Overview
Minecraft has been a video game staple for players of all ages since 2009, and it’s finally gotten its moment on the big screen. Fully embracing the silliness and whimsy of the video game itself, A Minecraft Movie brings it to life with the help of a star-studded cast including Jack Black and Jason Momoa. Most of the movie actually takes place in the “Overworld” and is chockful of game references — including the instantly recognizable Minecraft character Steve and “chicken jockey.”
It’s certainly a must-see for any Minecraft player, but here’s what parents need to know before watching with their kids.
Harmful Content ❗️
As a family-friendly movie, there is little harmful content to expect here. Parents may want to know that the humor leans more towards potty jokes and slapstick comedy. Aside from some bullying language and mild violence (detailed below), A Minecraft Movie is generally appropriate for young ages.
Language
This movie does not have adult language. Some of the humor includes name-calling and insults (such as “idiot”, “stupid, and “loser”), but nothing out of the ordinary for an animated family movie.
Sex
There is no explicitly sexual content in the movie. The character of the school principal (played by Jennifer Coolidge) makes a few suggestive comments. A subplot of the movie involves this principal falling in love with a Minecraft villager who mistakenly ends up in the real world.
Violence
Characters experience moments of brief peril at the hands of zombies and piglins. The leader of the piglins, Queen Malgosha, is portrayed as brutish and intimidating. The Nether, which is where the piglins live, is a dark, fiery place referred to as a “hellscape” throughout the movie. Overall, the violence is mild and unrealistic, similar to what you might expect in the video game.
Positive Value 💫
One thing gamers love about Minecraft is the ability to create and build anything they can imagine. The movie captures this as characters discover all they can create while in this fantastical Minecraft dimension. Kids watching can relate to Henry, a middle school boy who gets bullied in the real world but finds his confidence as he explores his creative talents in the Overworld. At the end of the movie, he decides to take his new found confidence back home and put his creativity to good use.
In addition to creativity, the movie also teaches that friendship is what truly matters in the end. The unlikely bonds that form between the main characters result in acts of bravery and setting aside their own desires for the sake of each other.
So, should my kid watch it?
For kids around 9 and up, absolutely! Kids who have played the game will surely appreciate it, but even non-gamers will find it entertaining to watch.
