A24’s Death Stranding Movie Lands A Brilliant But Unlikely Director

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Kojima Productions

“Death Stranding” is one of the greatest games of the modern era, an undefinable masterpiece that bridges gaming and cinema in a way many other games claims they do but never actually achieve. It’s a visually exquisite, narratively riveting game that boasts a cast bigger than most blockbuster movies — not in A-list names, necessarily, but in movie fans’ beloved favorite directors, actors, and even Conan O’Brien.
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So when the news came out that “Death Stranding” was not just becoming a movie, but that it’d have A24 producing it, it was a rare case of Hollywood getting it 100% right. After all, creator Hideo Kojima is an avid cinephile, constantly sharing every single movie he sees on social media — and also doing some absolutely soul-crushingly scathing write-ups of the movies he didn’t like. Kojima is not the type of guy to be content with just having his masterpiece become a multi-million dollar blockbuster with flashy effects and a gimmicky cast. No, his ideal adaptation would basically be an A24 or Neon movie made by an A24 or Neon director.
Thankfully, that’s exactly what we’re getting. A24 and Kojima Productions announced that Michael Sarnoski will be directing the adaptation of “Death Stranding.” Sarnoski previously directed “A Quiet Place: Day One,” and also the Nicolas Cage movie “Pig.”
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Kojima is a cinephile, and this is an excellent choice

Kojima Productions

“Death Stranding” is set in a future where catastrophic events opened a doorway between the living and the dead, after grotesque creatures began crossing over and roaming the world. The game features stunning imagery that looks less like a traditional AAA blockbuster game and more like an indie movie, with a slow burn of a story told through meticulous pacing.
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In short, it’s a movie destined for the film festival crowd. Michael Sarnoski, a soulful filmmaker in the vein of Jeff Nichols (but without the Southern tinge), might not be the first name that comes to mind when thinking of the sci-fi elements of the “Death Stranding” story. Sarnoski’s “Pig” is a haunting drama that’s quiet and contemplative, letting the audience become intimately familiar with the main character, his world, and his pig, despite seeming like a standard revenge thriller on the surface. Even when Sarnoski tackled a blockbuster movie in “A Quiet Place: Day One,” it wasn’t the obnoxious franchise exploitation cash-in movie many expected it to be. Instead, it meticulously explored the world of the franchise and how regular people live in it, painting an image of a lived-in world and focusing on its characters instead of spectacle.
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“Death Stranding” is not the type of video game adaptation that will crack a billion dollars at the box office like “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” Instead, it was always destined to be a prestige movie that could give the right director the chance to play in a big sandbox while still retaining the production limitations that bring forth creativity of an indie film. If Hideo Kojima is interested in moving toward filmmaking, Michael Sarnoski is an unexpected but perfect choice for his first movie project.

12 Best Steve McQueen Movies, Ranked

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Static Media

When it comes to the biggest big screen stars of the 1960s and 1970s, even a short list would have to include Steve McQueen. He’s rarely mentioned in the same acting league as contemporaries like Paul Newman and Robert Redford, but his early death in 1980 at just 50 years old is arguably the biggest reason for that. Still, even without later performances that would have surely continued to flex his acting muscles, his existing filmography shows an immense and interesting talent bristling with both energy and calm.
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It’s McQueen’s control between the relaxed and the electric, along with his genuine and visible appreciation for life, that led to the actor being dubbed “the King of Cool.” The persona served him well in roles that saw him playing underdogs and disrupters, men who refuse to abide by the established order and instead forge their own path, and it’s part of what makes him an indelible and unforgettable screen presence.
McQueen entered the public consciousness as the star of a popular television western called “Wanted Dead or Alive,” but it’s the big screen where he became a legend, and here, we’ve assembled a list of Steve McQueen’s 12 best movies.

12. The Hunter

Paramount Pictures

He’s been a bounty hunter for decades, but after catching thousands of criminals all over the United States, Ralph “Papa” Thorson is finally starting to realize that maybe, just maybe, he’s getting too old for this s***.
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Consensus wasn’t that high on “The Hunter” when it hit screens back in 1980, and the sentiment only worsened when Steve McQueen passed away just a few months later. The film may not be the ideal send-off, but as McQueen himself suggested, there’s a wonderful symmetry to kicking off a career as a TV bounty hunter and ending it as one on the big screen. This is still a fun, energetic movie that delivers a good time with a terrifically charismatic and personable lead performance.
Director Buzz Kulik gives the film an affable tone no matter the scene, and he finds a willing partner in McQueen, who moves with a casual coolness throughout. This isn’t the cool of “Bullitt,” though, as this is an old man who knows he’s out of time — in both senses of the phrase — but indifferent to those who’d judge him for it. Papa chases down bad guys with an irked resignation, with one epic pursuit unfolding in Chicago with McQueen riding atop a moving train. It’s lightweight, thrilling stuff, and it’s worth your time as McQueen says goodbye with a smile.
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11. Junior Bonner

