As A Minecraft Movie continues to dominate the box office in its second week of release, theaters across the United States are reporting a rise in disruptive behavior linked to viral social media trends, particularly among teenage audiences. The incidents, widely documented online, involve theatergoers engaging in disorderly conduct that includes shouting, throwing food, and in one reported case, bringing a live chicken into a screening.
The film, inspired by the globally popular sandbox video game Minecraft and rated PG, has become a focal point for social media-driven trends, with some fans replicating scenes from the movie in real time during screenings. A recurring reference point is a moment involving the “chicken jockey” — a comedic action scene featuring Jack Black’s character, Steve, encountering a baby zombie riding a chicken. This scene has become particularly influential online, prompting coordinated outbursts from fans who jump on seats, yell the line “chicken jockey!” and throw popcorn and other items.
The disorderly conduct has prompted several movie theaters to issue warnings regarding appropriate behavior during showings. Some locations have gone further by implementing restrictions. The Township Theatre in Washington Township, New Jersey, announced via social media that it will no longer permit unaccompanied minors to attend showings of the film. According to the statement, “Large groups of unsupervised boys engaged in completely unacceptable behavior, including vandalism. We also received multiple complaints from other moviegoers who were trying to enjoy the film with their families.”
Someone brought an actual chicken to a ‘MINECRAFT’ movie screening.
Read our review: https://t.co/uuggEo3o94 pic.twitter.com/gGb5jOkgWk
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 10, 2025
The policy now requires any minor attending the movie to be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult. The theater emphasized that unaccompanied groups of boys will not be admitted to screenings of the film moving forward.
The reported incidents vary in severity. Some theaters have experienced minor disruptions such as shouting and food throwing, while others have reported more extreme occurrences, including damage to property. A widely shared video from a theater employee shows the aftermath of a screening, with trash covering the floors of multiple auditoriums. The employee commented that the cleanup needed to occur in less than 30 minutes to prepare for the next round of screenings due to the film’s popularity and frequent showings.
Some moviegoers, according to theater employees, have been ejected from theaters, while others have reportedly been asked to assist in cleanup efforts as a condition for remaining. In some cases, management has threatened to involve law enforcement if the conduct continues.
Despite the incidents, A Minecraft Movie has continued to perform strongly at the box office. As of the end of its sixth day in theaters, the film has earned over $185 million domestically and $380 million globally. These figures place it ahead of initial projections and indicate a trajectory that could see it outperform other recent video game adaptations, including The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Jack Black showed up at a screening of ‘MINECRAFT’ to ask fans not to throw popcorn all over the movie theater.
“No throwing popcorn and also absolutely no chicken jockey! I am Steve.” pic.twitter.com/Y9hhbKzH8T
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 14, 2025
Warner Bros., the studio behind the film, has not yet released an official statement addressing the reported disturbances. Theater chains and industry observers continue to monitor the situation, particularly as the film enters its second weekend, typically a crucial period for audience turnout and sustained box office performance.
