What Is The ‘Chicken Jockey Minecraft Movie’...

A bizarre new TikTok trend is turning cinema screenings of A Minecraft Movie into full-blown chaos. What started as a playful homage to a fan-favorite scene from the film has spiraled into disruptive antics, leaving cinema staff and fellow moviegoers fed up—and some theaters issuing stern warnings or outright bans.

The trend centers around a moment in the film where Jack Black’s character dramatically shouts, “Chicken jockey!” in reference to a notorious creature in the Minecraft game—a baby zombie riding a chicken. The viral clip sparked a flurry of TikTok videos with fans yelling the phrase, cheering wildly, and even tossing popcorn during showings. Now, theaters across the UK and US are cracking down on what they’re calling antisocial behavior.

Viral Fun Turns Into Real-World Disruption

The enthusiasm for A Minecraft Movie—especially among younger audiences—has translated into packed theaters and buzzing energy. But for some, the excitement has gone too far. Cinemas have reported scenes resembling playground mayhem, with shouting, clapping, and food-throwing becoming all too common.

One moviegoer in Newtown, Wales described the scene at a recent showing as more chaotic than a zoo. “Monkeys at Chester Zoo are more civilized,” they told the local Powys County Times, after witnessing a rowdy matinee.

Theaters aren’t taking the trend lightly. Venues including Cineworld in Witney, the Radway in Sidmouth, and Reel cinemas in Fareham and Rochdale have posted strict warnings. They’ve made it clear: anyone caught participating in the “chicken jockey” trend will be asked to leave—and refunds won’t be given. Some cinemas, like the Regent in Newtown, have even warned that screenings may be halted altogether if disruptions continue.

The Township Theatre in New Jersey went further, banning all unaccompanied minors after what it described as an “unfortunate situation” involving unsupervised teens causing damage and disruption during a showing on April 4. “If your son was at the theater last night,” the cinema warned in a Facebook post, “we encourage you to talk to him about his behavior.”

Theaters Fight Back—With Special Showings

Rather than banning all Minecraft-related fanfare, some cinemas are trying a different approach: setting up designated “let loose” showings. Cineworld has announced themed screenings where fans are encouraged to dress up as Minecraft characters and go all in—cheering, clapping, and even shouting “chicken jockey” is welcome. These special screenings offer a space where spirited fans can express themselves without disturbing others.

Still, the company emphasized that even in these showings, there are limits: no throwing things, no vandalism, and definitely no “going full creeper,” referring to the explosive creatures from the game.

A Trend with Precedent—and Profits

This isn’t the first time TikTok has disrupted cinema culture. In 2022, the “Gentleminions” trend had groups of teens attending Minions: The Rise of Gru in formalwear—often resulting in loud, unruly behavior. Some cinemas responded by banning groups in costume altogether.

But despite the disruptions, A Minecraft Movie is enjoying massive box office success. The film has delivered the biggest opening weekend for a video game adaptation in North America and has raked in over $314 million globally. Even skeptics who were underwhelmed by the trailer are turning out in droves—especially younger audiences who grew up with the blocky, pixelated universe.

The boom is a welcome boost for theaters still recovering from the pandemic slump. While streaming and YouTube remain strong competition, events like this show that movie theaters can still capture cultural moments—though not always in the way they hope.

For parents and casual moviegoers, the key takeaway is simple: choose your screening time wisely. As one parent at a quiet early afternoon screening put it, “It was really calm. I think because of the time of day, we avoided all that madness.”

Whether the “chicken jockey” craze dies down or continues to flap its wings, one thing’s certain—TikTok’s grip on cinema culture isn’t going away anytime soon.