Minecraft Movie sparks raucous reactions from fans

There has been an "exceptional" crowd response to A Minecraft Movie, the UK Cinema Association has said, with many young fans noisily shouting out when certain characters appear.

Some cinemas have warned that "anti-social behaviour", including "loud screaming, clapping and shouting will not be tolerated", and videos of exuberant reactions have been widely shared.

UK Cinema Association chief executive Phil Clapp said most of the behaviour has been good-natured, saying it was "seemingly driven by the desire of young people to share their experiences on social media". But he asked "those taking part to be mindful of the enjoyment of other cinema-goers".

Liverpool comedian Sam Avery told the BBC that seeing the film with his 10-year-old sons was "honestly the most joyous cinemagoing experience I've ever had".

Based on one of the world's best-selling video games, the film tells the story of four misfits pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld – the place where all players start in Minecraft.

Despite underwhelming critics' reviews, the film, which boasts a star-studded cast including Jason Momoa, Jack Black and Jennifer Coolidge, made an estimated $300m (£233m) globally at the box office on its opening weekend.

Some moments from the film have caused much audience excitement, including the arrival of the Chicken Jockey, which has become a TikTok trend, with some fans shouting and throwing popcorn.

The Reel Cinemas chain, which has 16 sites, posted: "We are aware of a viral TikTok trend related to A Minecraft Movie, and for the comfort of all our customers, we ask that you refrain from disrupting the screening in any way."

Anyone causing disruption would be asked to leave, and "where necessary, the police will be called", the company added.

Branches of Cineworld in Oxfordshire and Glasgow have warned that anyone behaving badly would get ejected from the cinema.

Avery said he was initially concerned to discover "big gangs of lads in in the cinema all together, aged 14 or 15... and they're being really noisy and laughing and shouting stuff out" before the film began.

"Basically I'm thinking I'm going to have to be that dad who tells everyone to shut up," he told the BBC.

But he said he need not have worried.

As soon as the film started, "it goes silent, like the Cannes Film Festival - this incredibly quiet cinema - until Jack Black appears on the screen and says a line from the trailer: 'As a child, I yearned for the mines'".

Everyone instantly joined in while clapping and cheering, he said, comparing the response to interactive screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

When Black's character reappeared about 20 minutes later with another famous line, "I am Steve", Avery said everyone, himself included, shouted it out at the same time.

"Throughout the whole film, as new characters are introduced, there's this cheer of recognition," Avery said.

When it ended, there was a "big round of applause as the credits rolled, something I've never, ever experienced as a British cinema-goer".

Rather than spoil his family's enjoyment of the film, he said they loved the audience participation.

As the film progressed, "more people were getting on board with the atmosphere", he said.

"You know, we're not watching [Oscar-winning 1996 film] The English Patient here, with nuance and character moments... It's a very loud film, and it's a very visual film."

He said there were "bound to be people" annoyed by the noise, but that he and his family were going to go and see it again. "I will be disappointed if it's not the same atmosphere again," he added.

Similar reactions have been happening in many cinemas, judging by videos and comments on social media.

One person who went to see it in the US wrote that "the theater was insane - teens in suits, shouting lines, cheering like it was a concert".

Another said: "That was the wildest theater experience of my life. Most of the audience were middle schoolers and they would clap and hoot and holler whenever one of the meme lines was said or when they recognized something from the game."

Clapp said the movie had prompted audience particpation "not seen since the Gentleminions phenomenon of 2022", when some cinemas banned young people wearing suits, making noise and throwing things during Minions: The Rise of Gru, fuelled by a TikTok trend.

But he echoed that crowd participation could be a positive thing.

"At a time when some claim that young people are now foregoing the cinema experience, it's clearly great to see such a high level of engagement," Clapp told the BBC.

"Our message to those coming along to these screenings would be one of welcome and to please enjoy themselves.

"That said, and while most of the behaviour is good-natured, we would ask those taking part to be mindful of the enjoyment of other cinema-goers and not to create extra work for cinema staff by throwing popcorn around, and of course not to use their phones to record any part of the film."

Cineworld has now set aside a day for "fans demanding a more interactive experience" by launching "Chicken Jockey Screenings" of the film in 4DX.

On 13 April, fans are being encouraged to "dress up, whoop, yelp and clap their way through this block-busting adventure".

Source: BBC