In the wake of the film’s release, cinemagoers have been sharing footage of crowds watching the film, with certain moments prompting loud, vocal responses from the people in attendance.
One moment, which features prominently in the film’s trailer, sees Black and Momoa confronted in a boxing ring by a cuboid Minecraft chicken, who is ridden around the ring by another character. “Chicken jockey,” exclaims Black’s character, a reference to the video game that seems to be sending audiences wild.
Several videos captured by cinemagoers show audiences chanting the line along with Black, before whooping and clapping loudly. On social media, many people attested that they had witnessed, or participated in, similar outbursts.
“My theater clapped every time Jack Black name dropped a Minecraft item that was in the trailers, and when he said Chicken Jockey I s*** you not the entire row in front of me gave a standing ovation,” one person shared.
“Just got back from watching the movie myself, can confirm everyone in the theater collectively yelled ‘CHICKEN JOCKEY’ during that moment and it was glorious ngl,” wrote another.
“This is what made me love my experience more, bc even though the movie wasn’t as bad as i thought it was going to be, the packed cinema with everyone shouting, clapping and cheering whenever jack black name dropped something genuinely gave me so much joy,” commented someone else.
However, the phenomenon has drawn staunch criticism from others, with some claiming that audience participation had “ruined” the theatrical experience for them.
The crowd and reactions are the exact reasons I usually stay in to watch films. Severe anxiety, and all that. I love the theater experience minus that, tho.
I hate the trend of films leaving theaters so quickly now because I used to wait several weeks to catch a film past it’s peak and be one of like 3 people in there and it was bliss. Get the best seat, get to enjoy the film without children crying or people on their phones, or the constant shuffling of jackets. Hyper vigilance is a curse.
But… Catching the 10yr anniversary of Interstellar was the second time I’d been at a packed theater where no one spoke and it was amazing. But it was slightly ruined by the guy next to me stinking of beer and cigarettes.
And catching the R-rated release of the animated Killing Joke was the first time. The film with the original voice actors? It was phenomenal despite the packed theater but it was slightly ruined by the guy next to me constantly using his napkin after every bite and every sip of drink. He’d wipe his face, then his hands, then his cup and toss it somewhere. Rinse and repeat for an hour and a half, every few moments. Drove me nuts. The ending being true to the comic was pretty funny to see the crowd, and specifically him, be so disappointed, plus the quick rushes out the theater for parents to take their kids was satisfying too when they realized R-rating meant R-rating.
Catching mystery films at regal or cheap films at AMC are about all I can do because the experience is cheap enough to outweigh my anxiety, but even that’s been a while with money being tight.
To me the theater is now a place for collective enjoyment. The home viewing experience is good enough if I want to watch something in silence, not that I have even a modest set up. The theater is now about having that energy and cheering because it’s all that’s really left.