It’s incredibly frustrating when people disrupt a movie experience.
Whether it’s chatter during a film or the intrusive glow from a cellphone, these disruptions can really detract from the immersive atmosphere of a cinema.
Recently, a heated discussion emerged regarding audiences singing during showings of Wicked. Actress Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba, praised this behavior, calling it ‘wonderful’ that fans were singing along.
However, not everyone appreciated their movie outing being turned into an unexpected sing-along, branding it ‘unacceptable’.
This past weekend saw the release of another much-anticipated film, A Minecraft Movie.
Watch the trailer here:
This film, inspired by the hugely successful video game, features stars like Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Emma Myers from Wednesday, and Jennifer Coolidge from The White Lotus.
After its premiere on Friday (April 4), Minecraft enthusiasts thronged theaters, propelling the film to break box office records.
A Minecraft Movie grossed $163 million in North America alone, setting a new record for the highest first weekend earnings for a video game adaptation, surpassing The Super Mario Bros Movie, according to The Guardian.
However, the film has stirred controversy, not for its content, but due to the behavior of its audience.
Several videos circulating online depict theater-goers erupting into chaos during a particular scene.
In a viral clip, fans of the game were seen clapping and jumping excitedly, with popcorn flying everywhere.
One screening got so out of hand that law enforcement had to be called, as reported by Dextero.
The scene that triggered this reaction? The appearance of a chicken jockey.
A chicken jockey is a rare enemy in the game, depicted as a baby zombie riding a chicken.
Regarding its rarity, a Minecraft-dedicated fandom page notes: “In a chicken-free environment, each spawned zombie has a 0.25 percent chance of becoming a chicken jockey; if chickens are present, the chance increases to 0.4875 percent.”
While spotting a chicken jockey is an exciting moment for enthusiasts of the game watching the film, the extreme reactions have sparked mixed opinions.
Theater employees, in particular, have urged audiences to avoid such disorderly conduct.
One employee commented: “As a movie theater employee, if you throw popcorn, you deserve to not only get kicked out. But to clean that sh*t up.”
They also mentioned that working during the release of A Minecraft Movie has been particularly challenging.
Another employee shared: “Theatre employee here. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE just don’t be obnoxious I worked both opening days and it has been a living nightmare.”
Someone else expressed sympathy for parents who simply wanted a peaceful movie experience with their children.
Conversely, some people viewed the audience’s excitement as part of the fun, stating they were ‘just enjoying the movie’.
“This is what the movie is meant for,” insisted another viewer.
What are your thoughts? Share them in the comments below.