Is ‘A Minecraft Movie’ a Musical? What to Know Before Watching

LOS ANGELES, CA — The highly anticipated film ‘A Minecraft Movie,’ inspired by the popular video game series, has officially premiered in theaters. Fans eager to immerse themselves in the pixelated world may wonder if the film features a musical format, particularly following the release of its soundtrack boasting original songs.

Starring Jack Black as Steve, the film follows a group of unlikely heroes—Henry, Natalie, former gaming champion Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison, and Dawn—as they are unexpectedly transported into the vibrant and imaginative Overworld. The characters must collaborate with Steve to navigate challenges and save their world.

“A mysterious portal pulls four misfits into the Overworld, a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination,” the official synopsis describes. “To get back home, they’ll have to master the terrain while embarking on a magical quest.” The film features a blockbuster cast including Jason Momoa, Jennifer Coolidge, Danielle Brooks, and Emma Myers.

Despite the recent release of a soundtrack on March 28, ‘A Minecraft Movie’ is not categorized as a musical. Jack Black confirmed the decision, stating, “We had a blast peppering the movie with little musical nuggets throughout our journey.” He collaborated closely with director Jared Hess on the integration of the film’s music.

The soundtrack, crafted by Mark Mothersbaugh, includes original tracks like “I Feel Alive,” “Steve’s Lava Chicken,” and a duet titled “Birthday Rap” performed by Black and Momoa. Mothersbaugh noted the complexity of creating the soundtrack, which had to balance the film’s quirky characters and big action sequences. “The music needed to capture the charm of the characters while also driving the high-energy moments,” Mothersbaugh elaborated.

The lead single, “I Feel Alive,” showcases collaboration with notable artists including Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl and Queens of the Stone Age’s Troy Van Leeuwen. Black expressed excitement about working with the legendary songwriters, saying, “It was a thrill to collaborate with them on the final song.”

Danielle Brooks, who also stars in the film, indicated there are musical elements in their performances without labeling the film a musical. “You can’t do a movie with Danielle Brooks and Jack Black and not have us do something,” she remarked during a past interview.

While many films in recent years have incorporated musical elements, ‘A Minecraft Movie’ opts for a comedic approach, devoid of the traditional musical format, providing viewers a cheerful experience without unexpected song and dance numbers to disrupt the storyline.

The movie debuted to enthusiastic anticipation and is currently showing in theaters. To learn more, check local listings for showtimes. For fans curious about streaming availability, ‘A Minecraft Movie’ is expected to reach platforms like Max approximately 73 days after its theatrical release, placing it around June.