A viral TikTok trend spurred by a scene in Jack Black and Jason Momoa’s A Minecraft Movie is resulting in disruption and destruction in some theaters.
A Minecraft Movie, of course, blew out box office projections in its opening weekend and earned $313 million at the worldwide box office. About $163 million of those box office dollars came from 4,265 North American theaters, and some theaters in the U.S. have been subject to the TikTok craze surrounding a scene in the movie adaptation of the blockbuster Mojang Studios video game.
Black stars as Steve in A Minecraft Movie, a wannabe miner who finds a mystical portal that transports him to the Overworld — a fantastical place where he can build anything he imagines out of blocks. All the creatures in the Overworld are block-shaped as well, and one faction — called the Piglins — takes Steve hostage because he possesses a powerful cube that they want to use for nefarious purposes.
Steve can prevent the disaster, though, when a group of outcasts — Garrett (Momoa), Henry (Sebastian Stan), Natalie (Emma Myers) and Dawn (Danielle Brooks) – find the portal and rescue him.
During the film, one of the Overworld’s zombie creatures rides atop a chicken character in a scene with Black and Momoa in a wrestling ring, which has prompted some audiences to get obnoxious for the sake of capturing the moment on video to post on social media platforms like TikTok.
In a video posted on X, the “Chicken Jockey” scene prompts a loud outburst from the crowd, theatergoers through popcorn and a patron holding a live chicken in the air.
Theaters Showing ‘A Minecraft Movie’ Have Also Been Vandalized
Some theaters are being damaged by vandals at showings of A Minecraft Movie, according to different publications including The Hollywood Reporter.
In one case, the Township Theatre in Washington, N.J., has enacted a new policy where any minor who wants to see the film must be accompanied by “a responsible adult.” If they’re not accompanied, they won’t be admitted, the venue warned in a Facebook post.
“We want to make all parents aware of an unfortunate situation that occurred at Township Theatre last night during a showing of The Minecraft Movie,” the Township Theatre said in the Facebook post to parents earlier this week.
“Large groups of unsupervised boys engaged in completely unacceptable behavior, including vandalism,” Township Theatre added in the Facebook post. “We also received multiple complaints from other moviegoers who were trying to enjoy the film with their families. Video footage of the incident has been obtained.”
Reacting to the destructive craze at A Minecraft Movie, the theatrical trade group Cinema United — formerly the National Association of Theater Owners — issued a memo to its thousands of members filled with voluntary guidelines, per THR. According to the trade publication, Cinema United has recommended pre-show announcements and urges calling the police if situations escalate.
Rated PG, A Minecraft Movie is projected to have another big weekend in its second Friday to Sunday frame.
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