If you have watched A Minecraft Movie, you’re likely familiar with the phenomenon of the chicken jockey.
The new film from Warner Bros. premiered in theaters on Friday (April 4) and has quickly shattered box office records.
Featuring a star-studded cast, the movie includes performances by Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Danielle Brooks from Orange is the New Black, and the iconic Jennifer Coolidge.
However, the film has recently stirred controversy due to the behavior of certain audiences in cinemas.
Movie screens have been descending into chaos during a particular scene, with Minecraft enthusiasts seen in videos online jumping, shouting, and throwing popcorn around.
In one particular incident, authorities had to be called in to manage the disturbance.
As a result, theaters have started issuing warnings to those planning to watch A Minecraft Movie in the upcoming weeks.
The British cinema chain Cineworld released a statement saying: “We’ve been informed of reports of an online trend that includes making excessive noise during A Minecraft Movie.
“We would like to remind everyone to please be respectful to those around them by not making noise nor being on their phones during any movie. Failure to do so may result in ejection from the cinema.”
Seems reasonable, if you ask me.
Similarly, REEL cinema, another UK-based theater, warned that the kind of behavior observed in TikTok videos ‘will not be tolerated’.
While there is a general excitement surrounding A Minecraft Movie, one particular scene has movie-goers going wild, and that’s when a chicken jockey appears.
A chicken jockey is a rare adversary found in the game, represented by a baby zombie riding a chicken.
These small, somewhat endearing foes are extremely rare, with baby zombies only having a 0.25 percent chance of becoming a chicken jockey if no chickens are nearby.
“If chickens are present, the chance increases to 0.4875 percent,” according to a Minecraft-dedicated fandom page.
Due to the character’s rarity, its appearance in the film has led to enthusiastic responses from die-hard Minecraft fans and those simply following the trend, literally jumping out of their seats in excitement.
This phenomenon has left audiences divided.
While some appreciate the excitement and find it amusing, others believe such behavior is inappropriate, particularly considering the theater employees who have to deal with the aftermath.