A Minecraft Movie director Jared Hess shares his response to one viral moment that has riled up moviegoers. Based on the best-selling video game from Mojang Studios, A Minecraft Movie follows a group of misfits transported through a portal into the Overworld, a cubic wonderland. While many expected it to do well, the level of audience engagement has taken things to a new level. For instance, the “Chicken jockey” scene references the monster-looking zombie who rides the chicken into battle in the video game, which has prompted crowds to cheer, chant, throw popcorn, and even climb on their friends’ shoulders.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Hess called the experience “bananas” and said he’s overwhelmed by how much fun people are having with the movie, saying that this kind of wild reaction to the “Chicken Jockey” scene is far from what he expected. This is what he said:

It’s been so bananas. It’s been way too fun. People are sending me these really hilarious speeches that a lot of teenagers are giving right before the movie. It’s so hysterical, man. I’m staying up way too late.

It’s weird when you’re having too much fun and the cops get called. 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.

Hess also revealed that two weeks before the film’s opening, his son, Elliot, was home from college for spring break and found out that his son’s friends were already walking around saying, “Chicken jockey!” to each other. The director also agreed with the comparisons to The Rocky Horror Picture Show screenings, where audiences dress up, recite the lines, and celebrate the film in real-time. Although he admitted to never attending a Rocky Horror screening, he sees the connection and finds it incredibly rewarding.

My wife and daughters were like, ‘Elliot! Be quiet! We’re so sick,’ because he was quoting ‘chicken jockey’ all the time… but had no clue that it would then evolve into what’s been happening at theaters. It’s just a bonanza.

I’m just so happy that people are finding joy in going back to cinemas and seeing things as a community, as a group of people. It’s like we’ve become so isolated on our devices, and it’s just fun to experience things as a group of human beings. I think people are starved for that experience. So it’s fun that they’ve found it in this goofy movie that we’ve made.

What This Means For A Minecraft Movie’s Impact

The Power Of Viral Fandom In Modern Cinema

The response to A Minecraft Movie, especially the over-the-top reactions to the Chicken Jockey moment, has become one of the most unexpected moviegoing trends of 2025. The phenomenon has gone viral on TikTok and other platforms to treat the scene like a concert moment, complete with chants, popcorn showers, and impromptu standing ovations. The frenzy has turned theaters into party zones, with audiences reciting lines before they even occur. It is a particularly modern, Gen Z-fueled celebration of cinema, demonstrating how a single scene can burst into something much bigger through online fandom and shared in-theater chaos.

Furthermore, the A Minecraft Movie reactions show how powerful theatrical experiences can still be in the streaming age. Similar to 2023’s Barbie experience, people are showing up in groups, dressing up, quoting lines, and actively interacting with their community. This speaks to how eager audiences are to be back in theaters, experiencing stories together, and how a family-friendly video game movie can become a full-fledged pop culture moment. However, with the Chicken Jockey moment becoming a trend, the movie-going experience seems to walk the line between fun and over-the-top chaos, which has already upset attendees at different screenings.

Our Take On Minecraft’s Chicken Jockey Mania

Why The Movie’s Goofy Chaos Might Be Its Biggest Strength

At a time when franchise fatigue is setting in and superhero tentpoles are not always successful, A Minecraft Movie demonstrates that heart, humor, and fan engagement still matter. The Chicken Jockey scene is goofy, unexpected, and undeniably weird, which is exactly what has brought people together. Hess and the creative team managed to turn Minecraft Easter eggs in the movie into a cultural phenomenon. Whether this leads to a sequel or spinoff, the movie’s legacy is already cemented as a movie-going experience that felt like a party.

Source: EW