Cinerama Releasing

Junior is a bronco-busting rodeo rider in the waning years of a career that’s left him little beyond sore muscles, and his final ride is quickly approaching.
Sam Peckinpah was a filmmaker known for films featuring anarchic violence, misanthropic characters, and women who “should have known better,” but his first collaboration with Steve McQueen delivers something far softer than anyone probably expected. “Junior Bonner” is a western of sorts, and like many in the post-modern era, it looks upon its cowboys as a dying breed. They faded away because the world no longer had room for them or need of them, and it’s those same themes at play here in the lives of rodeo riders. That story comes with a pervading sense of sadness, but neither the film nor the characters ever really give in to it.
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Like many of McQueen’s characters over the years, Junior is a man who refuses to live wholly within the system. Every metric suggests he should retire, but Junior’s holding on tight and hoping to do so for far longer than eight seconds. The truth stares characters and viewers in the face, but we cheer for him to succeed all the same. McQueen is the center of the film, but it’s well worth a watch for a supporting turn from the great Ida Lupino as his long-suffering mother.

10. The Towering Inferno

20th Century Fox

San Francisco is home to a spectacle of modern architecture, a glass high-rise meant to impress anyone who visits or even sees it from afar. Unfortunately for those partying inside, though, it’s also something of a safety hazard.
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The 1970s birthed something relatively new with the big screen disaster movie. The subgenre quickly wore out its welcome, but for a short while there, we got prestige productions pairing incredible casts and real production value with epic destruction and melodrama. 1972’s “The Poseidon Adventure” is arguably the best of the bunch, but John Guillermin’s “The Towering Inferno” burns its way to a close second. Big stunts, fiery set-pieces, and plenty of drama heat up the high-rise, and it’s all classed up by a cast of legends. 
Paul Newman, William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Fred Astaire, Richard Chamberlain, Robert Vaughn, and Robert Wagner all see their night ruined, and it’s Steve McQueen’s San Francisco fire chief who comes to their rescue. Panic and fear spread even faster than the flames, but McQueen’s patented cool infuses his character with calm and a grace under fire that serves the film well (though that didn’t stop a rivalry from sparking with Paul Newman). It’s the rare establishment authority figure role in McQueen’s filmography — even his cops and bounty hunters are rogue elements — and he gives it an informed authority telling civilians and viewers alike that it’s all going to be okay.
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9. Love with the Proper Stranger

Paramount Pictures

Their first date resulted in a pregnancy, and their second sees Angie and Rocky looking for an abortion doctor.
This is one of only two films in Steve McQueen’s filmography that feels wholly atypical for the man — the other being 1978’s “An Enemy of the People” which stars a bearded and bespectacled McQueen as a smalltown doctor trying to warn people about contaminated water. “Love with the Proper Stranger” stars McQueen as a jazz musician struggling to deal with the aftermath of a one-night stand with a young woman named Angie (Natalie Wood), and it’s a blend of progressive social commentary, romantic drama, and comedy. There are moments both sweet and silly, even as other scenes feel stark or scary including a brief visit to a back-alley abortionist.
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Family and social mores of the time are the pair’s most obvious obstacle, but their biggest is the air between them. They’re planning an abortion before they’ve even gotten to know each other, but they do just that in the process resulting in some humorous beats and affecting interactions. It all unfolds fairly naturally, and McQueen proves himself more than adept at playing a nice guy who wants to do the right thing, even before he truly knows what he wants.

8. The Sand Pebbles

20th Century Fox

It’s the 1920s, and the U.S.S. San Pablo is patrolling a river in a rumbling China. The gunboat’s engineer struggles to make sense of it all, even as the casual contradictions of war begin to overwhelm him.
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The biggest hurdle “The Sand Pebbles” faces when it comes to attracting and earning new fans is its three-hour running time. It’s a hefty investment, made even more tenuous thanks to a tone that feels uncommitted to the casual eye. Devote your time and attention to the film, though, and the ebb and flow of drama, action, commentary, and character all fall into a rhythm. The daily lives of American sailors and Chinese locals can breathe, and director Robert Wise is smart to keep viewers with them throughout instead of simply cutting out the calm, the erratic, and the ugly.
It’s what gives the engineer his arc as Jake moves from a single-minded, casually racist, and wholly indifferent man to someone whose eyes begin to open. The down time allows him time to see the locals as people — as individuals — and the result is a shift in his motivation and methodology. The choices he makes grow increasingly humane and empathetic, and while this isn’t some hugely dramatic swing, it’s a noticeable change in one person as they relate to the next. Sometimes that’s more than enough.
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7. The Cincinnati Kid

