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Customers have reported experiencing screaming and disruption during film screenings at a cinema. A Minecraft Movie, starring Jack Black, Jason Mamoa and Jennifer Coolidge, was released on April 4, drawing in family audiences and fans of the video game, Minecraft. However, a viral TikTok trend has brought disruption to screenings of the film, with viewers reportedly shouting and throwing things.
TikTok users have shared footage of young people loudly cheering, clapping and throwing popcorn, as US actor Jack Black’s character in A Minecraft Movie shouts “chicken jockey”. This refers to a baby zombie riding a chicken which is considered ultra-rare in the video game. The global trend has been warmly received by many, including the film’s creators.
Director Jared Hess told Entertainment Weekly the jubilant reaction to his film is “bananas” and “way too fun”. However, some have raised concerns that the trend is disruptive. Picturedrome Cinema in Canada Grove, Bognor, has reported facing disruption from customers during screenings of the film.
A post shared by the cinema on Facebook reads: "With the new Minecraft movie, we understand that people will be excited to watch. "However, we have noticed that once in the screen, we have had a few noise complaints about everyone cheering and clapping during the film. "And as much as we love the enthusiasm, we would appreciate if people were mindful of other customers we have, who wish to enjoy the film in silence.
"We would also like to raise awareness with phone usage during the film. READ MORE: Inside pub after major transformation "It is illegal to record footage of films while in the screen, so to help us, please make sure you are turning your phone off before the film, to not interrupt the film for others. "We appreciate your corporation and understanding for this.
" The cinema added in the comments that it was a "nationwide issue" and it was implementing extra screening checks to tackle it. One customer described it as being like a "football match" with others reporting "very loud cheering" and "screaming" throughout. Charities supporting autistic people have said that the cheering and screaming can result in “total sensory overwhelm”.
Jolanta Lasota, chief executive of charity Ambitious About Autism, said the viral trend “appears to be creating unnecessary anxiety and upset for some autistic fans of the film”. She said: “Many autistic people are sensitive to loud noises or unexpected sounds, which can lead to discomfort and even total sensory overwhelm. “This World Autism Acceptance Month and beyond, we encourage the public to be understanding of the experiences of autistic children and young people and be mindful of how certain actions can affect them.
“Concerned autistic young people and parents may want to research autism-friendly screenings of the film, which are offered by many cinemas.”.
