The first teaser for the Minecraft movie is here, and I can’t decide if what’s been created looks beautiful or terrifying
The first trailer for Warner Bros. Pictures’ Minecraft movie has arrived – and, as the title of this article suggests, I can’t decide whether it’s breathtakingly beautiful or a nightmare.
Officially titled A Minecraft MovieThe live-action-animation hybrid has also locked down an April 4, 2025 release date in U.S. theaters. Normally, that would be major news for a film adaptation of one of the world’s most popular video game franchises. But if you watch the 75-second teaser trailer below, you’ll understand why I’m dubious about how visually spectacular and grotesque it looks.
Let’s start with the “holy heck, this looks amazing!” side of things. The cube-based aesthetic that the film’s various art departments have authentically captured here is nothing short of breathtaking. I mean, just look at the landscapes that greet four of the film’s intrepid human adventurers between the eighth and ninth seconds. Revel in the blocky goodness! The draw distance! The faithful recreations of the creatures that inhabit this universe! Insert chef’s kiss hand gesture emoji here.
But then we come to the crazier and even more terrifying part of the trailer for one of the new films of 2025. As for the former, the mix of live-action performers and their animated world not looks good. Not at all. As obvious as it is to say, you can just tell that there was a lot of use of green screen technology, rather than practical effects. As long as it wasn’t used, The Volume might have been a better piece of technology to use for this film.
On the final front – I mean, just look at the pink sheep, via the image above, to see what I mean about his nightmarish fuel visuals. There are other examples of… how can I put this politely… disturbing creature designs in A Minecraft Moviesuch as the dead eyes of the Pigmen, the overly expressive llama and even the hazy, almost tangible version of Minecraft‘s iconic Creepers. I can’t be the only one getting flashbacks to Sonic the hedgehog‘s original and terrifying humanoid design for his first film, right?
Who is cast in A Minecraft Movie? And what is the story?
Distancing oneself from A Minecraft MovieIf we take a look at Warner’s images, what exactly is the film version of the video game series, originally developed by Mojang and now owned by Microsoft?
Here’s a quick summary of the plot, courtesy of the official website of the movie: “Four misfits – Garrett ‘The Garbage Man Garrison’ (Jason Momoa), Henry (Sebastien Eugene Hansen), Natalie (Emma Myers) and Dawn (Danielle Brooks) – struggle with everyday problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal to the Overworld: a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination.
“To get home, they must master this world and protect it from evil creatures like Piglins and Zombies, while embarking on a magical quest with an unlikely, expert crafter named Steve (Jack Black). Together, their adventure will challenge all five to be bold and reconnect with the qualities that make them uniquely creative… the skills they need to thrive in the real world once again.”
A new kind of blockbuster. #MinecraftMovie – only in theaters in 2025. pic.twitter.com/lmeb1jvLfLSeptember 4, 2024
As the story synopsis confirms, former Aquarius star Momoa and The Super Mario Bros MovieBowser’s voice actor, Black, is part of the ensemble, as is Myers, who most readers will recognize from WednesdayNetflix’s hugely popular twist on The Addams Family. Just grace‘s Hansen and The color purpleBrooks is also part of the main cast, while The White LotusJennifer Coolidge plays a supporting role throughout the film.
Jared Hess, best known for co-writing and co-directing the 2004 cult classic Napoleon Dynamiteis A Minecraft Movie‘s leading filmmaker. Hubble Palmer and Chris Bowman (Masterminds, The Secret Saturdays) wrote the script.
The Minecraft movie will be released in the US on April 4, 2025, and in the UK and Australia on April 2, 2025.