MGM

From small back rooms to lavish hotel suites, the only size that matters to a poker player is the size of the pot. Eric Stoner is card phenom on the rise in Cincinnati, and his ego won’t let him say no to a chance at beating a poker legend.
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There’s an unspoken rule that when discussing “The Cincinnati Kid” you have to also mention, as being superior, an earlier film about a young, game-playing hustler facing off against his elder. (Hint, it made our list of the best Paul Newman movies.) We won’t be doing that, though, as Norman Jewison’s poker drama stands on its own merit. Only the final hand is played for real suspense, but the poker scenes still enthrall thanks to a cast holding our attention rapt. Ann-Margret and Karl Malden are an unlikely couple caught up in a grift being orchestrated by a wonderfully malicious Rip Torn, and Edward G. Robinson brings a wise and knowing twinkle to the old pro threatened by a young gun with the juice.
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Steve McQueen plays that young gun, obviously, and he uses his effortlessly cool persona to channel something more akin to self-confidence and a focused sense of ego. He can’t lose because he’s just that damn good, and it’s almost as if he’s willing things to go his way. A series of obstacles and challenges get in the way of that certainty, though, as his attempts at sidelining love and friendship in the name of winning reach a point of impact.

6. Le Mans

National General Pictures

Michael Delaney is one of the top prospects at 24 Hours of Le Mans, despite being associated with a deadly crash from the year prior.
Automobile racing was a real-world passion of Steve McQueen’s, and he longed to make a film celebrating the sport. Perhaps fittingly for the film’s themes, bringing that vision to the screen saw McQueen burn through relationships with talents behind the camera including the film’s original director, John Sturges, who previously helmed two of the star’s biggest successes in “The Magnificent Seven” and “The Great Escape.” McQueen didn’t want a traditional Hollywood movie, and that desire ultimately contributed to him foregoing his salary in exchange for the film’s completion and integrity.
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The reception was tepid as critics and audiences wanted more plot and a “happy” ending, but time has been rightfully kind to “Le Mans” as viewers continue to come around to its thoughtful, intelligent approach to the sport and the mindset of its competitors. “When you’re racing, it’s life,” says Michael, “Anything that happens before or after is just waiting.” To that end, the film spends a lot of time free of dialogue — it’s more than 30 minutes before the first real dialogue is spoken — as we instead take in the sights and sounds of the race on our way to an ending that finds real integrity amid the gas-powered ambition.

5. The Getaway

National General Pictures

Carter McCoy is a career criminal behind bars, but when his wife helps secure an early release, he discovers that it comes with strings attached.
The second collaboration between director Sam Peckinpah and Steve McQueen is a film far more in line with the filmmaker’s rough and tumble reputation than their first, but the end result still shows the steadying hand of its star (and would go on to become an unlikely influence on George Miller’s “Mad Max”). McQueen stars opposite Ali McGraw as a husband and wife coerced into a robbery that immediately goes bad. Both the police and the crooks are on their trail, but their relationship remains their biggest challenge. Self-doubt and cold truths threaten their bond far more than any shotgun blasts can.
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That marital bliss past the brink of dysfunction is the core of “The Getaway,” its beating heart in more ways than one, but Peckinpah isn’t making a simple drama here. This is a bloody, violent love story about a relationship tested by carnage, infidelity with purpose, and forgiveness gifted over corpses of your enemies. Shootouts are messy, squib-filled affairs where flesh, wood, and glass are blasted all over, but it’s the pieces of their relationship that Carter and Carol (McGraw) are most interested in collecting and mending. It won’t be easy and the odds are against them, but Slim Pickens is better than no pickens at all. (Note: This joke only works if you’ve seen the movie.)

4. Papillon

Allied Artists

A burglar nicknamed Papillon is convicted of a violent crime he didn’t commit, but he proves an elusive prisoner to keep in custody.
It’s not difficult to see why two of Steve McQueen’s most popular films feature him as a man determined to be free, but where “The Great Escape” ends on something of a downer, “Papillon” goes black on its star floating towards freedom. It’s something of a necessary conclusion, I’d argue, as the preceding two hours plus offers a grueling litany of abuse, hopelessness, and the dampening of the human spirit. As bleak as things get, and they get pretty darn bleak, McQueen’s Papillon is a man unbent who refuses to give up or give in, and it results in a draining but inspiring watch.
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Papillon is the center of the film, but it’s made clear that he’s a man fueled and emotionally fed by those around him. Some people are helpful while others turn their backs on him, and he finds a partner at the center of it all in Dustin Hoffman’s Louis Dega — another example of Hoffman’s acting chops in a career filled with greatness. A shy man with resources and a need for protection, Dega is Papillon’s reminder that compassion and kindness continue to exist. He’s a reminder for viewers as well, just as Papillon encourages us to keep fighting no matter how long that journey takes.

