In the wake of the film’s release, cinemagoers have been sharing footage of crowds watching the film, with certain moments prompting loud, vocal responses from the people in attendance.

One moment, which features prominently in the film’s trailer, sees Black and Momoa confronted in a boxing ring by a cuboid Minecraft chicken, who is ridden around the ring by another character. “Chicken jockey,” exclaims Black’s character, a reference to the video game that seems to be sending audiences wild.

Several videos captured by cinemagoers show audiences chanting the line along with Black, before whooping and clapping loudly. On social media, many people attested that they had witnessed, or participated in, similar outbursts.

“My theater clapped every time Jack Black name dropped a Minecraft item that was in the trailers, and when he said Chicken Jockey I s*** you not the entire row in front of me gave a standing ovation,” one person shared.

“Just got back from watching the movie myself, can confirm everyone in the theater collectively yelled ‘CHICKEN JOCKEY’ during that moment and it was glorious ngl,” wrote another.

“This is what made me love my experience more, bc even though the movie wasn’t as bad as i thought it was going to be, the packed cinema with everyone shouting, clapping and cheering whenever jack black name dropped something genuinely gave me so much joy,” commented someone else.

However, the phenomenon has drawn staunch criticism from others, with some claiming that audience participation had “ruined” the theatrical experience for them.

  • rbesfe@lemmy.ca
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    4 hours ago

    Same thing happened with the emoji movie and the minion movie. As a former teenager I can attest that screaming at a mediocre movie with friends is a good time

    • nova_ad_vitum@lemmy.ca
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      4 hours ago

      It happened with Snakes on a Plane too. Everyone was waiting to cheer when SLJ said that one line. Cool vibes.

  • CallateCoyote@lemmy.world
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    7 hours ago

    I think there’s much worse things going on in the world than audiences having fun at a silly movie. If it bothers you too much, just wait to watch the movie at home in like 3 weeks.

    • werefreeatlast@lemmy.world
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      6 hours ago

      Yeah, nobody is gonna go into your own house just to say the line loudly.

      I saw it yesterday with the kids and I though it was gonna be boring but then it wasn’t. I shouted at the screen in unison with the kids. Its a kids movie, they will shout.

      • x00z@lemmy.world
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        2 hours ago

        Not at all. New young kids are joining every day. 7 year olds playing it are common (sadly).

      • warbond@lemmy.world
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        6 hours ago

        Minecraft has only been around for 15 years, so I would think the generation that never knew a time without Minecraft would be about that old, as well.

  • ryathal@sh.itjust.works
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    12 hours ago

    The crowd and reactions are one of the biggest parts of the theater experience that’s actually positive.

    • CCAirWater@lemm.ee
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      7 hours ago

      The crowd and reactions are the exact reasons I usually stay in to watch films. Severe anxiety, and all that. I love the theater experience minus that, tho.

      I hate the trend of films leaving theaters so quickly now because I used to wait several weeks to catch a film past it’s peak and be one of like 3 people in there and it was bliss. Get the best seat, get to enjoy the film without children crying or people on their phones, or the constant shuffling of jackets. Hyper vigilance is a curse.

      But… Catching the 10yr anniversary of Interstellar was the second time I’d been at a packed theater where no one spoke and it was amazing. But it was slightly ruined by the guy next to me stinking of beer and cigarettes.

      And catching the R-rated release of the animated Killing Joke was the first time. The film with the original voice actors? It was phenomenal despite the packed theater but it was slightly ruined by the guy next to me constantly using his napkin after every bite and every sip of drink. He’d wipe his face, then his hands, then his cup and toss it somewhere. Rinse and repeat for an hour and a half, every few moments. Drove me nuts. The ending being true to the comic was pretty funny to see the crowd, and specifically him, be so disappointed, plus the quick rushes out the theater for parents to take their kids was satisfying too when they realized R-rating meant R-rating.

      Catching mystery films at regal or cheap films at AMC are about all I can do because the experience is cheap enough to outweigh my anxiety, but even that’s been a while with money being tight.

      • ryathal@sh.itjust.works
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        7 hours ago

        To me the theater is now a place for collective enjoyment. The home viewing experience is good enough if I want to watch something in silence, not that I have even a modest set up. The theater is now about having that energy and cheering because it’s all that’s really left.

