The long-awaited Minecraft movie adaptation has been in the works for over a decade, but after years of discussion, planning, and shooting, the movie has finally been released. A Minecraft Movie hit the theatres Apr. 4, and to say it has been a major success would be an understatement. The movie has grossed over $550 million globally at the box office, and is nearing $200 million in net profits. However, this newfound craze over the movie has caused critics and fans to go berserk, literally. Social media has seen a rising trend of viewers going to theaters only to completely trash the venue by throwing popcorn, drinks and even setting off fireworks.
Here is everything you need to know about A Minecraft Movie, and the wild trends it’s sparked online.
A Minecraft Movie is largely based on the hit game “Minecraft,” where players have to mine, craft, and fight off monsters to eventually beat the game. The movie version features acting superstars such as Jack Black, Jason Mamoa and Emma Myers. The plot follows four misfits transferred from their homes in Idaho to a blocky new realm called the Overworld. There, they meet Steve, an expert crafter, and embark on a journey to go back home.
At first glance, this movie seems promising–I mean who wouldn’t love a movie based on one of their favorite games?
Well, nothing about the movie made sense. First, the actors were highly criticized by viewers. Users noted that nothing about Jack Black screamed “Steve” from “Minecraft,” and the movie was under fire on social media platforms such as Instagram, X (Twitter), etc. Was an open-world game really material for a movie with a real plot? How would the CGI even work? The movie was rated a measly 46% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6/10 on IMDB.
However, with over $550 million in sales, A Minecraft Movie has surpassed all expectations. This raises the question: what is making this movie so popular?
Internet humor has chopped up sections of A Minecraft Movie, giving rise to a whole new wave of memes that has drawn in waves of crowds. Short phrases like “chicken jockey,” “the Nether,” and “flint and steel” have been making the rounds all across social media, pulling in hundreds of thousands of viewers every week. It was these memes, first posted to social media, that launched A Minecraft Movie into the popularity it has reaped today.
“I can barely go a few scrolls on Instagram without seeing clips of A Minecraft Movie,” said sophomore James Ding. “It’s all over social media—I think it has really helped A Minecraft Movie make money.”
“I see so many [A Minecraft Movie] memes, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen them,” said freshman Ethan Kao. “Honestly, I think the movie is so popular because of those memes. It’s really fun to see a video game franchise branch out and try new things, and it wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that they delivered on this movie.”
On top of all the viral content culture, the movie itself would best be described as slapstick comedy. The plot isn’t meant to draw you in through a captivating storyline or stir up your emotions–it’s just meant to make you laugh, through any means possible.
Users online have described the movie’s plot as “underdeveloped” and “lagging,” but at the same time hilarious–almost like comedy that’s so bad it’s funny.
“I’ve seen the movie, and to be honest, the plot really isn’t that good,” said sophomore Carter Huang. “But I feel like the point of the movie is just to make you laugh, not to be super sophisticated. It’s mainly kids seeing it, and it’s based on a kids’ game, so it makes sense to not have too much depth. But at the same time, their gags are pretty funny.”
“I feel like the movie is so stupid,” added sophomore Austin Lam. “But it’s pretty funny in that way.”
While social media has brought massive attention to the movie, no advantage comes without a cost. Social media has cultivated the destructive trend of trashing theaters, and the trend has caught fire across the world.
When the character Steve says the phrase “Water bucket, release,” users are instructed to throw their drinks towards the screen. But that’s not where it ends. Later, when Steve says “Chicken jockey,” the crowd goes completely berserk.
What started as tossing popcorn has now escalated to throwing toilet paper, popping confetti, and even setting off fireworks in the back of the theater.
Venues have been forced to issue warnings, pause screenings, and in some cases, even call in the police to escort disruptive viewers out.
“I’m really lucky that wasn’t at my theater,” said sophomore Christopher Chu. “While yeah, it seems funny, it has to be a pain for the janitors and everything. I wouldn’t want to be there with everyone throwing popcorn.”
The trend shows no signs of slowing down and will likely only get bigger as the movie gains traction.
Through all this turmoil, one thing’s for certain: A Minecraft Movie has blazed past the competition and exceeded all expectations.
As one of the highest-grossing films of 2025, the movie has seen mountains of success and is even planning a sequel.
Though they were counted out, A Minecraft Movie has been a huge success all over the world. There’s no denying their success, and now once-skeptical critics are scrambling to understand how this “blocky game” became one of the biggest cinematic hits of the year.