3. The Magnificent Seven

United Artists

Residents of a tiny Mexican village grow weary of a group of bandits who frequently swing by only to steal their crops, so a plan to hire gunslingers is hatched.
Remaking Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai” may have seemed a foolish endeavor to some, but not only was Kurosawa himself influenced by American westerns, but “The Magnificent Seven” is also a classic that stands on its own boot heels as one of the best westerns of all time. Key to its success is an ensemble of big screen stars on the rise, including Yul Brynner, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Robert Vaughn, and of course, Steve McQueen. Each brings their own brand of charisma, and each stands out through some combination of bravado, appearance, and skillset. Add in Eli Wallach as the head Mexican bandit (I know, I know, but it was a different time!), and you have an epic collision of talent and testosterone.
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McQueen is third-billed and plays sidekick to Brynner’s lead, but even here his casual coolness oozes outward with his every scene. Some gunslingers crave financial reward, while others are more interested in chasing the action and while McQueen’s Vin is in the latter camp he’s an action junkie with a conscience. This was his first big screen western after becoming a TV star with “Wanted Dead or Alive,” and it’s what gave him enough of a bump to leave the small screen behind for good.

2. Bullitt

Warner Bros.

A state’s witness is gunned down while in police custody, and the higher-ups are upset over how it makes them look. For a cop named Bullitt, though, the anger he feels is far more personal.
Look at any list of the best car chases in cinema, and the one featured in “Bullitt” is guaranteed to be revving its engines near the top. It’s an impressive feat, especially for a film that’s over half a century old. The secret sauce here is a combination of factors including San Francisco’s beauty and breadth as a physical, tangible backdrop for the action. Director Peter Yates also lets the chase breathe, free of dialogue and score for the most part, as we move from busy city streets to scenic, desolate stretches.
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That chase is all too many viewers remember, and that’s both understandable and unfortun,ate as the film itself is a classic for more than just the car action. It’s a dense procedural that sees Bullitt and his team doing the grunt work to solve their case and catch the bad guys, and Steve McQueen is at his steely-eyed, cool as hell best. The supporting players include the welcome likes of Robert Vaughn, Jacqueline Bisset, Norman Fell, and Robert Duvall, and it all culminates in a thrillingly tense airport set piece — again, mostly free of dialogue and score — that feels like an obvious inspiration for the ending of Michael Mann’s “Heat.”

1. The Great Escape

United Artists

World War II rages, and the Nazis are collecting Allied POWs like trading cards. One prisoner of war camp is deemed escape-proof by German command, but nobody thought to tell the prisoners.
Steve McQueen had a television series and co-starred in “The Magnificent Seven,” but it’s “The Great Escape” that truly launched him into super stardom. It’s a showy role that McQueen fills with guts and charisma, and the character’s journey from self-interest to self-sacrifice remains as powerful today as it was 60 years ago. The dangerous motorcycle chase and fence jump thrill so successfully that it’s easy to forget, each and every time you watch, that it still ends in his recapture. What viewers don’t forget, though, is the character’s resilience in the face of oppression — something that sadly feels timely even today.
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McQueen is just part of the film’s overall appeal and brilliance. Director John Sturges, who previously corralled McQueen, Charles Bronson, and James Coburn with “The Magnificent Seven,” once again shows a masterful control over an ensemble heavy with personalities. James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Donald Pleasance, and more help bring the rousing story to life resulting in a thrilling tale and one of the great prison escape films. Knowing it’s loosely based on real events adds additional weight to its themes of courage, honor, and integrity, and it makes the film all the more relevant in today’s climate.

Who Plays Alex In A Minecraft Movie?

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Warner Bros.

This post contains major spoilers for “A Minecraft Movie.”
It looks like Warner Bros. has birthed a brand new movie franchise thanks to “A Minecraft Movie.” The studio brought the beloved game to life on the big screen, with Jared Hess in the director’s chair. Even though Hess wasn’t the original choice to direct the movie, he appeared to be the right choice in light of its blockbuster debut. That almost certainly means WB is going to get cracking on a sequel ASAP. Thanks to the post-credits scene, we have some idea of what the sequel is going to involve. Alex has entered the game.
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“A Minecraft Movie” is absolutely loaded with Easter eggs, but they saved the biggest one for last. Those who stuck around during the credits witnessed Jack Black’s Steven speaking with a mysterious red-headed stranger. At the end of the scene, we learn that person’s name and yes, it’s Alex. This sets the character up to appear in the presumed “Minecraft Movie” sequel, which hasn’t been announced yet but almost certainly will be soon. So, who plays Alex? That’s a surprisingly complicated question, for the time being.
As it stands, Alice May Connolly (“Sweet Tooth”) is credited on IMDB as an “Alex Double.” She’s probably not going to play the character come time for the sequel, especially since the character’s face was deliberately hidden in the credits scene. When asked directly by IGN who Alex’s voice actor is, Hess didn’t help out much, saying, “It’s a mystery.” The director added:
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“[We’re] full of mysteries, but definitely excited. That character, that’s a whole other fun chapter we’d be excited about.”

