Latest news with #UKCinemaAssociation
BBC News
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Minecraft Movie fans' behaviour 'way too funny', director Jared Hess says
The Minecraft Movie's director says he has been "laughing my brains out" at the trend for audience members shouting out, jumping up and down, and in some cases throwing popcorn in the air during screenings."It's way too funny," Jared Hess told the New York Times about fans' exuberant reactions to the film, some of which have been widely UK Cinema Association this week noted the "exceptional" crowd response to the movie and its characters, but some cinemas have warned that "anti-social behaviour" like loud screaming, clapping and shouting "will not be tolerated"."It's been a total blast," Hess said. "I'm just laughing my brains out every time someone sends me a new video." 'Chicken jockey!' Based on one of the world's best-selling video games, the film tells the story of four misfits pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld - the place where all players start in underwhelming critics' reviews, the film, which boasts a star-studded cast including Jason Momoa, Jack Black and Jennifer Coolidge, exceeded expectations by making $300m (£233m) globally at the box office on its opening the film, Momoa's character Garrett Garrison has to battle a baby zombie riding a chicken on the way to finding the orb that can take him back to the real and Black thought it would be funny if Black's character Steve announced everything that happens to him intensely, hence the "Chicken jockey!" meme taking off."Jack says it with such passion," said Hess. "Everything that comes out of his mouth in the film is spoken with such authority and seriousness, like this is the most important thing anybody has ever heard in their life."I think people just love the craziness of it." With many young fans joining in, the UK Cinema Association's chief executive Phil Clapp told the BBC this week that most of the behaviour had so far been said it was "seemingly driven by the desire of young people to share their experiences on social media".But he did ask "those taking part to be mindful of the enjoyment of other cinema-goers".A cinema in Staffordshire banned under-18s from attending evening showings without an adult after rowdy behaviour at other screenings went viral on social media, while another picturehouse in Oxfordshire warned customers to behave. Hess has been buoyed by the overall reaction, however, describing it as "a true party"."Just the fact that people are making memories at the movies - that's what it's all about," he said. "That's why we do it."I never could have anticipated this level of passion and fun and craziness that's happening."Asked whether he approved of throwing popcorn, he replied: "No-one's going to get hurt from popcorn."Look, when I go to the movies with my kids, it's like a popcorn massacre that happens and they're not throwing anything, but it ends up on the ground regardless."
BBC News
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Chicken jockey: Why Minecraft fans are going wild at the cinema
Have you been to see the new Minecraft film? What was it like in the cinema you visited?The film simply called A Minecraft Movie, has big stars like Jason Momoa and Jack tells the story of four characters pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld, from the best-selling video UK Cinema Association said there has been an "exceptional" crowd response, with many young fans shouting out, throwing popcorn, and cheering when certain characters appear on screen. Some cinema-goers have loved seeing their fellow audience members getting involved. Liverpool comedian Sam Avery even told the BBC that seeing the film with his 10-year-old sons was "honestly the most joyous cinemagoing experience I've ever had".But others feel that all the noise can be cinemas have warned that "loud screaming, clapping and shouting will not be tolerated", and that people could be asked to leave if necessary. Why is there so much audience reaction to A Minecraft Movie? This isn't the first time something like this has happened. Back in 2022 when Minions: The Rise of Gru was released there was a trend for young people wearing suits, making noise and throwing things during the that time social media was said to be the source, and it seems this is also likely to be the case for A Minecraft people have seen others behave in a similar way on TikTok and other social media platforms, it can be understandable that they'd want to have the same have also been lots of memes shared featuring certain lines and scenes from the film, which have helped build up the hype for people before they have even seen the film for themselves. What is chicken jockey and why has it created so much hype? Chicken jockey is a baby zombie riding a chicken! One of the reasons it's getting fans so excited is because it's rarely seen in the game. Most people only have around a 0.25% chance of seeing chicken jockey moment was also teased in trailers so for those who have been waiting for the film to come out for a long time, the anticipation has been building. It's not just chicken jockey that's been getting a reaction in cinemas. There has also been lots clapping and cheering when fans have spotted something in the film that they recognised from the game, or when a new character appeared on has been particularly the case for the first appearance of Jack Black, as the delivery of some of his lines has become iconic, with people enjoying mimicking him. Is there a way to keep all cinema-goers happy? Dad Sam Avery, said there were "bound to be people" annoyed by the noise, but that he and his family were going to go and see it again and would "be disappointed if it's not the same atmosphere again".UK Cinema Association chief executive Phil Clapp has also said he was happy to see people so excited to be at the cinema, and has asked people to "please enjoy themselves".He told the BBC: "At a time when some claim that young people are now foregoing the cinema experience, it's clearly great to see such a high level of engagement."But he has also asked "those taking part to be mindful of the enjoyment of other cinema-goers".Some cinemas have also been trying to find a way to look after those who like a quiet cinema experience and those who want more of an example is Cineworld who have arranged special "Chicken Jockey Screenings" on 13 April, where fans are encouraged to "dress up, whoop, yelp and clap their way through this block-busting adventure".What would you prefer? A quiet cinema or one where you can get involved?
