A Minecraft Movie has gone from being, well, a movie to being an event. Kids (and some adults) are going to see the show just to make themselves a part of it.
You see, there are a lot of TikTok memes associated with Minecraft. As an older millennial and a non-Minecraft player (sorry) they go totally over my head. But the most popular of these is the “chicken jockey” meme, which is where people react with glee to the sight of a baby zombie riding a chicken in the movie. Hey, I’m not judging! But from there people have made all sorts of lines in the film into memes.
For example, when Jack Black introduces himself as Steve, the audience goes wild. They love Steve–but, more importantly, they love the meme. Unfortunately, though, this leaves the non-meme-savvy audience baffled and maybe a little annoyed. They didn’t come to hear the audience shout; they want to hear the actual dialogue!
Then there’s the more serious issue of people actively doing harmful things during Minecraft screenings. It was reported by USA Today that one person actually brought a live chicken into the cinema as part of the “chicken jockey” meme, and obviously that’s a terrible idea. A crowded movie theater is no place for a chicken and it probably caused distress to the animal.
But the wider issue is, should people be allowed to make a noise in movie theaters or not? When I was growing up, I was absolutely not allowed to shout or scream in a movie theater no matter how exciting the scene. But then I went to a midnight showing of Avengers: Endgame in 2019, and it was packed with fellow comic book fans shouting and cheering for their favorite characters. I joined in. At the end of the movie, the stranger sitting next to me expressed irritation at all the cheering, and I felt annoyance, because it was a midnight screening full of nerds. Of course, they were going to cheer! That’s what midnight showings are for: audience participation!
So ever since then I’ve tied myself in knots about my cheering during the Endgame midnight showing. After all, it was a special occasion and surely the other members of the audience knew what they were in for. Except… clearly, not all of them did. I’m assuming it’s the same for some Minecraft Movie viewers, as well.
Movie theaters aren’t here for it
Cinemas are coming down hard on the audience participation, though. UK Cinema Association chief executive Phil Clapp told the BBC recently, “While most of the behavior is good-natured, we would ask those taking part to be mindful of the enjoyment of other cinema-goers and not to create extra work for cinema staff by throwing popcorn around, and of course not to use their phones to record any part of the film." Some venues in the UK have even put up signs warning audience members not to disrupt the movie.
All in all, this seems to be a problem that won’t resolve itself anytime soon. I admit I’d be incredibly annoyed if I went to watch A Minecraft Movie and kids were cheering so loudly I couldn’t hear any of the dialogue… but I was also annoyed that someone complained about the midnight showing I was in. It’s a dilemma. I will be furious with you if you bring a live chicken into a cinema, though.