A Minecraft Movie Director Says It’s ‘Hilarious’ Police Are Called on Rowdy Audiences: ‘So Many Funny Videos’

“It’s weird when you’re having too much fun and the cops get called,” said director Jared Hess, adding, “I’m just glad people are making memories”

Jared Hess is weighing in on the notoriously rowdy reactions to his recently released box-office hit, A Minecraft Movie.

The director spoke with Entertainment Weekly following the film’s record-breaking opening weekend, where he addressed the disruptive behavior being reported at some screenings, often during the movie’s chicken-jockey scene. In at least one instance, police were called to the scene.

“It’s weird when you’re having too much fun and the cops get called,” Hess, 45, told EW. “It’s funny because I think it’s just literally cheering and throwing popcorn, which is so funny to me that cops are getting called for popcorn. Yeah, it’s hilarious.”

“I’ve seen so many funny videos,” said the Napoleon Dynamite filmmaker. “It’s great, especially when people are climbing on their friends’ shoulders and standing up and cheering for those moments.”

“It’s like this crazy anticipation,” Hess continued. “But, man, I’m just glad people are making memories with their friends and families.”

Cinemas have warned moviegoers to avoid “disruptive behavior” at screenings of A Minecraft Movie after a social-media trend and apparent meme has led to a largely vocal audience reaction during screenings — and in one instance captured on TikTok, police involvement.

Following the film’s release on April 4, audiences have gone viral for applauding scenes that include references to the popular 2011 video game the film is based on, including one scene in particular where Jack Black’s character Steve says the phrase, “chicken jockey.”

The chicken-jockey scene itself, which partially appeared in the movie’s trailer, features Black’s Steve and Jason Momoa’s character Garett Garrison in a boxing ring, where a baby zombie can be seen riding a chicken — a rare occurrence in the Minecraft video game.

As a result of the line itself already becoming a popular meme ahead of A Minecraft Movie’s release, young audience members around the world are now filming themselves and their fellow moviegoers reciting and reacting to the phrase, “chicken jockey.”

On Sunday, April 6, the New Jersey-based Township Theatre shared a statement to Facebook declaring minors attending screenings of A Minecraft Movie moving forward would need to be “accompanied by a parent or responsible adult” after what it described as “an unfortunate situation” that occurred during a screening on Saturday, April 5.

“A large group of unsupervised boys — believed to be from Waldwick — engaged in completely unacceptable behavior, including vandalism,” the theater wrote on its Facebook page. “We also received multiple complaints from other moviegoers who were trying to enjoy the film with their families. Video footage of the incident has been obtained.”

As a result of the apparent incident, the theater wrote that “unaccompanied groups of boys will not be admitted” to future screenings of A Minecraft Movie, which dominated theaters and made nearly $163 million at the North America box office during its first weekend.

Though he didn’t reference a specific scene in the film or a specific crowd reaction, Hess told EW that seeing some of the videos from audiences has “been so bananas” for him.

“It’s been way too fun. People are sending me these really hilarious speeches that a lot of teenagers are giving right before the movie. It’s so hysterical, man. I’m staying up way too late,” he added.

A Minecraft Movie is in theaters now.