Latest news with #ChickenJockey
The Verge
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Well, soon we will, at least. Warner Bros. has confirmed that
We've got Chicken Jockey at home. A Minecraft Movie will be available digitally on May 13th, though there's no word on when it might hit streaming platforms.
The Verge
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Posted May 8, 2025 at 8:21 AM EDT 0 Comments / 0 New
We've got Chicken Jockey at home. Well, soon we will, at least. Warner Bros. has confirmed that A Minecraft Movie will be available digitally on May 13th, though there's no word on when it might hit streaming platforms. Lose your chicken-jockeying mind with #MinecraftMovie - available on Digital 5/13! — A Minecraft Movie (@AMinecraftMovie) May 7, 2025
Los Angeles Times
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
How ‘Minecraft' and ‘Sinners' went viral in completely different ways
Aside from their commercial prowess, 'A Minecraft Movie' and 'Sinners' don't seem to have much in common. One is a PG-rated, special effects-heavy comedy based on a video game with a huge fan base, and the other is an original Ryan Coogler-directed, R-rated period thriller with vampires. However, both went viral online in ways that drove their success at the box office, in a boon to struggling theater owners and the studio that backed both projects, Warner Bros., which was in dire need of a pair of wins after a rough several months. 'Minecraft,' co-produced by Legendary with a reported production budget of $150 million, has grossed $816 million worldwide, while the acclaimed $90-million 'Sinners' has collected $162 million. The latter film grossed $45 million domestically during its second weekend, a drop of only 6% from its opening — a clear sign that the movie has become a must-see. The common thread is that both films created a wave of excitement on social media that the studios were able to capitalize on to create a cultural moment. With 'A Minecraft Movie,' for example, screenings took on a 'Rocky Horror Picture Show'-like atmosphere for Gen Z moviegoers, with audiences shouting lines back to the screen and videos of the mayhem taking over TikTok. (If the phrases 'Chicken Jockey' and 'I am Steve' mean nothing to you, it's probably easier to Google it than to have me explain.) The madness in the auditoriums has understandably irked theater operators and unsuspecting patrons, especially when one attendee brought a live chicken into a showing. Nonetheless, it has clearly contributed to the film's popularity, and Warner Bros. and Legendary are cashing in on the momentum. On Monday, the studios announced a series of 'Block Party Edition' screenings, encouraging fans to sing and talk during the movie. For 'Sinners,' the tenor of the reactions have been far different but were no less helpful for the box office. The company was able to lean on the enthusiasm and raw, emotional responses that moviegoers, including social media influencers, were having to the film. None of this was expected, said Warner Bros. marketing co-lead Christian Davin. But it helped expand the audiences beyond people who were already fans of the 'Minecraft' game, Coogler, 'Sinners' star Michael B. Jordan and horror movies. 'At the outset of 'Minecraft,' did we think that people were gonna be screaming 'Chicken Jockey' back to the screen on opening weekend? Absolutely not,' Davin said. 'At the outset of 'Sinners,' did we think that there was going to be this entire discourse on TikTok about various scenes? … But as we started to see those things, we started to fan the flames.' The two have key lessons for marketers as they contend with intense competition for audiences' attention and the unique interests and habits of younger consumers, which few people in Hollywood seem to understand. At a time when audiences' attention spans are short and constantly pulled in multiple directions, studios have to work harder than ever, especially in the last days of the campaign, executives said. The Gen Z audience — so crucial to 'A Minecraft Movie's' performance — is suspicious of anything that feels overly corporate or inauthentic, which can pose challenges for marketing teams. This was certainly the case for the early 'Minecraft' campaign, which got off to a rocky start. The first teaser trailer was pilloried online by fans of the game, who were fiercely protective of the property. 