BBC News
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Cannock cinema bans children from Minecraft movie evening shows
A cinema has banned under-18s from attending evening showings of A Minecraft Movie without an adult, following reports of rowdy Electric Palace Picture House in Cannock, Staffordshire, said children would not be allowed to watch the film unaccompanied after 18:30 film, based on the popular video game, has sparked social media trends of cheering, shouting out iconic lines, throwing popcorn, and fighting with Minecraft swords during cinema apologised, saying: "This decision has not been made lightly." "We are aware of a viral trend on TikTok encouraging people to clap/cheer, shout phrases and throw food during the film," added the cinema in a Facebook post."We appreciate you are excited and have long awaited this film, but for everyone's comfort and enjoyment we kindly request that you do not take part in this trend."The cinema said it had taken the decision due to "disturbances" over the warned anyone caught recording or disrupting showings would be "ejected from the screen without refund". The UK Cinema Association said the response from fans to the film's release last week had been "exceptional", with audience interaction driven by "the desire of young people to share their experiences on social media".Chief executive Phil Clapp said most of the behaviour had been good-natured, but asked fans to be "mindful of the enjoyment of other cinema-goers".The Electric Palace is not the first cinema to issue a warning. Earlier this week, a venue in Oxfordshire told people anyone engaging in "anti-social behaviour" would be kicked out without a film - starring Jason Momoa and Jack Black - tells the story of a group of people pulled into Minecraft's famous cubic underwhelming reviews, it took an estimated $300m (£233m) at the box office during its opening weekend. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Telegraph
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Cinemas have struck box office gold – by letting the youth run riot
Anybody hoping to quietly take in a film at the cinema is best advised to avoid screenings of A Minecraft Movie. Despite being almost universally panned by critics, the adaptation of the hit video game has proven a hit with Gen Z and become the subject of disruptive behaviour sparked by TikTok. Young cinemagoers have started leaping up, cheering and throwing popcorn across theatres whenever lines from the trailer are spoken – all filmed and designed to go viral on the Chinese-owned social media app. The disruption has been so bad, in places, that cinemas have started warning punters about their behaviour (especially the detritus they leave behind) and threatening to call the police in the worst cases. 'This disruptive behaviour is happening at almost every showing and it is totally ruining the movie experience of genuine cinema customers,' says a spokesman for The Ritz Multiplex in Cookstown, Co Tyrone. 'And destroying our cinema.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Ritz Multiplex (@theritzmultiplex) A Minecraft Movie, which stars Jack Black and Jason Momoa, took $313 million (£245 million) worldwide in its opening weekend – the highest return since Barbie was released in 2023. It has surprised many that the critical flop has become a box office phenomenon (though perhaps it ought not be that surprising, given that Minecraft is the best-selling video game in history, with more than 300 million sales and 140 million monthly players). 'Cinema is slightly blindsided by it,' says Phil Clapp, chief executive of the UK Cinema Association. 'No one had the first weekend of Minecraft down to make £15 million [in Britain], which is, I think, the third-biggest opening since the pandemic.' Scenting an opportunity amid the chaotic scenes at many screenings, some cinemas are looking to turn the viral social media sensation into cold, hard cash. Cineworld has organised a series of special screenings in which the disruptive behaviour is not just allowed, but actively encouraged. The so-called 'Chicken Jockey screenings', named after a line from the film that sparks delirium, will take place in the chain's 4DX theatres, where seats shake and viewers can get wet and windy. Casey Cohen, the chain's marketing chief, says that the Sunday screenings have been launched in response to 'fans who've been demanding a more interactive experience – where the action on screen and the energy in the room collide'. @the_minecraft_movie absolute limbs 😭😭🍗🍗⛏️⛏️ #kickedout #cinemaworker #minecraftmovie #cinema #fyp #reaction #crowd #popcorn ♬ original sound - Meme Soundboard - DJ Lunatique - Meme Sound Effects The way Cineworld describes it, audience participation is at the heart of the film. 'Minecrafters will feel every buck, sway and water blast in unison, while whooping and cheering together from the comfort of their moving seats,' Cohen adds. 