Is ‘A Minecraft Movie' A Musical? Here's What To Know Before You Watch
From left: Jack Black, Jason Momoa and Sebastian Hansen in 'A Minecraft Movie.'
A Minecraft Movie, inspired by the beloved game series, has finally arrived. But before heading to the theater, you might be wondering whether A Minecraft Movie is a musical—especially with the release of the film's soundtrack, which features original songs by lead star Jack Black.
In the adventure film, Black plays Steve, a character from the game known for his obsession with mining, who accidentally uncovers a way into the Overworld. When an unlikely group—Henry, Natalie, former gaming champion Garrett "The Garbage Man" Garrison, and Dawn—get unexpectedly transported into the pixelated world of Minecraft, they must join forces with Steve to save it.
'A mysterious portal pulls four misfits into the Overworld, a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination,' the official synopsis reads. 'To get back home, they'll have to master the terrain while embarking on a magical quest with an unexpected crafter named Steve.' Alongside Black is a star-studded cast including Jason Momoa, Jennifer Coolidge, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, and more.
A Minecraft Movie
No, A Minecraft Movie is not strictly a musical, though the adventure film did drop a soundtrack on March 28 ahead of the film's release.
'We had a blast peppering the movie with little musical nuggets throughout our journey,' Black said in a press release. 'Me and Jared (Hess) went back and forth about song ideas in the weeks prior to shooting, and I'd send him little voice memos. We'd laugh our butts off and shape them to fit perfectly in the film.'
Written by Mark Mothersbaugh, the soundtrack features several original songs, including 'I Feel Alive,' 'Steve's Lava Chicken,' and 'Ode to Denis," all performed by Jack Black, as well as a duet called 'Birthday Rap' sung by Black and Jason Momoa.
Mothersbaugh explained that creating a soundtrack for A Minecraft Movie presented a 'unique challenge,' as it required balancing the film's quirky characters with its intense action sequences.
'The music needed to capture the charm of the characters while also driving the high-energy moments. This required a thoughtful approach to ensure the score not only complemented the film's action but also added depth and emotional resonance, making it a vital part of the story,' he explained.
The lead single, 'I Feel Alive,' also features guitar by Queens of the Stone Age's Troy Van Leeuwen, drums by Foo Fighters frontman and former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, background vocals from Jack Black's co-star Danielle Brooks, keyboards by Jellyfish's Roger Manning, and bass and rhythm guitar by song composer Mark Ronson.
'It was a thrill to collaborate with legendary songwriters Ronson and [Andrew] Wyatt on the final song!' Black said. Meanwhile, Ronson and Wyatt also praised Black's talent in return.
'Jack Black possesses one of the greatest voices in all of modern recorded music. From Tenacious D's debut album to his matchless interpretation of 'Hanukkah O Hanukkah,' his voice electrifies the soul and the eardrums," they said, adding that Black first approached them at the Golden Globes in 2023, where he told them he'd been singing their song 'I'm Just Ken," from the Barbie movie, in his head all day.
They continued, "Andrew and I had an incredible experience writing this song with him, and it's one we could have only created with this extraordinary man for this wonderful film. We hope you rock the f**k out to it.'
Black's co-star Danielle Brooks also spoke about singing in the film during a February 2024 interview with Variety. While she clarified she wouldn't be singing the Minecraft theme song, she hinted at a musical collaboration in the project. 'You can't do a movie with Danielle Brooks and Jack Black and not have us do something. I'm having a good time,' she said.
In recent years, several films (like last year's Mean Girls reboot and Joker: Folie à Deux), caught audiences off guard by being musicals. But that's not the case here. A Minecraft Movie isn't a musical, so there won't be any surprises at the theater—just a fun soundtrack to enjoy before, during, and after you watch.
A Minecraft Movie is in theaters. Watch the official trailer below.
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