Jack Black is one of the most legendary actors of our time, spreading good vibes and laughs wherever he goes, yet that status didn’t stop critics from judging one of his movies far too harshly; yes, I’m talking about A Minecraft Movie. However, its recent jump in streaming and audience scores proves the critics were completely wrong about this hit.
If you log into your Amazon Prime Video app, you’ll see that Jack Black and Jason Momoa’s A Minecraft Movie is one of the platform’s top hits, ranking number four in the top 10.
Yet many Hollywood critics have labeled it a colossal flop, with a dismal 48% on Rotten Tomatoes. That immediately made me raise my eyebrows, because the movie is pure fun and nostalgia. So why the low score when viewers are loving it? I have a theory.
Why Critics Missed the Block on A Minecraft Movie
Only True Minecrafters Will Get the Nostalgia, Chaos, and Jack Black Shenanigans
For some much-needed context, the audience score on Rotten Tomatoes sits at a respectable 84%. This huge discrepancy between the critic score. The audience rating was my first hint that the movie had been unfairly judged, and it justified my love for it, especially since over 10,000 verified audience members agreed with me.
So why the hate from critics? While I don’t know the reviewers who gave A Minecraft Movie its Rotten Tomatoes score, my first thought was that they simply didn’t get the movie, likely because they didn’t grow up playing Minecraft. I did, playing alongside my younger brother, so I know the game intimately.
Growing up with the game meant I went into the movie with a deeper understanding of the lore and the inside jokes it brought to life, giving me a straight shot of nostalgia. On top of that, I loved the pure hilarity and silliness throughout.
Was much of the humor a little silly, maybe even dumb? Absolutely. But that was the movie’s magic; it perfectly mirrored the shenanigans my friends and I would get up to while playing. Plus, this is a Jack Black movie; if you dislike silliness and fun, it’s understandable why the critics didn’t connect.
While the movie’s chaos and silliness may have turned off many critics, it was exactly what I appreciated. So while opinions will always rightfully vary, I think the kids who grew up playing Minecraft truly understood the movie’s brilliant silliness, as reflected in its healthy 84% audience score.