        • CCAirWater@lemm.ee
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          3 hours ago

          That’s valid, for sure! I just can’t do it no mo’.

          I just get so anxious and nervous in theaters packed with people. Like, it’s against the rules to make noise or exist. So when people “break the rules” I keep expecting everyone to get into a big fight or screaming match about it and I can’t focus on the film without focusing on the people, waiting for the shoe to drop. That and anxiety about breathing the air of sick people?? That’s only since '20, though.

          The B.O. booze/cigs guy was rough. But the napkin dude was driving me nuts because it was the final showing of a two day limited theatrical release that wasn’t chrap. Drove me nuts to spend so much to listen to that dudes napkin wipes lol.

          I wish I were built different, but I try every so often to go. I usually stay in with my headphones to get a similar sound feeling.

    • Schal330@lemmy.world
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      10 hours ago

      I imagine it varies between countries. In the UK I would say I’m happy for laughter, and the odd gasp. Anything more such as cheering, singing or clapping is not on to me personally.

  • TheEighthDoctor@lemmy.zip
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    15 hours ago

    I think at this point they could make the “Hawk Tuah Skibidi Movie” and people would clap and throw popcorn in the air every time they say a brain rot catchphrase from tiktok.

    And honestly I’m ok with that, the only people there know what they are signing up for.

  • ivanovsky@lemm.ee
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    17 hours ago

    Saw it last night, can confirm audience went wild with chicken jockey and flint and steel. Honestly didn’t think it was too bad, but I think part of the trend is also to fling fucking popcorn all over the place because when we went in the theater was spotless, and when the lights came back on, it was like a fucking popcorn bomb went off in there, the worst I’ve ever seen in my life; honestly felt bad for the employees.

  • remon@ani.social
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    17 hours ago

    And that’s one more reason why I’ll never go back to a cinema.

  • tacosanonymous@lemm.ee
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    23 hours ago

    My favorite part was when the Minecraft guy said, “it’s craftin’ time” then he crafted all those mines.

  • jonesy@aussie.zone
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    1 day ago

    This is dumb to me, but I’m not the target audience for this movie. It sounds like the people who are the target audience are having a blast and that’s awesome.

    • harsh3466@lemmy.ml
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      1 day ago

      Same. Never been into Minecraft, and hate when people are noisy and whatnot in a theater when I’m watching a movie. That being said, if they’re having fun, more power to them. Not gonna yuck their yum.

      • remotelove@lemmy.ca
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        23 hours ago

        The term is “read the room”, I think. Rarely, some movies are just like that. Classic showings of Rocky Horror aren’t exactly done for serious movie gowers as a prime example. While I am not attempting to put RHPS and a Minecraft movie in the same class, I would go to a Minecraft movie with the same mindset.

        • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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          8 hours ago

          They aren’t in the same class, but I does seem like they’d both be in the same category. They’re weird goofy movies that shouldn’t be taken too seriously. I could imagine having fun at the MC movie if you’re allowed to goof off. I couldn’t see myself having fun with it if I need to sit quietly and watch it for it’s “art.”

    • NOPper@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      1 day ago

      Saw this happen the whole movie last night. Not my favorite flick but my daughter loved it and everyone in there seemed to be having an absolute blast so 🤷‍♂️

  • warm@kbin.earth
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    1 day ago

    It’s a shitty movie about Minecraft… let people have their fun. The jokes and memes around it are the best part.

    • nocturne@sopuli.xyz
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      1 day ago

      It sounds like the start of some Rocky Horror stuff. Which, I think we need something like that to happen again.

      • Ilandar@lemm.ee
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        23 hours ago

        My local cinema screened ‘Singin’ In The Rain’ recently, it was a lot of fun watching it for the first time in a packed cinema surrounded by huge fans of the film who knew all the songs and famous lines.

    • endeavor@sopuli.xyz
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      22 hours ago

      Yeah, just like gaming, comic and star wars movies have become, people go there just for the “i know that thing from that other thing”!

  • FilthyShrooms@lemmy.world
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    17 hours ago

    I find it funny that the article uses a quote from Moist Critical’s video on it (as well as I think Schaffrillis Productions and PhoenixSC, I know I’ve heard the quotes before on youtube) and they leave it anonymous as to who said it

    • LiveLM@lemmy.zip
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      1 minute ago

      Swear half of the articles we see lately are just collections of Tweets, Reddit posts and other social media quotes