'Minecraft,' after all, is a game that rewards creativity, so players tend to feel a sense of ownership. What are you doing to our thing? the message seemed to be. So the studios had to adjust. The second trailer included a cheeky intro ('Minecraft trailer, take two'), which acknowledged the misstep. From there, fans started to come around, sometimes begrudgingly. A key factor, executives said, was the involvement of Mojang Studios, the Stockholm-based developer behind 'Minecraft,' which promoted the movie heavily, including with activations in the game itself. From the start with both 'Minecraft' and 'Sinners,' it was all about listening to the audience and being willing to adapt, said Warner Bros. Pictures global marketing co-lead Dana Nussbaum. Another instance was the introduction of a Lava Chicken 'menu hack' at McDonald's through the companies' co-branding initiative (again, if you know, you know). 'The audience will tell you every single time,' Nussbaum said. 'And I think as long as you're listening and you're unafraid of being flexible, that's where you can win.' Nussbaum and Davin were tapped to lead Warner Bros.' film marketing efforts following the dismissal of marketing chief Josh Goldstine in January, which was widely seen as a risky move, coming ahead of a high-stakes slate of films including 'Superman' from James Gunn and 'One Battle After Another' by Paul Thomas Anderson. The people who made 'Minecraft' — including stars Jack Black and Jason Momoa and director Jared Hess ('Napoleon Dynamite') — understood that the campaign wouldn't work if players felt that they were being force-fed their own game back to them. That was part of the rationale behind calling it 'A Minecraft Movie,' rather than 'The Minecraft Movie,' said Legendary Entertainment marketing chief Blair Rich. Getting the quirky comedy right was also crucial. The 'Minecraft' example is particularly instructive because of what it says about Gen Z, which responded to the chance to go out and celebrate something their parents don't necessarily understand. 'For these fans, the game is such a strong community … They have pride of ownership, and it's their game. It's not some corporation's game,' Rich said. 'And so the marketing had to always draft off of that sensibility.' For both movies, influencers played an important role. Podcaster and movie influencer Juju Green (a.k.a. Straw Hat Goofy), for example, interviewed Coogler for 'Sinners' and promoted the film with video breakdowns on social media. Those moves helped stoke interest among Black audiences and cinephiles more broadly. 'A Minecraft Movie's' marketing strategy leaned heavily on digital influencers, even bringing some on set. Dozens of Minecraft gaming influencers were brought to the movie's global premiere in London, where they had access to talent. The companies made sure to get not just the video game influencers but also general entertainment and family creators. That helped lead to a meme-fueled campaign. One influencer went viral after singing a bombastic parody of 'Pure Imagination' with catchphrases from the movie. It's the kind of thing that works for young audiences. According to a recent Deloitte survey of U.S. consumers, the majority of Gen Zers say they feel a stronger personal connection to social media creators than to TV personalities and actors. Studio executives have been picking over both movies for tangible lessons as box-office revenue overall struggles to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hollywood labor strikes and the long-term decline in theatrical attendance. Are video game movies replacing superhero movies? Does 'Sinners' show that audiences want more original films? One key takeaway is that audiences seek experiences in theaters that can't be replicated at home. 'A Minecraft Movie's' audience participation aspect is an obvious example. That doesn't mean every movie needs a 'Gentleminions' campaign or 'Wicked'-style sing-along. 'Sinners' has this advantage too but in a different way, where audiences are having intense emotional responses in the theater, Nussbaum noted. 'It was an incredibly emotional and visceral reaction that people were having and were wanting to have in groups and in communities,' she said. 'And I think that was what was so rewarding about it.' On-location filming was up 2% last week compared to a year ago. Listen: New music from Julien Baker & Torres.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A Minecraft Movie: Theater Takes Drastic Measure to Stop ‘Chicken Jockey' Trend
