).
Multiple videos showing similar in-theater celebrations surfaced on X[26] in the following days.
@ickysnotbubble_ the audience was so hype 🔥 #minecraftmovie #minecraftmoviememe ♬ QKThr – Aphex Twin
Unfinished CGI Pirated Version
The Minecraft Movie Unfinished CGI Pirated Version of A Minecraft Movie without polished CGI that was published on various pirating websites on Aprl 6th, 2025, when the film was released in American theaters. A leaked scene called Welcome to Steve's World was one of the main snippets that spread, which showed actor Jack Black as Steve building his custom world with pandas and dogs (wolves).[27] The scene, and many others, leaked on Twitter / X and other social media platforms in early April 2025. Some of them showed odd gambling ads that interrupted the film.[28]
me and my friend wanted to watch the minecraft movie but we got the temu version pic.twitter.com/ysnkyMsU1d
— BobbysComixs (@bobbys_comixs) April 3, 2025
Reception
The critical reception of the film widely varied. For instance, New York Post[31] critic Johnny Oleksinski called it "a 101-minute lobotomy." The National[32] critic William Mullaly rated it "3/5" and wrote, "I actually liked A Minecraft Movie …This is not a disaster. Not by a mile. In fact, for most of its duration, it's downright charming and, in parts, had me laughing out loud." Similarly, IGN[33] critic Jesse Hassenger rated it a "6/10," writing, "Napoleon Dynamite's Jared Hess manages to fit some laugh-out-loud silliness into his Overworld saga."
On Rotten Tomatoes, [34] the film received a "47%" from critics and an "87%" from audience ratings by April 7th, 2025.
Related Memes
"I Am Placing Blocks And Shit"
"I Am Placing Blocks and Shit" refers to a song parodying Jack Black's singing cadence set to the tune of the Minecraft theme song. The song, which opens with the lyrics, "I am placing blocks and shit 'cause I'm in fucking Minecraft," was inspired by Jack Black's role as Steve in the 2025 film. It was created by X / Twitter[30] user @RainingKetchup in March 2024. It was further popularized on sites like TikTok in July 2024, inspiring memes.
i WILL be watching https://t.co/EHBqUiuA4K pic.twitter.com/lGSuno9cWR
— Noah (R__K) ⚓️💥 (@RainingKetchup) March 4, 2024
Minecraft Movie Sheep
The Minecraft Movie Sheep refers to the pink sheep seen in the teaser trailer for A Minecraft Movie. The sheep, which baas at the characters and viewers, became a central focus of criticism concerning the film's realistic animation style. Many compared the sheep to Ugly Sonic. Others attempted to make memes with the screencap of the sheep baaing by adding top captions to it. However, the memes were largely ridiculed for being cringe and for normies because they were low effort with easily reachable punchlines. In turn, ironic memes mocking the earnest memes spread on Twitter / X and elsewhere.
For instance, on September 4th, 2024, X[24] user @BigMoney34YT quoted a reply, writing, "Heartwarming: alien from planet kepler-452b trys to make a relatable meme 🥹❤️❤️," gaining over 97,000 likes in a day (shown below).
I Am Steve
I Am Steve refers to a scene from A Minecraft Movie where the camera zooms in on Jack Black's face and he announces, "I am Steve," revealing himself to be the protagonist of Minecraft. The scene appeared in the film's teaser trailer, released in early September 2024. It became the subject of reactions and memes online, including photoshops, edits and memes, with some finding it to be corny and cringeworthy.
Chicken Jockey
Chicken Jockey refers to a quote in the 2025 film A Minecraft Movie in which actor Jack Black as Steve says, "Chicken jockey," announcing the arrival of a baby zombie riding on a chicken. The mob enters a boxing arena, set to battle Garett Garrison (played by actor Jason Momoa). The Chicken Jockey scene was turned into a meme in late February and early March 2025 following the final trailer's release. Meme creators on TikTok, Twitter / X and YouTube reedited the scene, adjusting the speed and subverting the bluntness of the announcement.
