Minecraft: Block Wars
| Minecraft: Block Wars | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Directed by | Freddie Goodwin |
| Written by |
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| Story by | Wilma Zimmerman |
| Based on | Squared Media by Minecraft |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Music by | C414 |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $125 million |
| Box office | $1.62 billion |
Minecraft: Block Wars is a 2019 American computer-animated adventure film based on the video game Minecraft by Mojang Studios. Produced by Mob Productions, Mojang, and SOI Studios, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it serves as a sequel to Minecraft (2016) and is the second installment in the Minecraft film series. Directed by Freddie Goodwin from a screenplay by Wilma Zimmerman, Benjamin Knowles, Homer Gutierrez, and Myla Salazar, the film follows protagonists Steve and Alex as they defend a vulnerable village from relentless attacks by an army of hostile mobs.
Development of a sequel began in 2017 following the commercial and critical success of the first film, with Goodwin returning to direct. The project originated from Warner Bros.’ acquisition of the Minecraft film rights in February 2014, when Markus Persson revealed Mojang was in talks to adapt the game for the big screen. Over the following years, several directors — including Shawn Levy and Rob McElhenney — were attached and later departed, while multiple writers such as Kieran and Michele Mulroney, Jason Fuchs, and Aaron and Adam Nee contributed drafts. Ultimately, Goodwin was chosen to lead the production. Principal animation began in 2015 and concluded in January 2016.
Minecraft: Block Wars premiered worldwide on June 10, 2019, and was later released on the Mob Productions YouTube channel on June 10, 2020. The film received positive reviews from critics, earning praise for its animation, humor, writing, and musical score. It grossed $1.62 billion worldwide during its theatrical run, becoming one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time. A direct sequel, Minecraft: The Nether Wars, was released in December 2023.
Plot[edit | edit source]
Steve and Alex Stonecutter had spent months traveling across the Overworld, answering calls for help from villages and towns on the brink of destruction. Their journey eventually led them to a remote settlement known as MonstaVillage — a once-thriving hub now crippled by constant sieges from hordes of Zombies, Skeletons, Creepers, and an unusually intelligent Witch commanding the attacks. On arrival, the siblings encountered Jack, a resourceful villager who quickly led them into the safety of an underground passage. Jack explained that the Witch’s onslaught wasn’t random — the attackers were after the village’s rare honey blocks, prized for their magical conductivity. Jack also revealed the mobs’ unnatural coordination: they were being directly controlled by the Witch’s dark magic.
While scouting a back alley for possible infiltration routes, Steve and Alex were stunned to discover a familiar figure: Derp, long presumed lost. A sudden flashback revealed the truth — celestial beings, real angels, had intervened to restore Derp to life after his mysterious disappearance. Back in the present, Derp’s second chance came with a new path. He had been recruited by the Good Justice Society, an elite organization dedicated to stopping global threats. His latest assignment was daunting: investigate an underground syndicate plotting to unleash a wave of nuclear strikes across the world. The organization’s leader? A man who, to their shock, also went by the name Jack — though whether he was the same villager they had just met or another entirely remained unclear.
Before joining Derp’s mission, Steve and Alex resolved to strengthen MonstaVillage against future raids. They built reinforced barricades, lined the outskirts with traps, and forged new weapons from the village’s hidden stockpiles. Beneath the earth, they engineered a network of defensive machinery and escape tunnels. Villagers were trained to fight alongside the Stonecutters, forming a capable defense force for the first time in years. Amid their work, Steve received an unexpected message — a call from Derp’s old phone number. The voice on the line was unmistakable. Steve was convinced Derp was alive. Alex, ever cautious, urged restraint, but agreed to follow and confirm for herself.
The siblings’ search brought them to the Good Justice Society’s headquarters, where they reunited with Derp. The three quickly decided to join forces against the nuclear threat. Planning sessions revealed a disturbing wrinkle: Derp was developing strange new powers — residual gifts from his angelic revival — but lacked control over them. Through experimentation and training, they learned to stabilize his abilities, giving him the confidence to use them in battle. Together, they launched a daring assault on Jack’s cult, dismantled the launch systems, and prevented the nukes from being deployed. Jack, however, managed to escape into the shadows.
With the immediate threat neutralized, Steve, Alex, and Derp returned to MonstaVillage. They found it abandoned by Jack’s influence, but soon the Witch reappeared, rallying the mobs for one final attack. This time, the villagers fought back with everything they had, forcing the Witch to retreat. Tracking her to her hut deep in the forest, the trio engaged her in a decisive battle that ended with Alex striking the final blow, ensuring the Witch would never threaten the village again.
In the aftermath, the group parted ways. Derp returned to the Good Justice Society to continue his missions, while Steve and Alex resumed their travels, ready to defend the next settlement in need, their bond and resolve stronger than ever.
Cast[edit | edit source]
- Jack Black as Steve Stonecutter
- Amy Poehler as Alex Stonecutter
- Scott Menville Derp
- Max Huang as Jackstar
- Unknown as Jerry
- James Earl Jones as Herobrine
- Matt Doherty as Entity 303
Other voices include Dylan Buccieri, Assaf Cohen, Jessica DiCicco, Terri Douglas, Karen Huie, Arif S. Kinchen, Austin Madison, Cole Massie, Alisha Mullally, Fred Tatasciore, Kari Wahlgren, and Secunda Wood in undisclosed roles.