Who is playing Alex in A Minecraft Movie? There’s one big theory

Mojang

So back to the question of who is going to play Alex in the “Minecraft” movie universe moving forward. Though it has yet to be confirmed by the studio, multiple reports have suggested that the character is voiced by none other than “Barbie” star Kate McKinnon, who is also known very well for her days on “Saturday Night Live.” McKinnon would seem like a great fit alongside Black, with the two presumably leading the next installment as co-leads.
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Alex is a very important character in “Minecraft” lore. She was the second character skin added to “Minecraft,” and is very often associated with Steve. Given the game’s long, storied history, it’s not hard to see why fans would be particularly excited at the prospect of seeing Alex brought to life.
Getting a big comedic star like McKinnon would make a lot of sense. The critical response to “A Minecraft Movie” was a little mixed, but it’s been a resounding success with fans and at the box office thus far. A sequel is sure to happen and, at that point, Warner Bros. will probably need to settle on a deal with the actor in question. Maybe they didn’t show the actor’s face for a reason. Maybe they want to keep their options open. For now, we can only wonder if that voice truly does belong to McKinnon until Warner Bros., Hess, or even the actor in question confirms it.
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“A Minecraft Movie” is in theaters now.

If You Love War Movies, Check Out This Heartbreaking & Action-Packed K-Drama

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

KBS2

For South and North Korea, the Korean War technically never ended, with the country still divided and contentiously at odds over 70 years after the conclusion of active hostilities. Released in 2010, the K-drama series “Legend of the Patriots” revisited the war to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the conflict’s outbreak. A remake of 1975 Korean series “Comrades,” which was also previously remade in 1983, “Legend of the Patriots” brings a more ambitious edge to the original story. While previous versions of this tale offered more overtly jingoistic messaging, the 2010 iteration focused more on fiery wartime action and the impact of the devastating conflict on civilians.
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“Legend of the Patriots” begins in late 1950, just before China’s entry in the war, as South Korean and United Nations forces advance on the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. The movie primarily focuses on a squad of South Korean soldiers led by Lee Hyeon-joong (Choi Soo-jong) on the frontlines of this advance. On the opposing side is North Korean soldier Lee Soo-kyung (Lee Tae-ran), who had a romantic relationship with Hyeon-joong before the war. As the fighting intensifies in the face of the Chinese reinforcement of North Korea, the combatants struggle to retain their humanity amidst the widespread atrocities.
While “Legend of the Patriots” is currently unavailable to stream through legal means in North America, here’s why this underrated K-drama should be on your radar.
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What makes Legend of the Patriots resonate

KBS2

For all the intense action and wartime stakes, “Legend of the Patriots” very much depicts the Korean War as a soul-searing tragedy. Both the South and North Korean armies increasingly descend into moral ambiguity as the fighting rages on, with civilians caught in the crossfire. While the show stops just short of being an outright antiwar story, it does provide its own twist on the “war is hell” narrative. This is a K-drama that dwells on the consequences of war, though it does so while avoiding direct commentary on its ongoing political implications.
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The most visible consequence to this conflict is the central romance between doomed lovers Hyeon-joong and Soo-kyung. Torn apart by their opposing ideologies and now enemies because of them, it’s clear that the romance between these two lead characters has survived the outbreak of the war. There are so many sad K-dramas that utilize a love story as the primary source for their tearjerker potential and “Legend of the Patriots” is no different in that regard. There is also plenty of bunker-busting action consistent with shows like “Band of Brothers” (albeit with a Korean approach), all of which inevitably has heartbreaking casualties.
Running for 20 episodes, “Legend of the Patriots” offers all the wartime spectacle one might expect from the genre, but it also brings a South Korean perspective to the conflict. But as with the Korean War itself, there are no real winners to be had in this violent division of Korea.
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5 Reasons Why A Minecraft Movie Crushed It At The Box Office

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Warner Bros.

The weekend that the movie industry at large had been waiting for finally arrived. Warner Bros. released “A Minecraft Movie” this past weekend, and to say that it is a hit would be a dramatic understatement. Director Jared Hess’ take on the wildly popular “Minecraft” video game absolutely demolished pre-release box office projections to post the biggest theatrical opening of 2025 thus far, breaking records and shocking the industry in a positive way. We’ve got a major blockbuster on our hands and it couldn’t have come soon enough.
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“A Minecraft Movie” opened to an estimated $163 million domestically to go with $150.7 million overseas for a whopping $313.7 million global debut. That’s now the biggest domestic three-day opening weekend ever for a video game movie, topping 2023’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” ($146.3 million). “Mario” opened to $377 million globally across a five-day holiday opening. “Minecraft” had a standard three-day opening so it is, more or less, in the same ballpark. Mind you, “Mario” finished its run with over $1.3 billion worldwide.
Prior to this weekend, domestic ticket sales were lagging way behind this same point in 2024 and leagues behind pre-pandemic levels. Theaters badly needed a hit of this size after movies like Disney’s live-action “Snow White” bombed earlier this year. More than a hit, this looks to be just the start of a big, new franchise. So, what went right here? How did this film fly so ridiculously high above expectations? We’re going to look at the biggest reasons why “A Minecraft Movie” became a box office sensation. Let’s get into it.
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A Minecraft Movie resonated with audiences

Warner Bros.

