For many years, the development of a movie about the hit game, Minecraft, had been rumored. But in late 2024, “A Minecraft Movie” trailer starring Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Emma Myers, and other actors was released. Upon the release of the original trailer, many viewers were disappointed by the casting and look of the movie, wishing that the movie had not been made in live action. Despite these criticisms, another trailer was made, similar to the first, and the movie was still made as it was intended to be made originally.

However, in the second trailer, a clip from the movie was included where Jack Black and Jason Momoa’s characters were fighting against a baby zombie riding on a chicken. Upon the introduction of this unexpected adversary, Steve (Jack Black) promptly exclaimed the phrase “Chicken Jockey!”, in reference to the name of the rare mob in the game itself. This clip of Jack Black’s comical exclamation was popularized online and eventually turned into a troublesome internet trend.

Upon the movie’s release, participants of the trend would gather buckets of popcorn and toss the popcorn all about the theater once Steve exclaimed the phrase “Chicken Jockey!”. In some instances, participation in the trend got so far to the point where police officers had to enter theaters in order to halt participation. One participant even brought a live chicken into the theater and raised it above his head as popcorn rained down throughout the theater.

While nobody got hurt in the Chicken Jockey trend, the effects of the trend still harmed business inside theaters. On one occasion in Los Angeles, Jack Black visited a local theater and informed viewers not to throw popcorn during the chicken jockey scene because the effects of the trend were so harsh on theaters. Participants may view the trend as harmless, however, custodians and janitorial workers cleaning up a theater trashed with popcorn will argue otherwise.

Besides the Chicken Jockey scene, fans are also disruptive in other scenes in the movie. The trailers featured Steve exclaiming other phrases such as “I… am Steve”, “The Nether”, “Coming in hot”, “Flint and Steel”, and other phrases. Spectators haven’t been nearly as disruptive during these other scenes, as they have merely exclaimed the phrase in theaters instead of throwing popcorn.

Despite the excitement of participating in the Minecraft movie trend, viewers were still disappointed by the movie’s graphics and overall plot. The film has grossed over $717 million in less than a month because of its popularity.

In conclusion, the Minecraft movie trend has had negative effects on theaters and has gone to certain extremes, such as cops being called and Jack Black having to come to theaters himself in order to halt the troublesome trend.