While has been running on the big screens for weeks now, it seems the 'Chicken Jockey' trend is continuing to cause trouble for cinema owners. With a big chunk of viewers still trashing establishments on the advent of a particular scene in A Minecraft Movie, one movie theater has decided to issue a lifetime ban on any audience member who indulges in such frantic behavior. In response to a select group of viewers throwing popcorn and beverages in cinema halls during the screenings of the Jack Black-led movie due to the 'Chicken Jockey' mania, one of the theaters has threatened to put a permanent embargo on anyone who tries to recreate the infamous TikTok trend. One Reddit user shared the ban warning on the social media platform. They also wrote, 'These signs were taped to the door of our movie theater for the Minecraft movie.' The said post showcased timings for the film in the said theater alongside a disclaimer. It read, 'Notice to all guests attending A Minecraft Movie: The throwing of popcorn, candy, or any other items inside the auditorium or any area of the building is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. This behavior is disruptive, unsafe, and disrespectful to others. Anyone caught throwing items will be asked to leave immediately and will be banned from returning to the cinema indefinitely. We are committed to providing a safe and enjoyable movie experience for all guests. Thank you for your cooperation.' A Minecraft Movie includes a sequence where a baby zombie accidentally falls on a chicken and starts riding it. This alludes to the 'Chicken Jockey' reference in Minecraft, which happens to be a rare occurrence in the video game. Upon witnessing the scene in the film, many fans reacted exuberantly. Moreover, one viewer even brought a live chicken to his screening. The intensity of such fan responses even led to police intervention in some cases. Hence, this prompted certain theaters to issue a lifetime ban warning for anyone who misbehaves during A Minecraft Movie screenings. In the meantime, the film continues to dominate the box office. It has already crossed the $700 million mark in global earnings. Originally reported by Apoorv Rastogi on The post A Minecraft Movie: Theater Takes Drastic Measure to Stop 'Chicken Jockey' Trend appeared first on Mandatory.
Forbes
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘A Minecraft Movie' Studio Urges Wild Behavior At ‘Block Party' Screenings
A scene with the Piglins in "A Minecraft Movie." Not long after 'Chicken Jockey' screenings were held for A Minecraft Movie, Warner Bros. is encouraging rowdy behavior at an upcoming 'Block Party Edition' of the film. A Minecraft Movie, of course, is based on Mojang Studios' blockbuster video game Minecraft. Starring Jack Black and Jason Momoa, A Minecraft Movie earned $22.7 million in its fourth weekend frame Friday through Sunday to boost its domestic tally to $379.9 million. Along with the film's international ticket sales of $436 million, A Minecraft Movie has grossed $815.9 million to date against a $150 million budget, per The Numbers. While A Minecraft Movie has been very good to theater owners in terms of business since the film's April 4 release, there have also been reports of fans wreaking havoc at showings of A Minecraft Movie. Now, in an apparent movie to capitalize on the over-enthusiastic response to the film, Warner Bros. announced on Monday that a special 'Block Party Edition' of the movie will be held in select theaters and some international markets, aptly named for the film's block-shaped characters. 'Fans across North America and in select international markets can embrace the film anew by singing — or meme-ing — along with their favorite moments from the movie,' Warner Bros. announced in a press release. 'A Minecraft Movie: Block Party Edition! is made for those who yearn for the mines, so get ready to (re)enter the Overworld this weekend! Also in its announcement about how fans can 'experience A Minecraft Movie together in a whole new way,' the Warner Bros. press release added, 'You know the moments. You know the lines. You love the songs! Now it's time to get loose, laugh out loud and belt out those lyrics like a true diamond-tier fan.' Friday, coincidentally, kicks off summer movie season with the release of Disney and Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts*, the announcement of A Minecraft Movie: Block Party Edition! suddenly creates more competition for the latest chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. "Chicken Jockey" scene from "A Minecraft Movie." Before Warner Bros. announced its A Minecraft Movie: Block Party Edition! screenings, Regal Cinemas beat the studio to the punch with its special Easter Sunday 'Chicken Jockey' screenings. In an X post announcing the screenings, Regal Cinemas said, 'Level up your experience of A Minecraft Movie with our Chicken Jockey screening exclusively in 4DX. Dress up as your favorite Minecraft characters, whoop, yelp, clap and shout CHICKEN JOCKEY.' Prior to Regal Cinemas' 'Chicken Jockey' screenings, at least one fan of A Minecraft Movie was caught on camera taking his love of scene to next level by hoisting a live chicken in air during the scene. Directed by Jared Hess and also starring Emma Myers, Sebastian Hansen and Danielle Brooks, A Minecraft Movie is playing in theaters nationwide.