Critics may have been a little mixed on “A Minecraft Movie,” but what mattered here is that the video game adaptation resonated with its intended audience in a big, bad way. “Minecraft” is literally the best-selling video game in history, and it’s particularly big with younger folks. Hess and WB seemingly did right by them. The movie carries a not-so-great 47% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but a solid 87% audience score. That’s the key.
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It also earned a decent B+ on CinemaScore, though WB would surely have liked to see that push to an A. In any event, the gap between critics and audiences here is crystal clear. It’s not unlike what happened with “Five Nights at Freddy’s” in 2023, which made nearly $300 million globally despite being a complete critical misfire. Audiences simply disagreed.
/Film’s Witney Seibold called “A Minecraft Movie” a “broad, slapstick farce without a hint of seriousness” in his review, while also adding that “it’s not terrible.” It wasn’t about making a serious movie. It was about making a movie that stayed true to what people loved about the game while having some fun along the way.

Warner Bros. picked a perfect release date for A Minecraft Movie

Warner Bros.

It might have been tempting for Warner Bros. to release this movie in the dead of summer, as it’s easy to see the appeal as a summer film. After all, it’s not just a big blockbuster based on a beloved franchise, but it’s also a family movie. It’s got summer tentpole written all over it. At the same time, the summer season is always crowded, and sometimes the right movie can make a lot more money by not competing for those same, somewhat limited dollars. “A Minecraft Movie” did precisely that.
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With “Snow White” flopping and “Captain America: Brave New World” failing to light the box office on fire earlier this year, the path was completely clear for Warner Bros. to dominate with this movie. Not only was there no direct competition, but there was also arguably pent-up demand for a big crowd-pleaser. To make matters even better for the studio, we don’t have another outright blockbuster arriving until Marvel’s “Thunderbolts*” in the first weekend of May. By then, this movie could be well on its way to $1 billion. In light of its reported $150 million production budget, it’s going to be a massive win for all involved. Expect a sequel to be announced any day now. 

Jack Black is a meaningful movie star

Warner Bros.

The odd thing about modern Hollywood is that being a movie star doesn’t mean what it used to. One can be famous, but does that really mean anything as far as delivering at the box office is concerned? It’s only in very rare cases where that seems to be true. Daisy Ridley can’t seem to catch a break outside of “Star Wars,” for example. That’s why it’s very important to highlight the Jack Black factor here, as he is unquestionably a meaningful movie star at this point.
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Black, whose credits range from “School of Rock” to “Goosebumps,” has been a beloved actor for decades now. But in recent years, he’s truly proven his star power to the world. Let us not forget that he played Bowser in “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” Last year’s “Kung Fu Panda 4” also proved Black’s abilities as an A-list star, with the film going on to earn nearly $550 million worldwide. The “Jumanji” movies have also been monster hits in no small part thanks to his participation.
Yes, having Jason Momoa of “Aquaman” fame and “Wednesday” star Emma Myers on board certainly helped, but not as much as having Black on board as Steve. At this point, it’s clear that the catastrophic failure of “Borderlands” can’t be blamed on Black (he merely voiced a robot in that big, live-action misfire). Most of the time, audiences will turn up to see him, plain and simple. That helped here, no question about it.
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There’s a strong desire for PG movies in the marketplace

Warner Bros.

Another thing that’s tough to deny is the appeal of a PG movie. In the pandemic era, time and time again, we’ve seen family-friendly movies overperform against expectations. Aside from “Mario,” we can look at stuff like “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” “Wonka,” and the $1 billion hit that was Disney’s “Moana 2,” among others, as other examples of this. This list goes on. Well beyond opening weekend, these movies demonstrate the ability to hang around, weekend after weekend, for months on end. That’s rare in recent years.
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Who knows how many pitches Warner Bros. fielded for its adaptation of “Minecraft” over the years before landing on this iteration? Maybe there was a “gritty” version. Maybe there was a PG-13 version. What’s crystal clear is that not everything needs to be gritty or appeal more exclusively to older audiences. Getting families out to the movies is a winning strategy that was employed perfectly by the studio with this property. It certainly didn’t hurt that it managed to appeal to gamers who are fans of “Minecraft” as well, but the family factor can’t be ignored here, particularly in the weeks to come.

Minecraft is a franchise young people care about

Warner Bros.

More than anything, “A Minecraft Movie” serves to demonstrate that Hollywood cannot continue to ignore Gen Z moviegoers. For decades now, the box office has been propped up by nostalgia plays, with reboots of ’80s franchises like “Transformers” leading the way. In recent years, however, those franchise plays have become less and less reliable, in no small part because the people that helped make them hits 10 or 15 years ago have aged out and moved on to other things. It’s time to start catering to Gen Z, just as Blumhouse did very successfully with “Five Nights at Freddy’s.”
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It’s not necessarily important that studio executives understand why skeletons made of cubes are important to younger moviegoers, just in the same way it wasn’t important for them to understand why getting a comic-accurate “Deadpool” was important to that audience. It’s just important that they cater to the very sizable audience that exists and does so in a faithful way. For years, video game movies were downright lousy. Hollywood has moved on from that. The next step, be it a video game or what have you, is to more regularly create new franchises aimed at the upcoming generation. It can’t all be nostalgia plays aimed at 40-year-olds.
“A Minecraft Movie” is in theaters now.

