SHAH ALAM - We usually think of cinemas as an orderly places where the biggest disturbance might be the rustle of popcorn or a whispered comment.
But the release of A Minecraft Movie has flipped that expectation on its head, as theatres worldwide descend into rowdy, popcorn-flinging mayhem, all thanks to a viral TikTok trend.
The trend, which has rapidly gained popularity among younger audiences, encourages chaotic behaviour during screenings of the newly released film.
Since its debut, numerous cinemas have reported disturbances involving loud, unruly children and teens disrupting the viewing experience for others.
Some incidents have escalated further, with reports of soda spills, fights breaking out and even vandalism. In extreme cases, police have been called to restore order.
A viral video posted by international media outlet @Brutamerica on Instagram captured the extent of the disruption.
It shows audiences shouting lines from the film, tossing food, climbing over seats and even throwing toilet paper rolls through the air.
The most notorious moment? When Jack Black’s character yells "Chicken jockey!", a reference to a rare Minecraft mob. That single line has become a rallying cry for chaos, prompting cheers and mischief in theatres.
According to the New York Post, the situation became so disruptive that a cinema in Washington Township, New Jersey, took the drastic step of banning unaccompanied minors from watching a PG-rated action-adventure film.
Media reports highlighted a number of cinemas in the UK, including Cineworld in Witney, the Radway in Sidmouth and the Reel cinemas in Fareham and Rochdale, have posted notices warning audience members against disrupting screenings of a Minecraft film, while the Regent Cinema in Newtown, Wales said it would adopt a "zero-tolerance approach” of stopping screenings if audiences go too far.
Similarly, UK cinemas such as REEL Cinemas have issued warnings and increased monitoring during screenings. Disruptive patrons risk being removed or facing police intervention.
Some theatres are proactively addressing the issue by warning audiences about expected behaviour before screenings begin.
Other cinemas across various cities have also issued warnings, urging children and teenagers to behave or risk being removed.
Speaking to one of the major local cinema chains in Malaysia, Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) confirmed that Minecraft: The Movie has been screening in local theatres for a week.
According to GSC, there have been no reports of disruptive behaviour similar to the incidents recently seen in cinemas across the US.
Despite the disorder in the US, A Minecraft Movie has proven a box office juggernaut, grossing over USD $163 million on its opening weekend in the United States alone. Its broad appeal, particularly among children and teenagers, has made it a prime target for social media antics that are now spilling over into real-world disruptions.
As the trend shows no signs of slowing, cinema operators around the world are re-evaluating security measures and audience behaviour policies to keep screenings under control.