A Minecraft Movie’s Chicken Jockey: Scene Explained, Theater Backlash, Director Opinion, and more
A Minecraft Movie has officially become one of the most chaotic—and hilarious—cinematic experiences of 2025, thanks to a surprise viral moment that no one saw coming: the Chicken Jockey. While the movie’s finale has fans buzzing, it’s this one absurd mid-movie scene that’s exploding on TikTok, leading to packed theaters, riot-like reactions, and even police intervention.
The Jack Black–led adventure, which opened to mixed reviews, has nonetheless morphed into a box office juggernaut, with an estimated $300 million earned on opening weekend alone (via BBC). And the reason behind its surge? A tiny baby zombie… riding a chicken.
What is a Chicken Jockey in Minecraft?
In the Minecraft game, a chicken jockey is one of the rarest and most ridiculous mobs: a baby zombie mounted on a chicken. It has only a 0.25% chance of spawning in-game, making it a bizarre but beloved Easter egg among fans. While not particularly threatening in the game, its surprise inclusion in the film has turned it into a cultural phenomenon.
What Happens in the Chicken Jockey Scene?
Despite lasting just a few seconds, the scene has become iconic. Jason Momoa’s character, Garrett, enters a gladiator-style ring to face off against various Minecraft mobs. When a lone chicken appears, he scoffs at the idea of fighting it—until a baby zombie suddenly drops from above and mounts it. This makes Jack Black’s Steve exclaim, ‘Chicken jockey!’ as Garrett then gets thrown against the side of the ring. Just like that, chaos erupts—in the movie and in theaters.
The Meme that took over TikTok and Theaters
The madness really began when the trailers dropped earlier this year. Jack Black’s over-the-top lines—“I am Steve,” “This is a crafting table”—immediately inspired TikTok memes. But “Chicken Jockey” hit a different level. The phrase has now joined the ranks of cinema’s most meme-worthy lines, largely because of Jack Black’s enthusiastic delivery and the sheer absurdity of the moment.
Viral videos have been posted since A Minecraft Movie’s release, showcasing audiences familiar with the memes going berserk. There has been Avengers-level cheering, with audience members jumping up and down and popcorn flying through the air.
The meme took off after the trailer dropped in February. According to Know Your Meme, fans instantly remixed the clip, and ‘Chicken jockey!’ became a pre-release catchphrase. MrBeast even surprised fans at a screening, storming in with a group dressed as Steve to scream “Chicken Jockey!” along with the crowd (via TikTok). Even Jimmy Fallon parodied it. Check it out below:
Theaters Are Cracking down
Some screenings have gotten so out of hand that theaters are implementing new rules—and even calling the police. The Township Theater in Bergen County's Washington Township declared:
"Any minors wishing to see The Minecraft Movie MUST be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult. Unaccompanied groups of boys will not be admitted." (via NBC New York)
Across the pond, UK cinemas are posting zero-tolerance warnings. The Guardian reported that some venues have threatened to shut down screenings if fans don’t calm down. The outlet wrote:
"A number of cinemas in the UK, including Cineworld in Witney, the Radway in Sidmouth and the Reel cinemas in Fareham and Rochdale, have posted notices warning audience members against disrupting screenings of A Minecraft Movie, while the Regent Cinema in Newtown, Wales said it would adopt a “zero-tolerance approach” of stopping screenings if audiences go too far."
Still, not everyone’s upset. Cineworld is capitalizing on the meme with special “Chicken Jockey 4DX” (via NY Times) screenings, adding to the mayhem with moving seats and sensory effects.
What does The Director Think?
Director Jared Hess is loving every second of the chaos. “It’s been so bananas,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “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. The director also credited Jack Black for his dialogue delivery during the scene. Hess said (via NY Times):
“Jack says it with such passion. 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."
The director also said that he thinks calling the cops for throwing popcorn is a tad too much. Hess said to EW: "It's weird when you're having too much fun and the cops get called. 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."
However, he is glad that people are having fun: "Yeah, it's hilarious. I've seen so many funny videos. 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. But, man, I'm just glad people are making memories with their friends and families."
Hess even revealed that his son couldn’t stop quoting the line during spring break, driving the whole family crazy.
Will There be a Sequel to A Minecraft Movie?
Warner Bros. hasn’t confirmed anything yet, but a sequel seems likely. Two end-credit scenes tease possible follow-ups—one featuring Matt Berry as the Nitwit Villager and another introducing Kate McKinnon’s Alex, a fan-favorite skin from the game.
Hess says McKinnon could play a larger role if a second movie happens, but for now, he’s just enjoying the ride. “The sky's the limit," Hess said. "We're just kind of basking in the this one right now. I'm not even thinking about a sequel, even though I know there's a lot of talk about it. So, yeah, we'll just have to figure out what the next chapter is,” he added. (via EW)
A Minecraft Movie is playing in theaters now.
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