Whether you know him from his satire-heavy rock band Tenacious D or his plethora of comedy films, Jack Black remains a comedy icon. In his personal life, Black also loves video games, with a well-known adoration for Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption 2. While his latest film, A Minecraft Movie, let Black nerd out in Mojang Studio's cube universe, it's not the only time the actor has starred in a video game adaptation.
From well-loved Nintendo adaptations to an updated cyber take on Jumanji, here is a complete ranking of Jack Black's video game movies, and where you can find them on streaming services like Prime Video, Apple TV+, and more.
5. Borderlands (2024)
Despite stemming from Gearbox's critically acclaimed loot-and-shoot franchise, Eli Roth's Borderlands failed to impress on the big screen. Hot off the success of slasher hit Thanksgiving (2023), it seems Roth works best in the blood-soaked playing field of splatter horror, not sci-fi action. (This is the guy who made Hostel (2005), after all.) Dubbed a generic adaptation with lacking CGI and chemistry among its star-studded cast, Borderlands flopped hard at the box office.
Unfortunately, even Black didn't escape the criticism, with critics taking shots at his "obnoxious" portrayal of Claptrap, the robot who helps Lillith (Cate Blanchett) and her motley crew of heroes find the missing daughter of a very powerful man named Atlas (Édgar Ramírez). Although hardcore Borderlands fans might find something to like in the critically panned adaptation, those unfamiliar with the video game series might want to skip it, which is why it ranks lowest on this list.
4. A Minecraft Movie (2025)
A Minecraft Movie was quite the undertaking for director Jared Hess, one half of the husband-wife duo known for comedy hits like Napoleon Dynamite (2004) and Nacho Libre (2006)—another Jack Black vehicle. Minecraft's sandbox gameplay and limited lore left a lot of room for creative liberties… and mistakes. Luckily, A Minecraft Movie mostly avoided the latter and quickly became a huge box office hit, grossing around $324 million worldwide in its first week.
Black, of course, takes center stage as Steve, the Minecraft game's light blue shirt-wearing protagonist. While the movie's plot took hits from critics, the actors garnered plenty of praise. Alongside big-name co-stars like Jason Momoa and Jennifer Coolidge, Black delivers another reliable comedic performance. This one is for the kids (just search Chicken Jockey to get a taste of the madness). However, for a family movie night, A Minecraft Movie offers some laughs for adults—just don't expect a deep plot with character nuance.
3. Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)
Jumanji: The Next Level sees the teenagers from Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (mentioned next on this list) return to Jumanji to save Spencer (Johnson) while accidentally bringing Spencer's grandfather and estranged friend with them. It's rare for blockbuster franchises to deliver competent sequels, but The Next Level manages to do just that. By shuffling avatars around and adding new plot elements, the film stays fresh while also hitting the right comedic and action notes.
Black's chemistry with his castmates continues, confirming that the performances are one of the best things about The Next Level. Still, there's enough uniqueness and fresh spins to make the sequel a worthwhile watch for fans of the Jumanji franchise or anyone in search of lighthearted, family-friendly adventure movies in the vein of Night at the Museum (2006).
2. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle acts as a direct sequel to the 1995 movie starring Robin Williams and updates Jumanji from a board game to video game. This time around, the teenagers also get transformed into adult avatars, which is where Black comes in alongside Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillian. To no one's surprise, Black shines as a high school girl trapped in the body of a middle-aged man, managing to strike a nice balance between laugh-out-loud comedy and sweet vulnerability.
Updating an iconic franchise is always a risky move, but, in this case, it paid off. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle offers plenty of creativity and laughs for a fun family-friendly outing. If 1995's Jumanji carries nostalgia for you, give Welcome to the Jungle a chance. It might just surprise you.
1. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
Pulling from Nintendo's beloved Mario franchise of video games, The Super Mario Bros. Movie sends Mario (Chris Pratt) and company on a quest to save Luigi (Charlie Day) from Bowser's (Black) evil clutches. Jack Black rarely plays villains, but he excels as Bowser, bringing a likable menace and comedic flair to Nintendo's famous tough guy turtle. Black is also responsible for The Super Mario Bros. Movie's biggest viral moment, which involves Bowser singing a love song titled "Peaches," dedicated to the character of the same name, while seated at a piano floating in space.
Although critics took issue with plot elements, it didn't stop the film from becoming the highest-grossing video game adaptation of all time. Receiving Golden Globe nominations for Best Animated Feature Film, Best Original Score, and Cinematic Box Office Achievement, The Super Mario Bros. Movie remains Black's most successful (and loved) video game movie to date. So, yeah, it had to take the top spot. Sure to delight kids of all ages, adults who like colorful animated features like Wreck-It Ralph (2012) will enjoy it, too—especially if they grew up with an NES controller in hand.
