'Minecraft' Movie Viewers Trash Theaters Amid Chicken Jockey TikTok Trend

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — The viral "chicken jockey" TikTok trend recently brought chaos to a metro Atlanta theater when the popular "A Minecraft Movie" led to fans throwing drinks, popcorn, igniting fireworks and more.

The film, starring actors Jack Black and Jason Momoa, is based on the well-liked video game that incorporates building and mining. "A Minecraft Movie" gathered audiences both nationally and internationally after being released on April 4.

The Warner Bros. film has grossed $720 million combined, according to Box Office Mojo. It has played in more than 4,200 theaters.

But the "chicken jockey" trend, based on one of the film's dueling characters, has gotten viewers riled up, according to reports. In the movie, Momoa's character fights the Chicken Jockey, a devious child who rides a chicken, while the crowd throws things.

In the theater audience, the Athens Banner-Herald reported inspired viewers have thrown buckets full of popcorn and soda, shot fireworks, danced with a live chicken and shouted and clapped.

The Springs Cinema and Taphouse, located at Roswell Road in Sandy Springs, shared a video of what appears to be a trashed theater. Popcorn was scattered across the floor with toppled buckets.

"Please don’t ruin our theater and the movie experience for other guests just for imaginary internet points. Real employees have to clean up this nonsense. Enjoy Minecraft, but not like this," The Springs Cinema urged attendees in a recent Instagram post.

Theater staffer Alexi Alvear told Fox 5 Atlanta that it took three hours to clean up the mess.

"It was horrific," Alvear said in the Fox 5 report, which noted shattered glass was part of the damage.

The Springs Cinema owner Brandt Gully told the news outlet ICEEs were thrown at the movie screen. The theater called police, but several people involved fled through an exit, Fox 5 reported.

"It’s a good film that people are enjoying," Gully said in the report. "They just need to enjoy it the right way."

Black, who plays "Minecraft's" main character Steve, has spoken against the viral trend, while director Jared Hess seemed to find it amusing in an Entertainment Weekly report.

"It's weird when you're having too much fun and the cops get called," Hess told Entertainment Weekly. "It's funny because I think it's just literally cheering and throwing popcorn, which is so funny to me that cops are getting called for popcorn. Yeah, it's hilarious. I've seen so many funny videos. It's great, especially when people are climbing on their friends' shoulders and standing up and cheering for those moments. It's like this crazy anticipation. But, man, I'm just glad people are making memories with their friends and families."

Black, in costume, went to a movie theater to encourage viewers not to participate in "absolutely no chicken jockeys," Entertainment Weekly reported.

The messy trend is not limited to metro Atlanta theaters. It has also happened at theaters in Florida, New Jersey and Utah.

Sodas and popcorn were thrown on people while people chicken fought in front of the big screen in Heber City, Utah, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

In Florida, the Regal Theater at Oviedo Mall sent a message about being respectful in theaters. It read in part: "... A recent TikTok challenge associated with the Minecraft movie has led to disruptive behavior during showings—including shouting, and throwing candy, money, popcorn and drinks — which not only disturbs fellow moviegoers, but also leaves behind big messes for theater staff to clean up. Most concerning of all, this past weekend we saw damage done to one of our newly renovated theaters—just days after we soft-opened them.

"While some theaters around the country have already implemented a 'no unaccompanied minors' policy for this film, we haven’t reached that point… but we are getting close," Regal's statement continued. "So, this is a heartfelt appeal to parents, teens and families in our Oviedo community: Please help us preserve the theater experience we all love. If you’re bringing your kids or dropping them off, take a moment to remind them about respecting the space, the staff and the experience of others. ..."

It was not immediately known if The Springs Cinema has established its own policy about unaccompanied minors.