Jack Black forced to wade in as A Minecraft Movie theater mayhem continues
Some movie theaters are now banning unaccompanied children
Jack Black made a surprise appearance at a screening of box office smash A Minecraft Movie over the weekend to urge fans not to throw popcorn.
In the movie, Blackās character Steve sees a baby zombie fall onto the back of a chicken and shouts, āChicken jockey!ā The moment has caused theater-goers to erupt into chaos by screaming or throwing popcorn.
For those wondering, a chicken jockey ā a baby zombie riding a chicken ā is an extremely rare phenomenon in the game.
In videos posted to social media, 55-year-old Black can be seen entering a theater shortly before the film begins with a microphone.
āFor todayās presentation of A Minecraft Movie, please no throwing popped corn, no lapis lazuli and also absolutely no chicken jockey!ā he says, as fans in the cinemas realize who he is and he shows off Steveās prop pickaxe.
Last week, the filmās director, Jared Hess, responded to the viral āchicken jockeyā trend by revealing heās been staying up into the night watching videos of fans reacting to that and other moments from the film.

āItās been so bananas,ā Hess told Entertainment Weekly. āItās been way too fun. People are sending me these really hilarious speeches that a lot of teenagers are giving right before the movie. Itās so hysterical, man. Iām staying up way too late.ā
The Township Theatre in New Jersey had earlier issued a statement on Facebook announcing that minors attending screenings of A Minecraft Movie must be āaccompanied by a parent or responsible adult,ā following āan unfortunate situationā that took place during a Saturday showing.
Fans across the country have been so exuberant that one viral video showed police being called to a screening to deal with particularly rowdy cinemagoers.

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āItās weird when you're having too much fun and the cops get called,ā said Hess.
āItās funny because I think itās just literally cheering and throwing popcorn, which is so funny to me that cops are getting called for popcorn. Yeah, itās hilarious. Iāve seen so many funny videos. Itās great, especially when people are climbing on their friendsā shoulders and standing up and cheering for those moments. Itās like this crazy anticipation. But, man, Iām just glad people are making memories with their friends and families.ā
Despite a lukewarm reception from critics, the movie has been a smash box office success, collecting a blockbuster $163 million in its opening weekend domestically, as well as an additional $150 million from outside the U.S.
On social media, numerous fans shared that they had witnessed, or participated in, outbursts over the chicken jockey scene in theaters.
āJust got back from watching the movie myself, can confirm everyone in the theatre collectively yelled āCHICKEN JOCKEYā during that moment and it was glorious ngl,ā wrote one.
In contrast, some cinema employees on TikTok have been urging viewers not to cause chaos in the screenings and to refrain from making a mess.
āTheatre employee here. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE just donāt be obnoxious I worked both opening days and it has been a living nightmare. Nothing wrong with cheering during big moments but donāt be swearing,ā said one user.
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