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AppWizard

December 29, 2025

The year of Minecraft: How Jack Black’s block-tastic video game adaptation started the most chaotic cinema trend of 2025

A Minecraft Movie was released on April 4, 2025, featuring Jack Black as Steve and other characters navigating the Minecraft world. The film generated significant fan engagement, with audiences cheering and celebrating during screenings, leading to some theaters requiring law enforcement to maintain order. A UK cinema banned children to curb disturbances. The film's success is attributed to Minecraft's large player base, with 1.4 million active players daily and over 50 million annual logins. The landscape of video game adaptations has improved, with successful examples like HBO's The Last of Us and Prime Video's Fallout. A sequel to A Minecraft Movie is scheduled for release on July 23, 2027, alongside other adaptations like The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and a Street Fighter reboot.

AppWizard

December 23, 2025

Why A Minecraft Movie was 2025’s most important film

The film adaptation of a beloved brick-building video game, A Minecraft Movie, has become the highest-grossing film in the US for 2025 and ranks fourth worldwide, nearing the billion mark globally. It features Jack Black and includes a musical number about "lava chicken." Oppenheimer, starring Cillian Murphy, is the third highest-grossing film in 2023. A Minecraft Movie received a 48% rating on Rotten Tomatoes but exceeded audience expectations during its opening weekend in April, with active participation from viewers. Some screenings required police intervention due to the excitement, as fans engaged enthusiastically with the film.

AppWizard

December 17, 2025

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is PC Gamer’s GOTY because it ‘trusts’ players and takes them seriously, says Warhorse co-founder: ‘I think you can only eat so much popcorn’

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has been named PC Gamer's game of the year for 2025. Warhorse Studios, the developer, has created a historical RPG with a compelling narrative and diverse character interactions. Martin Klima, co-founder of Warhorse, noted a trend in the gaming industry towards more serious and mature titles, moving away from simplistic gameplay. He emphasized that the evolving preferences of a more seasoned gaming audience favor experiences that challenge and encourage exploration. Klima compared KCD2 to successful titles like Elden Ring, highlighting the joy of discovery and competence players feel while navigating its intricate world.

AppWizard

November 18, 2025

Disguise Celebrates Three Consecutive Years as the #1 Costume Manufacturer YTD in the U.S., with Minecraft securing their Top License Spot, According to Circana

Disguise, Inc., a division of JAKKS Pacific, Inc., has been named the top costume manufacturer in the United States for the year-to-date 2025, marking its third consecutive year in this position. The company's growth is attributed to a commitment to quality licensed products and an expanded brand portfolio, with Minecraft being the leading costume license for YTD 2025. The recent release of A Minecraft Movie in April 2025 has increased demand for Minecraft-themed costumes, including the popular Chicken Jockey Pop-Up Costume, which sold out quickly and was listed on eBay at nearly three times its retail price. A viral trend linked to a scene from the movie further boosted the costume's popularity. Disguise's President, Tara Cortner, highlighted the company's achievements and the significance of its partnership with Minecraft. An official announcement for a sequel to A Minecraft Movie is planned for release in 2027.

AppWizard

October 10, 2025

A Minecraft Movie gets inevitable sequel after grossing almost $1bn, putting lava chicken back on the menu

A sequel to A Minecraft Movie is in development and is scheduled to be released in theaters on July 23, 2027. Director Jared Hess will return to direct the sequel, which has been anticipated since discussions began in April. The original film achieved the largest domestic debut for a video game film in the U.S., grossing 1.5 million during its opening weekend and nearly 3 million globally. The total gross of the film is approaching billion. Unique screening experiences, such as the Chicken Jockey phenomenon, contributed to its success. Speculation about the sequel's storyline includes potential exploration of The Far Lands.

AppWizard

September 3, 2025

Minecraft’s Success Shows the Future of Movies Is Games

Steve, the player avatar from Minecraft, has become a central figure in Hollywood's evolving blockbuster landscape due to the success of A Minecraft Movie, which outperformed all other U.S. releases in 2025, generating double the box-office revenue of Captain America: Brave New World. The film's success indicates a shift away from traditional superhero narratives towards video game adaptations, which are resonating with younger audiences. Notable films like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Five Nights at Freddy’s have shown that honoring source material is crucial for success. Over 40 new films based on video game franchises are in development, including adaptations of Zelda and Ghost of Tsushima. Minecraft, with its hundreds of millions of active players, stands out in terms of engagement compared to other franchises.

AppWizard

August 7, 2025

Bellevue to screen The Minecraft Movie at riverfront park

Bellevue is hosting a movie night at Bellevue Beach Park on Thursday, featuring a screening of The Minecraft Movie at 8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, with complimentary popcorn provided by the Bellevue Police Department while supplies last. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs. This marks the return of outdoor movies in Bellevue after over a decade.

AppWizard

July 20, 2025

Jack Black’s ‘Lava Chicken’ song has arrived in ‘Minecraft’

A remixed version of Jack Black’s song ‘Steve’s Lava Chicken’ from A Minecraft Movie has been added to Minecraft with the 1.21.94 update on July 14. The song, which is 34 seconds long, became the shortest-ever Billboard chart hit in April and reached Number 21 on the UK Top 40 charts. Players can obtain the music disc featuring Hyper Potions’ rendition by defeating a baby Zombie riding a Chicken, known as a Chicken Jockey. The addition received mixed reactions from gamers, with some praising it and others wishing for it to fade. The film adaptation of Minecraft has been successful in 2025, leading to discussions about cinema etiquette due to audience behavior during screenings. Jack Black made a surprise appearance at a screening, advising fans against disruptive actions. Additionally, Tony Hawk discussed his efforts to include tracks from Fontaines D.C. and IDLES in the Pro Skater 3+4 soundtrack.

AppWizard

July 1, 2025

‘A Minecraft Movie’ made a beloved video game mainstream. YouTubers had already turned it into an empire.

A Minecraft Movie was released in 2025, becoming the top film at the U.S. box office and generating excitement among audiences. The game Minecraft had nearly 170 million monthly active players in 2025 and is known for its sandbox experience, allowing players to mine, build, and customize their gameplay. Dream, a prominent content creator with 32 million YouTube subscribers, highlighted the game's creativity at VidCon. The community around Minecraft thrives on collaboration and humor, with cultural references like the “chicken jockey” glitch and the song “Steve’s Lava Chicken” performed by Jack Black in the film. The movie, which had been in development since 2014, aimed to balance fan service with broader accessibility and was directed by Jared Hess. Dream expressed satisfaction with the film's humor and its potential to attract more attention to Minecraft. Additionally, Dream showcased a project at VidCon allowing users to upload 3D avatars into Minecraft. Other creators, like Aidan Weiss, have also contributed to the game's community, with viral content that resonates with fans.

AppWizard

June 26, 2025

4K Blu-ray Review: A Minecraft Movie

A Minecraft Movie is the highest-grossing Hollywood film of 2025, with ticket sales reaching 0 million and poised to cross the billion threshold. The film features Jack Black as the voice of Steve, who embarks on a journey in the Overworld after discovering the Orb of Dominance. Despite its humorous tone and strong visual and audio presentation, the film lacks character development and fails to explore deeper themes related to creativity and adulthood. It includes supporting characters like Garrett, Henry, and Natalie, but their potential is not fully realized. The 4K Blu-ray release includes special features such as behind-the-scenes content and actor experiences with the game.