- The appearance of the chicken jockey in the Minecraft movie has become a meme
- It’s causing chaos in theater screenings
- Director Jared Hess has now weighed in
Fans of A Minecraft Movie have gone crazy for a scene involving a chicken jockey during the film. It’s become a meme – and now the director has had his say on it.
We encounter the chicken jockey when Jack Black’s character, Steve, and Jason Momoa’s character, Garrett Garrison, attempt to distract the bad guys. To do this, they face off against a Minecraft chicken in a boxing ring.
Read more: What is the Minecraft movie ‘chicken jockey’ trend?
It appears they just have to battle a cube-shaped chicken, but then an equally square baby zombie appears and climbs on the chicken’s back. Essentially, he’s riding the chicken like a horse, prompting Black to yell “CHICKEN JOCKEY!” Chicken jockeys are a part of the original Minecraft game.
During screenings of the film, the line has prompted a chaotic reaction. Footage has emerged on social media of audience members leaping to their feet, climbing on their friends’ shoulders and even throwing entire buckets of popcorn. In some cases, cinema operators have called police.
Other cinemas have taken stricter action, sometimes posting warnings to anyone thinking of buying tickets. Others have prohibited the entry of unaccompanied minors or large groups of teenage boys.
“I’m just glad people are making memories with their friends and families”
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Hess said he was taking it in good humor.
“It’s weird when you’re having too much fun and the cops get called,” he 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.”
Read more: Director explains Technoblade Minecraft movie scene
Hess sensed that the chicken jockey scene would end up catching on with the audience. His son returned from college for spring break a couple of weeks before the film got into cinemas and he said that his friends were walking round their dorm saying “Chicken jockey!” to each other.
“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,” Hess said “It’s just a bonanza.”
“I think people are starved for that experience”
Hess suggested the chicken jockey moment was almost like a child-friendly version of the chaotic midnight screenings of the Rocky Horror Picture Show decades ago. He pointed out that it represents people’s craving for more memorable real-life experiences away from the digital world.
Read more: A Minecraft Movie reviews: Is it any good?
“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,” he said. “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.”
