Viewers are being shown a warning before A Minecraft Movie as cinemas continue to deal with problems due to a bizarre trend.
While many discounted a movie about Minecraft as something unlikely to be successful, the film is now hurtling its way to what may end up being a $1 billion box office.
Sitting at just over $550 million worldwide, A Minecraft Movie has been a bigger success with audiences than it was with critics, where it received a 47 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
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One thing that has mired that success however has been an internet trend which has led to fans throwing popcorn into the air – something which has even caused Jack Black to urge people to stop doing.
It all goes back to the trailers for the movie, which provided very little idea of the plot and instead went for simply showing off the various different Minecraft-y bits that were set to appear in the movie.
Bizarrely, it featured Jack Black’s Steve simply… saying the names of various things from the Minecraft game.
“Ender Pearl”, “Flint and Steel”, and “Chicken Jockey” all went viral for his pronunciation of them, to the point where they became viral in their own right.
The moment with ‘Chicken Jockey’ led to viral videos on the opening weekend of fans jokingly losing it at the line – something which spiralled to the point where people were throwing mountains of popcorn onto the floor.
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Now it has led to warnings being shown before the film, with a video of one making its way onto X, formerly known as Twitter.
It subtly warns viewers of the ‘Chicken Jockey’ trend before saying: “Remember, be kind, be respectful, and most of all – remember popcorn buckets are not to be used as ender pearls”.
In much less polite terms: “Stop being d**kheads and throwing your popcorn everywhere.”
Jack Black also showed up recently to a screening of the film, saying: “No throwing popcorn! And absolutely no chicken jockeys!
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“Oh yeah! I am Steve. Are you ready to rock? Ladies and gentleman please enjoy, ‘A Minecraft Movie.’ Roll the projector!”
While many have criticised the trend, leaving cinema workers to clean up the mess, director Jared Hess is a fan.
Speaking about how the chaos had even at times led to police being called, he said: “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.
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“It’s like this crazy anticipation. But, man, I’m just glad people are making memories with their friends and families.”
Topics: Cinema, Jack Black, Viral, TV and Film, Film
Michael Slavin