The midnight movie is a term which refers to a selection of films typically shown at late-night screenings — these are often films that could be labelled ‘cult’, or films that flopped heavily on first release only to garner appreciation in subsequent years. Some, however, don’t really have any rhyme or reason for their midnight status and A Minecraft Movie may just be the newest addition to the pack.
A Minecraft Movie is the long-awaited big screen adaptation of the Minecraft video game. It follows a group of four misfits who are pulled through a portal into the cubic wonderland known as the Overworld. They embark on a quest with an expert crafter named Steve to not only find their way back home, but save the Overworld itself.
First reactions
When the first trailer for A Minecraft Movie released on September 4, 2024, it drew heavy criticism from fans. Some labelling it as a rip-off of the recent Jumanji films, also starring Jack Black, while others criticised the decision to make it live-action. Because of this, the film had become somewhat of a joke before it even opened in cinemas, with trailers being mocked and meme-d on platforms such as TikTok.
Only a few days after it’s release, the movie has already earned $310m on a budget of $150m and has an 87 per cent Popcornmeter rating on Rotten Tomatoes (audience score), despite the critic score sitting at a rotten 47 per cent. Cult films are often ridiculed or disliked by critics, but nevertheless find a solid audience who are willing to give it repeat viewings.
Perhaps the most famous example of the midnight movie is 1975’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which for 50 years has seen fans attend screenings where they heckle at the screen, call out fan chants and even bring water pistols to emulate a rainstorm.
A Minecraft Movie has unexpectedly taken on some of these cult film traditions — viewers are encouraged to call out already ‘iconic’ lines by Jack Black’s Steve such as “Chicken Jockey” and “Flint and Steel” and applaud at a tribute to late Minecraft youtuber TechnoBlade. In addition, a selection of Minecraft-themed popcorn buckets and cups are available at cinemas, each chain has their own versions, and have proven popular amongst viewers with many cinemas having sold out on opening weekend.
“The crowd… was electric”
One Brig contributor said, “The crowd for A Minecraft Movie (at least for me) was electric. Filled to the brim with twenty-somethings cheering and laughing throughout the films run time. The sheer excitement of everyone around me enhanced my enjoyment of the film, it felt like being part of a wee community of movie-goers that just wanted to have a laugh”
Another cinema-goer said, “When I went to see the minecraft movie there was lots of audience participation such as the clapping and shouting out lines from the movies.
“Some people didn’t like it but I personally enjoyed it, and I think it massively enhanced what was a fairly mediocre movie.
“Some cinemas have said they are going to ban people who get involved in participation but I personally think it’s a good thing.
“I don’t go to the cinema as much as I used to but whenever I do it’s always because there’s some sort of meme or culture around film such as barbenheimer or the minions.
“And I think cinemas should be encouraging participation since it improves the atmosphere and would allow for a movie going experience that can only be had in cinemas and would allow cinemas to steal back viewers from streaming platforms.
“And I hope to see more audience participation in future”
Some audiences have drawn comparison’s with films like Rocky Horror, however, some have found the line-readings obnoxious and some cinemas have even banned people from participating in the trend, such as Cineworld on Renfrew Street in Glasgow following reports of “excessive noise”.
Roger Clark on X posted:
Midnight movie traditions were given life once again
A Minecraft Movie is a very digital-era example of a midnight movie/cult film, as it’s audience participation has grown via. online platforms such as X and TikTok rather than as a more natural phenomenon like Rocky Horror, which is what Clark may be referring to with ‘teenagers and their phones”.
What happens with A Minecraft Movie in the upcoming months, and maybe even years, will be interesting. While it is more likely a social media trend with a short lifespan, at least midnight movie traditions were given life once again (Flint and Steel!).
Featured Image: Warner Brothers Entertainment
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