'It is, hands-down, the most fun you'll ever have in a cinema.' It is not the first time that cinema chains have looked to turn a disruptive TikTok trend to their advantage. The release of Minions: The Rise of Gru in 2022 was similarly targeted by young social media users, who dressed in suits and became rowdy to such an extent that many venues banned punters in formalwear from attending. Vue Cinemas later put on 'Gentleminion' screenings of the film, and warned any unsuspecting punters that 'these sessions may include crowd participation and general, obvious levels of enjoyment'. Last year, cinemas across the country hosted less messy but still disruptive sing-along screenings of Wicked in response to audiences insisting on belting out songs like Defying Gravity. If the cinema is no longer a sacred space, where even persistent whisperers are shushed by those who want no distractions, and interactivity is encouraged it may not be long before another taboo is broken: allowing viewers to text or browse social media during screenings. Multiplex bosses will be aware that they are much more financially dependent on the young than the traditional movie-going purists. Of the five highest-grossing films at the UK box office last year, four (Wicked, Inside Out 2, Despicable Me 4 and Moana 2) were pitched directly at children and Gen Z. This is a cohort raised on the idea of 'second-screening' (i.e. scrolling through their phones) when watching TV or films at home and unhappy when they are barred from doing what they want. Phones are increasingly being used in cinemas already, with 11 per cent of moviegoers guilty of checking their phones during a film, according to a 2023 YouGov survey. However, for anybody fretting about the sanctity of cinemas, so-called phone-friendly screenings do not appear to be on the agenda – yet. Even if punters wanted it, studios that are worried about pirates filming the big screen making it available for free would surely kibosh the suggestion. 'On the mobile phone thing there's still a general reluctance to do that, not least because of the piracy aspect,' says Clapp. In its otherwise down-with-the-kids, upbeat marketing bumpf for its special Minecraft screenings, Cineworld does warn audiences: 'You cannot film anything that's on the screen – that's piracy… [and] we will come after you for it.' The suggestion that cinemas ought to introduce screenings allowing phone use is not a new one. Shortly after he took over as chief executive of American chain AMC in 2016, Adam Aron said that a 22-year-old being told to turn off their phone at the cinema was like saying 'Please cut off your left arm above the elbow. You can't tell a 22-year-old to turn off their cellphone. That's not how they live their life'. His suggestion that AMC would overhaul 'specific auditoriums and make them more texting friendly' met a fierce backlash and Aron was forced to swiftly backtrack. For cinema operators, who have struggled to bounce back from the shock of the pandemic and the 2023 writers' and actors' strikes, there is increasing desperation to try and lure back viewers who have become used to watching films in the comfort of their own homes. Last month industry bible Variety suggested (at least semi-seriously) that American cinemas allow audiences to smoke marijuana in theatres, while the eight biggest multiplex chains in the US are investing more than $2 billion to overhaul their offering and make them a one-stop shop for activities and entertainment. As well as the relatively straightforward task of upgrading audio-visual technology, some have installed ziplines and pickleball courts in an effort to tempt people from their sofas. View this post on Instagram A post shared by B&B Theatres Red Oak 12 (@bbredoak12) But allowing people to use their phones would be a step too far. 'It would be breaking the last vestige of cinema being a place where people can turn their phones off,' says Clapp. 'The biggest complaint from cinemagoers is other cinemagoers' behaviour, particularly the use of mobile phones: not just to text but occasionally to hold live conversations in the middle of a film. We don't want to send mixed messages around that and say sometimes it's OK and sometimes it's not OK. Phone use is still seen as verboten' But surely if cinemas are disproportionately reliant on Gen Z to keep the box office ticking over, and that generation regards being separated from its devices as unbearable, a crunch will come? 'There is an attempt on our part to sell that as a virtue: this is the one place where you can disconnect,' Clapp adds. 'There'll be a subset of that generation and other generations who view that as horror, one of the worst things they can do. But it's one of the unique selling points of cinema: it's a place of immersion, a place where you can cut yourself off from everything outside.' Unless, that is, you happen to watch A Minecraft Movie with a bunch of young people.
