Warner Bros. Pictures is inviting enthusiastic fans of “A Minecraft Movie” to special interactive screenings starting on Friday.
On May 2, select theaters across North America will begin hosting “Block Party Edition” screenings, where audiences are encouraged to sing and talk along while watching the popular video game adaptation, per a news release from the entertainment giant.
“You know the moments. You know the lines. You love the songs! Now it’s time to get loose, laugh out loud and belt out those lyrics like a true diamond-tier fan,” the company wrote.
Tickets for these screenings are currently on sale. Those interested should check their local listings or on Fandango for screenings marked “A Minecraft Movie: Block Party Edition!”
Syracuse’s Regal Destiny USA is just one of many Upstate New York theaters that is slated to host these special screenings. The Marquee Cinemas Orchard 14, in New Hartford, and Regal Ithaca Mall, in Ithaca, also make the list.
Regular screenings of “A Minecraft Movie” will also continue to be offered nationwide.
The film, which stars Jack Black and Jason Momoa, first hit theaters on April 4. Ever since its premiere, some audiences have gotten rowdy while watching, including in a luxury Upstate New York theater. This unforseen behavior may be what prompted Warner Bros. to introduce the “Block Party Edition” screenings.
This chaos has stemmed from a viral TikTok trend known as the “chicken jockey trend,” which encourages moviegoers to throw their popcorn and soda during a specific scene while yelling out “chicken jockey.”
The scene prompting the riotous behavior shows Momoa’s character having to fight a “chicken jockey,” or a baby zombie from “Minecraft” riding a chicken. At some point during the scene, Black’s character shouts “chicken jockey,” which per the trend, signals the crowd to join in unison, while hurling their concessions.
Young teens have been the biggest supporters of the trend, but their behavior has caused challenges for theaters. Township Theatre in Washington, New Jersey, announced on Facebook on April 5 that minors would need to be accompanied by an adult to the PG movie. This decision followed an uproarious screening that resulted in vandalism.
Furthermore, one viral TikTok video shows police escorting a parade of young boys out from a theater after they went wild during the “chicken jockey” scene. It’s unclear where this unfolded, but numerous theaters across the country and internationally have been impacted negatively by this trend.
Warner Bros. Pictures did not specify how long these “Block Party Edition” screenings will run. Per Variety, “The Minecraft Movie” has grossed over $816 million globally and is currently the biggest Hollywood movie of the year.
