Despite being a major hit, why does A Minecraft Movie have a low Rotten Tomatoes score? Details revealed

Still from A Minecraft Movie (Image via Youtube @/Warner Bros.)
Still from A Minecraft Movie (Image via Youtube @/Warner Bros.)

A Minecraft Movie has emerged as the biggest box office blockbuster of the year so far, making more than three times its budget within less than two weeks of its release. Garnering a worldwide total of $552.7 million against a budget of $150 million, the film became the second biggest video game adaptation in history and has continued to break even more records as it continues its run at the theatres.

Despite being a major hit, the film has still continued to lay a low score of 46% on Rotten Tomatoes as fans question the gap between audience scores and critics scores on the site, despite its success being pretty evident in numbers.

In theory, the Rotten Tomatoes score is given by approved film and TV critics and is based on several factors, such as the film’s storytelling, direction, performances, cinematography, pacing, and overall impact. These are refined reviews that are tailor-made and aim for perfection from experts.

In contrast, the box office collection is just an indicator of how many people turned up to watch the movie in theatres. Seeing as the film was based on one of the most popular video games of this generation, needless to say, theatres were filled with fans of the game who showed up for a dash of nostalgia of their favorite game and to watch the pixelated world of Minecraft come to life on screen.

On the other hand, reviews are written based on the film's overall premise; in short, a hefty earning at the box office does not correlate with the film's critical merit or artistic execution. While fans may flock to theatres driven by curiosity or brand loyalty, critics evaluate elements like plot coherence, character development, dialogue quality, and thematic depth. This often results in a disparity between commercial success and critical reception — a pattern that A Minecraft Film seems to follow closely. As a result, despite its commercial success, the film fell short in the eyes of critics, leading to a lower Tomatometer rating.


What is A Minecraft Movie about?

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Starring Jack Black and Jason Momoa in lead roles, A Minecraft Movie revolves around a live-action version of the iconic video game, starring Black as Steve and Momoa as Garrett, both of whom find themselves in the pixelated game. As they battle villains, manipulate blocks, and make new friends and foes, the duo embarks on a quest to save the Overworld from destruction.

Despite a few negative ratings (and some controversies), A Minecraft Movie really blends elements of action, comedy, and fantasy while staying true to the sandbox spirit of the original game and crafting a narrative that appeals to both loyal fans and new audiences. With explosive set pieces, Easter eggs for gamers, and a touch of heart, A Minecraft Movie hit the right spot in a lot of ways, even if it fell short in certain others.

A Minecraft Movie is available in theatres now

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Edited by Tanisha Aggarwal