As much as the overall success of “A Minecraft Movie” has taken many industry pundits by surprise, what’s perhaps even more confounding is the intense reaction to the film going on inside theaters across the country. Quickly establishing itself as the “Chicken Jockey” trend, fans have been recording themselves freaking out upon the appearance of a unique figure from the original video game. Often this will involve kids throwing popcorn and climbing on their friends’ shoulders in revelry — nothing too dissimilar from what takes place at many midnight screenings.
While theater owners are having to get creative in convincing their clientele not to lose their minds amidst showings, the director of “A Minecraft Movie,” Jared Hess, is coming out in support of the trend. Speaking in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Hess shared how he felt kids deserved to let loose rather than have the police get involved, as many seem to wish.
“It’s weird when you’re having too much fun and the cops get called,” Hess said. “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.”
Not having to directly deal with the mess that’s left behind by these audiences, Hess has been able to revel in the outpouring of support the film has received instead. Many continue to post videos from scenes playing in theaters and Hess has been watching all of them.
“It’s been so bananas. It’s been way too fun,” he said. “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.”
Ironically, Hess was more annoyed by the concept of a “Chicken Jockey” trend before the movie came out, as his college-aged son, Elliot, would not stop shouting it during his time at home. Apparently it had already become a popular trend on campus due to students playing the video game.
“My wife and daughters were like, ‘Elliot! Be quiet! We’re so sick,’ because he was quoting ‘chicken jockey’ all the time… but [we] had no clue that it would then evolve into what’s been happening at theaters,” Hess told EW. “It’s just a bonanza.”
“A Minecraft Movie” is currently in theaters from Warner Bros. Pictures.