The quote was one of many from the Minecraft Movie that were heavily memed in 2025, such as Flint and Steel. When the movie was released in early April 2025, people recorded the reaction to the scene in theaters, showing everyone applauding and cheering when Steve said, "Chicken jockey."
— Avery!! #1 Glam Chica Fan (@crazyrabbitreal) February 28, 2025
Flint And Steel
Flint and Steel refers to a catchphrase originally from a trailer for the 2025 film A Minecraft Movie. Actor Jack Black's character Steve says the line as he activates a Nether portal by using the in-game item flint and steel. Starting in late February 2025, the clip of Jack Black saying, "Flint and steel," achieved virality as it was remixed and used in various memes, often together with other prevalent Minecraft Movie quotes, like Chicken Jockey, into brainrot memes. The videos surfaced en masse on TikTok,[29] among other platforms.
@steven_craft2011 #mc #minecraftmovie #minecraft #mcmovie #mc #fyp #fypシ #fypシ゚viral #fypシ゚viral #aminecraftmovie #creeperawman ♬ original sound – steve
Zero Limits! / Natalie Screams
Zero Limits! or Natalie Screams refers to a clip originally from a teaser for A Minecraft Movie, in which actress Emma Myers' character Natalie screams out after Steve (Jack Black) says "Zero limits!" Posted on social media in March 2025, the clip became a subject of YTP-style edits and memes as users replaced the scream with various sound effects.
https://t.co/bNtmR0H8TM pic.twitter.com/CU3mSECT2x
— #1 Space Jam 2 Lover (@JoshuaTookes) March 22, 2025
The Nether
The Nether refers to a Minecraft Movie quote, in which actor Jack Black as Steve says, "The Nether," after stepping through a Nether Portal and seeing the in-game Minecraft realm for the first time. The scene was first shown in the film's final trailer. It sparked a series of brainrot edits and ViggleAI rotoscopes on TikTok, similar to others like Chicken Jockey and Flint and Steel.
@pinleague Minecraft Steve got Eltytra but no blaze rods 🙏😭 💔 #minecraft #minecraftmovie #nether ♬ NO SOUND – Sok Baraby
Various Examples
https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7490755232012537119
https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7489757906179525931
Search Interest
External References
[2] Time – Minecraft Movie
[3] The Guardian – Minecraft Movie
[4] Wiki – Minecraft Movie
[5] Mojang – Release Date
[6] The Wrap – Minecraft Movie
[7] Twitter – @Minecraft
[8] Twitter – @ShapedInternet
[10] YouTube – Teaser Trailer
[11] Variety – Jason Momoa to Star in ‘Minecraft’ Live-Action Movie at Warner Bros.
[12] The Hollywood Reporter – Jason Momoa’s ‘Minecraft’ Books April 2025 Release Date in Theaters
[13] Twitter – @DiscussingFilm
[14] Twitter – @NicholasPascar5
[15] Variety – Jack Black Joins Jason Momoa in ‘Minecraft’ Movie
[16] X – @DiscussingFilm
[17] X – @pinreelinc
[18] X – @uorplefever
[19] X – @paigedustzone
[20] X – @RavioliCraft
[21] Minecraft – A MINECRAFT MOVIE: OUT NOW
[22] X – @RealYouTubeKids
[24] X – @BigMoney34YT
[25] TikTok – @ickysnotbubble_
[27] X – @bobbys_comixs
[28] X – @JacksyCrim
[29] TikTok – @steven_craft2011
[30] X – @RainingKetchup
[31] New York Post – 'A Minecraft Movie' review: Idiotic video game film stomps on your brain
[32] The National – A Minecraft Movie review: Jack Black powers throwback charmer for all ages
[33] IGN – A Minecraft Movie Review
[34] Rotten Tomatoes – A Minecraft Movie
Top Comment
GeneHunt
Apr 07, 2025 at 09:04AM EDT