What movies were filmed in Alabama? Take a tour of these iconic sets

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

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‘Beetlejuice’ director Tim Burton gets Hollywood Walk of Fame starPopular director and goth culture pioneer Tim Burton unveiled his well-deserved Hollywood Walk of Fame star.If you’re in Alabama, you don’t have to go far to step into a little piece of Hollywood.From classic films to modern blockbusters, Alabama has played host to some unforgettable movie sets. Many of these iconic locations still stand today, offering a chance to experience the magic of the movies up close.Here are some iconic movie sets you can visit across Alabama.Step into Tim Burton’s world in Jackson Lake IslandA clothesline strung with shoes greets visitors to one of the most iconic movie sets, custom-built for Tim Burton’s “Big Fish.” With its dreamy, surreal charm, the fictional town of Spectre sits on Jackson Lake Island and is open to the public for a small fee of $5 per person.This ghostly, otherworldly town was featured in the 2003 film, where it symbolizes an idyllic yet eerie paradise, too perfect to be real. Though Spectre only exists in the fantastical world of “Big Fish”, the set still stands as a remarkable landmark, drawing fans and movie buffs to the unique location, just outside the town of Wetumpka, Alabama.The set, originally constructed for the film, captures the timeless, strange allure that Tim Burton so expertly crafted, giving visitors a chance to step into the magical world of Edward Bloom’s adventures.While visiting the “Big Fish” film set on Jackson Lake Island, you might even get a chance to meet the friendly goats that roam the area, adding a quirky touch to your cinematic adventure.”If you’re not first, you’re last,” race off to this iconic track in LincolnThis NASCAR-themed film, “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”, will have you racing straight to its set in Lincoln, Alabama.The comedy, starring Will Ferrell, was filmed at the renowned Talladega Superspeedway, just a short drive from the city.Fans of the movie can visit the iconic racetrack and take a tour on Saturdays, Sundays, and select weekdays. Tickets are priced at $16.65 for adults, $13.32 for military members and first responders, $9.99 for children ages 5-12 and free for kids four and under.For groups of 10 or more, tickets are $10 per person.The 45-minute tour offers a chance to explore the Tower Extension for a full view of the track, take photos in Victory Lane and enjoy other exciting attractions.Not filmed in Alabama, but see the courthouse that inspired it allOne of the world’s most beloved novels, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” is set in the fictional town of Maycomb. However, the film’s courthouse scenes were inspired by a model of the Old Monroe County Courthouse in Monroeville, Alabama.Harper Lee, the author of the book, was a resident of Monroeville, and producers decided to use her hometown as the inspiration for Maycomb, bringing the story to life on screen.Despite this, significant changes to the town between the time the book was written and the film’s production led to the decision to film in Hollywood. The old courthouse was meticulously recreated, with such attention to detail that many people still believe the movie was shot in Monroeville itself.The Old Monroe County Courthouse is now a museum that can be visited daily. The museum is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 per person.According to the museum’s website, visitors can roam freely through the courtroom, and you can see the judge’s bench, witness chair and the balcony where Lee often sat as she watched her father practice law.What other movies were filmed in Alabama?Alabama’s diverse landscape and rich history have made it the perfect backdrop for many memorable films. From various genres, here are a few other movies that were filmed in the Heart of Dixie:”Selma””Close Encounters of the Third Kind””Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood””Get Out””Tom and Huck”Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@gannett.com.

Cinemas Warn Against ‘Disruptive Behavior’ at A Minecraft Movie Screenings After Police Called Over Viral Reactions

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Audiences attending screenings of A Minecraft Movie are being asked by cinemas to avoid “disruptive behavior” following a social media trend where viewers vocally react to one particular sceneClips shared to TikTok and beyond show audiences around the world reciting, screaming and throwing popcorn when Jack Black’s character says the phrase “chicken jockey” One viral video appeared to show police escorting a group of children out of a theater
Cinemas are warning moviegoers to avoid “disruptive behavior” at screenings of A Minecraft Movie after a social media trend and apparent meme has led to a largely vocal audience reaction during screenings — and in one instance captured on TikTok, police involvement.

Following the film’s release on Friday, April 4, audiences have gone viral on social media for applauding scenes that include references to the popular 2011 video game the film is based on — including one scene in particular where Jack Black’s character Steve says the phrase, “chicken jockey.”

The scene itself, which partially appeared in the film’s trailer, features Black’s Steve and Jason Momoa’s character Garett Garrison in a boxing ring, where a baby zombie can be seen riding a chicken — a rare occurrence in the Minecraft game.

As a result of the line itself already becoming a popular meme ahead of the film’s release, young audiences around the world are now filming themselves and their fellow moviegoers reciting and reacting to the phrase, “chicken jockey.”

