screenings Archives

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 21, 2025

From Minecraft to The Last of Us Season 2, the best gaming adaptations of 2025 weren’t lacking in variety

Continuity and iteration are prevalent in the gaming industry, particularly in 2025, where many video game adaptations are second seasons of successful prior adaptations. This year's adaptations include notable theatrical releases with creative interpretations. Adaptation involves translating elements of the original game into a different medium, which can spark debate among fans. The diversity of adaptations this year spans various genres, including family-friendly, horror, and post-apocalyptic narratives. The adaptation of Supermassive's game Until Dawn into a film has managed to maintain its essence while providing a fresh perspective. The Minecraft Movie, directed by Jared Hess and featuring Jack Black, distinguishes itself from typical CGI fantasy adventures and resonates with both young fans and newcomers, leading to enthusiastic audience reactions and 'meme-a-long' screenings. Fallout Season 2 has surprised audiences with its quick turnaround, shifting the narrative to New Vegas and featuring beloved elements from the series. The adaptation of The Last of Us Part 2 on HBO Max has received mixed reactions, particularly regarding the timing of plot revelations, though it includes emotionally intense moments and strong chemistry between characters.

AppWizard

November 10, 2025

Everything to Know About the ASLC’s Showing of ‘A Minecraft Movie’

The Askew Student Life Center (ASLC) at Florida State University hosted a complimentary screening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ A Minecraft Movie on Saturday, November 8, with doors opening at 9 p.m. The film, which debuted on April 4, has a runtime of 101 minutes and features a cast including Jason Momoa, Jack Black, and Jennifer Coolidge. It follows a group of humans who enter a Minecraft portal and embark on an adventure with the character Steve, exploring themes of familial bonds, betrayal, and true love. The ASLC organized Minecraft-themed activities starting at 5 p.m. on November 8, including crafts, karaoke, and a scavenger hunt. Movie screenings at the ASLC are free for students with an FSUID card, while non-students must purchase tickets. Concessions are available at lower prices than typical theaters.

AppWizard

October 10, 2025

The Biggest Video Game Movie Of The Decade Is Getting A Sequel

Warner Bros. Pictures has confirmed a sequel to The Minecraft Movie, set to be released on July 23, 2027. The original film, featuring Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Danielle Brooks, and Jennifer Coolidge, was highly successful, nearly reaching a billion in box office earnings and becoming the most successful live-action video game adaptation, second only to The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The sequel will debut alongside a new Simpsons movie. Specific plot details are not yet available, but it is expected to retain elements from the original, including whimsical creatures and Jack Black's presence.

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 25, 2025

Warner Bros. loves participatory theater moments like Minecraft’s “chicken jockey,” but says studios can’t create those trends, only fans can

The release of A Minecraft Movie led to significant audience engagement, with moviegoers actively participating by echoing lines, celebrating scenes, and throwing confetti. The term “chicken jockey” became a cultural reference point in 2025. This event fostered a sense of community, with attendees sharing their experiences on TikTok. Warner Bros. co-chair Pam Abdy emphasized the need for authenticity in audience participation, stating it must arise organically. Mike De Luca, also a co-chair, noted that the participatory nature of Minecraft contributed to this engagement. While there were instances of unruly behavior requiring police intervention, successful audience interactions can enhance the movie experience, as seen with KPop Demon Hunters, which topped the box office due to enthusiastic fan participation. The future of cinema may depend on these participatory experiences, driven by the audience rather than studios.

AppWizard

August 31, 2025

Could Gen Alpha Save Movie Theaters? New Survey Shows Why ‘Minecraft’ and ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Had Huge Success With Kids

A study by NRG reveals that 59% of Generation Alpha prefers watching films in theaters over home viewing, compared to 48% of Gen Z, 45% of Millennials, and 45% of Gen X. The study indicates that Gen Alpha views moviegoing as a social event, with 55% preferring to attend films with friends. Fewer than 10% of children under 13 regularly use their phones in theaters. The top franchises resonating with Gen Alpha include "Roblox," "Minecraft," "Fortnite," "Grand Theft Auto," and "Pokemon." Additionally, 29% of Gen Alpha expressed interest in attending singalong screenings, 65% preferred premium formats like IMAX, and 54% desired more 3D films or virtual reality experiences.

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 12, 2025

‘A Minecraft Movie’ Ends Its Theatrical Run. How Much Did It Make?

Jack Black and Jason Momoa’s A Minecraft Movie concluded its theatrical run on July 2, earning a domestic total of ,949,195 and a worldwide gross of ,149,195, which includes ,200,000 from international ticket sales. The film debuted in theaters on April 4 and became available for digital streaming on May 13, followed by its release on HBO Max on June 20. It had a production budget of 0 million. As of the latest update, it is the highest-grossing film domestically in 2025, although it faces competition from Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch, which has a worldwide gross of .6 million.