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 <a href=”https://t.co/TUvwMqrZRq”>pic.twitter.com/TUvwMqrZRq</a>
—@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.”
“We made the movie for the fans and the fans exceeded our expectations,” Michael DeLuca, the co-chair and CEO of the Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, said in a statement, according to The Associated Press.
But not everyone is overjoyed with the rowdy and enthusiastic reactions elicited by A Minecraft Movie.
Some audience members have described a less enjoyable experience, one that’s annoying and disruptive, ruining the movie for them.
Similarly, theatre chains had to warn people to stop singing during the Wicked movie, which also prompted a conversation about cellphone use in theatres as footage of the opening title went viral on social media.
Theatres are warning patrons to cut out the singing at screenings of the hit movie musical Wicked, as movie chains report more instances of loud, rude and inconsiderate behaviour by patrons.
Several cinemas issue warnings
On Reddit, movie theatre employees have shared photos of the messes left behind by popcorn-hurling audiences.
“These groups of people have been a wreck and a mess,” one employee wrote on the social media platform.
“Apparently trashing theatres is now a TikTok trend,” wrote another.
“People don’t know how to act in public anymore,” wrote another person.
At least one video appears to show police being called to the theatre and escorting a group of boys out. And several theatres in the U.K. have issued warnings that rowdy behaviour isn’t welcome.
“Disruptive behaviour, including taking part in TikTok trends, before, during, or after a screening will not be tolerated,” a spokesperson for REEL Cinema in Fareham told the Daily Echo.
“To ensure everyone has the best possible cinema experience, we’re increasing our monitoring of screens during performance,” the spokesperson said, adding they would call police if necessary.
Scott Cinemas in the UK also issued a warming, a cinema in Glasgow has also asked movie-goers to be respectful, and other warnings appear to be posted to social media.
One warning, posted to Reddit, shows the viral chicken jockey in all its glory.
“We know the chicken jockey is epic,” says the post. “But please don’t throw popcorn or soft drinks at the screen.”
