Minecraft film director on the viral wild ‘Chicken Jockey’ meme and his latest box office smash hit

Dubai: Jared Hess can’t stop scrolling. The Minecraft director admits he’s been glued to fan-shot reaction videos since his film hit theaters—and it’s gotten so out of hand that his wife keeps pleading with him to put the phone down and get some sleep.

“It’s been completely bonkers,” said Hess in an interview with Entertainment Weekly just days after the film's impressive box office debut.

“Teenagers are sending these hilarious pre-show speeches they’re giving in theaters before the movie starts. It’s so funny, I stay up way too late watching them.”

Much of the fan-frenzy seems to center around a particularly memorable scene involving Jason Momoa’s character, Garrett "The Garbage Man" Garrison, stepping into a boxing ring expecting to face a Minecraft-style chicken—only to have a zombie drop from above and ride the chicken into battle. Cue Jack Black’s Steve yelling, “Chicken jockey!” and theaters erupting in chaos: popcorn flying, audiences shouting the phrase in unison, and even cops showing up at some locations due to the intensity of the celebrations.

In case you’re unfamiliar, the "chicken jockey" is a rare mob combination from the original Minecraft game—an undead baby zombie riding a chicken. The moment has taken on a life of its own, with young viewers chanting the line and even climbing on friends' shoulders in the theater.

“I’ve seen videos where it’s just cheering, screaming, and throwing popcorn—and that somehow got the police called,” Hess said with a laugh. “It’s just so wild to think popcorn could lead to that. But honestly, I love that people are making memories with their friends and families.”

And it’s not just “chicken jockey” that’s causing a ruckus. Fans are also shouting along to other iconic lines like “Water bucket, release!” and “This is a crafting table!”—phrases that were already familiar from the trailers but have become full-on rallying cries in theaters.

Set largely in the iconic blocky world of the Overworld, A Minecraft Movie follows Steve (Jack Black), Garrett (Momoa), and their ragtag crew—Henry (Sebastian Hansen), Natalie (Emma Myers), and Dawn (Danielle Brooks)—as they attempt to defend their world from piglins, zombies, and more pixelated chaos.

Hess knew something special was brewing when his college-aged son returned home during spring break and couldn't stop quoting “chicken jockey!” around the house. “My wife and daughters were like, ‘Elliot, stop! We’re sick of it!’” he recalled. “Little did we know it would become a full-blown theater phenomenon.”

The reaction has been so intense that some cinemas in the UK and the US are now posting warnings about attending Minecraft screenings, especially for younger, unsupervised crowds. In New Jersey, one theater even banned groups of teenage boys after reports of unruly behavior and minor vandalism.

Still, none of that has dampened the film’s momentum—it pulled in an astounding $157 million domestically and $301 million globally during opening weekend. Hess likens the experience to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, where the community experience is just as important as the film itself.

A Minecraft Movie is now playing in the UAE theaters now. Expect popcorn. And maybe a bit of mild pop-corn throwing.