There’s no way groups of teens cheering over a Minecraft chicken jockey is the biggest scandal of 2025. If it is, then honestly? We’re doing way better as a society than people think.
When “A Minecraft Movie” dropped its trailer (seen above), it didn’t just spark curiosity—it lit the internet on fire. And not in a “creeper explosion” kind of way. Reactions to the chaotic, laugh-filled trailer have ranged from excited fan squeals to full-on adult pearl-clutching. Some are worried it’s “too cringe.” Others claim it’s turning theaters into playgrounds. But come on; since when did joy become controversial?
The Chicken Jockey Heard ‘Round the World
So what exactly triggered the wave of eye-rolls and think pieces? A single, chaotic trailer moment featuring a Minecraft chicken jockey (a baby zombie riding a chicken—yes, that’s canon). According to Entertainment Weekly, the scene had teens howling with laughter during theater previews, and some folks… didn’t love that.
The controversy snowballed from Reddit posts about “disruptive” audiences to wider critiques about how the film “caters too much to Gen Z humor.” But here’s a wild idea: maybe that’s the point. “A Minecraft Movie” isn’t trying to be “Dune.” It’s trying to be Minecraft—goofy, imaginative, and completely unapologetic. If that means a few middle-aged moviegoers have to sit through five minutes of kids laughing too loudly, so be it.
Director Jared Hess even weighed in on the popcorn-fueled chaos:
“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. 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.”
And to be fair, we can’t help but agree.
A Theater Full of Joy Beats the Alternative
Let’s not forget: these teens could be literally anywhere else. They could be doomscrolling in their rooms, falling into internet rabbit holes, or zoning out on YouTube shorts until 3AM. Or they could be doing something much, much worse. But instead, they’re in theaters, surrounded by friends, experiencing something together. That’s not cringe; that’s rare.
Hess even told Entertainment Weekly in that same interview, “It’s like we’ve become so isolated on our devices, and it’s just fun to experience things as a group of human beings. I think people are starved for that experience. So it’s fun that they’ve found it in this goofy movie that we’ve made.”
Watching a group of kids genuinely enjoy something without irony? That’s kind of beautiful. They’re not trying to impress anyone or act too cool for it. They’re just… happy. And in a world that often tells them to grow up too fast, maybe we should let them have this.
So yes, going to see “A Minecraft Movie” might be chaotic. It might be loud. It might make zero sense to anyone over 30. But it’s also harmless fun rooted in creativity; and there are far worse things teens could be doing than watching a movie about a video game that lets creators build block towers and laugh over baby zombies on chickens.
Let them live. Let them laugh. And maybe, just maybe, let them have their weird little chicken jockey moment in peace.