In one video, shared by @salesmenpod on TikTok earlier this week, audience members can be seen eagerly awaiting the line with their phones ready to record the theater, before erupting in pandemonium the moment Black’s character recites the phrase.

While it is unclear where the specific clip was filmed, young theatergoers can be seen throwing popcorn in the air, giving standing ovations and screaming in response to the line. The footage then cuts to the aftermath, where two police officers can be seen apparently escorting a group of children out of the theater.

Stock image of a blank cinema screen.
Getty

“This whole night was surreal and one of the most unforgettable movie experiences I’ve ever had,” the TikTok user captioned the clip — which has since earned nearly 2 million likes on the platform as of Monday, April 7.

Other “chicken jockey” moments have gone viral on TikTok and X, including one from TikTok user @matthewvietzke, where again, audience members can be seen jumping in the air and cheering at the line. A similar situation transpired in footage shared from inside a theater by Instagram user @c.terlizzi5.

Now, cinemas are encouraging moviegoers to avoid “disruptive behavior” as A Minecraft Movie fans continue to bring the meme to theaters.

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‘A Minecraft Movie’.
Warner Bros. Pictures

“To ensure everyone has the best possible cinema experience, we’re increasing our monitoring of screens during performances,” a spokesperson for REEL cinema in Fareham, England told Daily Echo, per The Independent.

“Disruptive behavior, including taking part in TikTok trends, before, during, or after a screening will not be tolerated,” the statement continued. “Anyone causing disruption will be asked to leave, and where necessary, the police will be called.”

Another local theater, Cineworld on Renfrew Street in Glasgow, has also addressed reports of “excessive noise” during screenings of A Minecraft Movie, per Glasgow Times.

“We’ve been informed of reports of an online trend that includes making excessive noise during A Minecraft Movie,” an Instagram note read. “We would like to remind everyone to please be respectful to those around them by not making noise nor being on their phones during any movie. Failure to do so may result in ejection from the cinema.”

According to Deadline, A Minecraft Movie has opened at $301M globally, of which $144.1 comes from the international box office.

The film stars Black, Momoa, A Good Girls Guide to Murder’s Emma Myers, Orange Is the New Black’s Danielle Brooks, Eugene Hansen and Jennifer Coolidge, among others.

Chicken jockey! A Minecraft Movie is causing chaos in cinemas and debate over audience etiquette

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Official reviews of A Minecraft Movie were lukewarm at best and one-star at worst.Various headlines around the world declared the film starring Jack Black and Jason Momoa, “cobbled together,” “bizarre,” a “hyperactive hot-pink mess,” a “blunt object used to beat you into submission” and “good enough — if you think that’s all kids deserve.”But the kids have spoken, and not only has the film adaption of the wildly popular video game smashed box-office records, but it’s inspired a rowdy, audience-interactive theatre trend that some observers are describing as The Rocky Horror Picture Show for children. It’s also sparked debate over cinema etiquette.Moviegoers have shared videos on social media of audiences clapping, cheering, shouting out lines and throwing popcorn during popular moments in the film, which opened Friday and had earned $163 million US in ticket sales from theaters in the U.S. and Canada over the weekend.One TikTok video with 7.8 million views ranked the top 10 movie moments in the theatre and showed the audience screaming out some of Black’s lines like, “flint and steel!” and “I am Steve,” and going absolutely feral to “Chicken Jockey!” — the latter referring to a scene where Momoa and Black have to fight a baby zombie riding a chicken.”My theater clapped every time Jack Black name dropped a Minecraft item that was in the trailers, and when he said Chicken Jockey I shit you not the entire row in front of me gave a standing ovation,” wrote one person in a viral post on X with 1.2 million views.”The whole cinema repeated Flint & Steel, I am Steve, and f–king erupted in hooting, hollering and applause after all basically yelling Chicken Jockey,” wrote someone else on X.Another described it as “the wildest theatre experience of my life,” noting that the audience — mostly preteens — were “cheering, clapping, and jumping onto the tops of seats.””Whenever Jack Black sang, the kids would get up and start dancing in the aisles. They acted like this wasn’t a movie, but a rock concert,” the poster went on.”It was a complete expression of a mix of genuine love for Minecraft and irony poisoning and the result was pure chaos for 100 or so minutes. This is probably the proper way to see this film.”Happened to overhear a Chicken Jockey moment pic.twitter.com/TUvwMqrZRq—@InsaneLoke’Rocky Horror for Gen Alpha’The phenomenon has been described online as “peak audience energy,” and reminiscent of the fandom and excitement over the Star Wars movies.The viral moments have been compared to the audience interactions by beloved cult classics The Room (where people throw spoons, among other key moments) and The Rocky Horror Picture Show (which has entire scripts and guides dedicated to the sport of watching the film).Online, people have said A Minecraft Movie is basically “Rocky Horror for Gen Alpha and Z.”From left, Jack Black, Jason Momoa and Sebastian Hansen are pictured in a scene from A Minecraft Movie, in this image released by Warner Bros. Pictures.