The Township Theatre in Washington Township, New Jersey, has implemented a new rule for screenings of “A Minecraft Movie.” This shift follows numerous disruptive outbursts that took place at previous showings. Starting immediately, children and teens must be accompanied by an adult to attend the film, which was released on April 4 and has already grossed over $163 million in its opening weekend, marking the biggest box office opening of the year thus far.
Industry analysts have closely monitored the success of “A Minecraft Movie,” which is based on the popular 2011 video game. The film stars Black and fellow D.C. captive Jason Momoa, and it has proven an immediate hit with the elementary school set. A particular scene where Momoa’s character confronts a child zombie referred to as a “chicken jockey” has become a rallying cry for fans. This hysterically manic moment has set off a true freakout among teen girl viewers, creating unsought for mayhem in theaters.
And boy are fans going wild in TikTok videos! They cheer, holler, toss popcorn in the air and spray soda across the theater when the most exciting things happen on screen. Nearly 800 families went on record with complaints at the Township Theatre. There were concerns about how large packs of unsupervised teens would act during these showings.
Theater management issued a statement clarifying their new policy:
“Moving forward: Any minors wishing to see The Minecraft Movie MUST be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult. Unaccompanied groups of boys will not be admitted.” – Township Theatre
The management emphasized the negative impact of the disturbances, noting that “large groups of unsupervised boys engaged in completely unacceptable behavior, including vandalism.”
David Rose, a moviegoer who experienced the chaos firsthand, described the aftermath of one screening:
“Well, it’s a terrible mess. There is lotion squirted all over the place and there’s a row of seats that have been pulled out of the floor.” – David Rose
Even in the midst of all these disruptions, “A Minecraft Movie” is still bringing in the audiences. Jason Momoa himself commented on the film’s memorable moments, reflecting on the scene involving the “chicken jockey”:
“Dude, the chicken’s just like ‘Bawk Bawk.’ It hits its nose. I lost it because they didn’t have that in there when I was doing it.” – Jason Momoa
