OVIEDO, Fla. – The Oviedo Mall is calling on the community to help preserve the traditional magic of the moviegoing experience after a recent surge of disruptive behavior started as a result of a TikTok challenge.
One scene in the movie, in particular, features Jack Black’s character yelling, “Chicken jockey!” after a Minecraftian zombie child appears atop a square-headed chicken.
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The challenge encourages viewers to shout, throw candy, money, popcorn, and drinks during showings of the film, disrupting fellow moviegoers and creating large messes for theater staff.
The mall has a partnership with Regal Cinemas and has issued a heartfelt appeal to parents, teens and families to maintain a respectful environment.
While some theaters nationwide have already adopted a “no unaccompanied minors” policy for the film, Oviedo Mall has not yet implemented such measures but said it is considering it as the situation escalates, according to Josh Gunderson, director of marketing and events for the mall.
The "Minecraft” movie has been an unexpected box office success, surpassing $550 million worldwide after just two weeks in theaters. The film has become the highest-grossing Hollywood release of 2025 so far, underscoring its widespread popularity despite some disruptive audience behavior.
In a statement posted to Instagram, mall management emphasized the importance of community cooperation: “Please help us preserve the theater experience we all love. If you’re bringing your kids or dropping them off, take a moment to remind them about respecting the space, the staff, and the experience of others.”
Despite the issues from theater management, the excitement around the film has not gone unnoticed by its creators.
“It’s been incredible to see how passionate and creative the fans are getting about the Minecraft movie,” said director Peter Sollett. “That energy and enthusiasm bring the world of Minecraft to life beyond the screen, and it’s a joy to know that people of all ages are looking forward to sharing this experience together.”
Black, even made an appearance pleading with guests from behind a black curtain to not throw popcorn or get rowdy, but is then seen emerging for guests to see, hoping to get those in attendance to abide by the rules.
Regal Cinemas has announced a special “Chicken Jockey” viewing day at participating locations on April 20, encouraging fans to enjoy the movie in a fun, respectful environment.