BBC News
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
A Minecraft Movie screenings spark raucous reactions among fans
There has been an "exceptional" crowd response to A Minecraft Movie, the UK Cinema Association has said, with many young fans noisily shouting out when certain characters cinema has warned that "anti-social behaviour", including "loud screaming, clapping and shouting will not be tolerated", and videos of exuberant reactions have been widely Cinema Association chief executive Phil Clapp said most of the behaviour has been good-natured, but asked "those taking part to be mindful of the enjoyment of other cinema-goers".Liverpool comedian Sam Avery told the BBC that seeing the film with his 10-year-old sons was "honestly the most joyous cinemagoing experience I've ever had". Based on one of the world's best-selling video games, the film tells the story of four misfits pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld – the place where all players start in underwhelming critics' reviews, the film, which boasts a star-studded cast including Jason Momoa, Jack Black and Jennifer Coolidge, made an estimated $300m (£233m) globally at the box office on its opening said he was initially concerned to discover "big gangs of lads in in the cinema all together, aged 14 or 15... and they're being really noisy and laughing and shouting stuff out" before the film began."Basically I'm thinking I'm going to have to be that dad who tells everyone to shut up," he told the he said he need not have soon as the film started, "it goes silent, like the Cannes Film Festival - this incredibly quiet cinema - until Jack Black appears on the screen and says a line from the trailer: 'As a child, I yearned for the mines'".Everyone instantly joined in while clapping and cheering, he said, comparing the response to interactive screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Black's character reappeared about 20 minutes later with another famous line, "I am Steve", Avery said everyone, himself included, shouted it out at the same moments in the film, including the arrival of the Chicken Jockey - alongside Black's accompanying dialogue - have also caused much audience excitement. "Throughout the whole film, as new characters are introduced, there's this cheer of recognition," Avery it ended, there was a "big round of applause as the credits rolled, something I've never, ever experienced as a British cinema-goer". Rather than spoil his family's enjoyment of the film, he said they loved the audience the film progressed, "more people were getting on board with the atmosphere", he said."You know, we're not watching [Oscar-winning 1996 film] The English Patient here, with nuance and character moments... It's a very loud film, and it's a very visual film."He said there were "bound to be people" annoyed by the noise, but that he and his family were going to go and see it again. "I will be disappointed if it's not the same atmosphere again," he added. Similar reactions have been happening in many cinemas, judging by videos and comments on social person who went to see it in the US wrote that "the theater was insane - teens in suits, shouting lines, cheering like it was a concert".Another said: "That was the wildest theater experience of my life. Most of the audience were middle schoolers and they would clap and hoot and holler whenever one of the meme lines was said or when they recognized something from the game." Clapp said the movie had prompted audience particpation "not seen since the Gentleminions phenomenon of 2022", when some cinemas banned young people wearing suits, making noise and throwing things during Minions: The Rise of Gru, fuelled by a TikTok he echoed that crowd participation could be a positive thing. "At a time when some claim that young people are now foregoing the cinema experience, it's clearly great to see such a high level of engagement," Clapp told the BBC."Our message to those coming along to these screenings would be one of welcome and to please enjoy themselves."That said, and while most of the behaviour is good-natured, we would ask those taking part to be mindful of the enjoyment of other cinema-goers and not to create extra work for cinema staff by throwing popcorn around, and of course not to use their phones to record any part of the film."A Cineworld cinema in Witney, Oxfordshire, has displayed a sign warning people that any form of anti-social behaviour would see them removed without a the chain has now set aside a day for "fans demanding a more interactive experience" by launching "Chicken Jockey Screenings" of the film in 13 April, fans are being encouraged to "dress up, whoop, yelp and clap their way through this block-busting adventure".
