Zombies on Chickens from the Minecraft Movie Are Driving Gen Z Wild

Surprisingly, the recent film based on Minecraft has turned into a sensational hit. Despite harsh criticism from reviewers, «zoomers» are flocking to see it in theaters. However, there’s a catch: during the fanservice moments, they are causing chaotic scenes.

The movie raked in nearly half a billion dollars during its opening weekend, breaking the record previously held by «The Super Mario Bros. Movie» for the biggest launch of a video game adaptation (approximately twice as much). Yet, the spotlight also shone on a viral moment featuring a zombie baby. In this scene, the character played by Jack Black exclaims «Chicken Jockey!» just before Jason Momoa’s hero battles a zombie baby riding a chicken. This segment, teased in trailers, has sent audiences into a frenzy in theaters, particularly in the U.S. Not without reason.

Viewers, predominantly children, shouted the phrase in unison with the character, threw popcorn, and even removed their outerwear, turning screenings into a full-blown carnival. The situation became so dire that at least one cinema issued a warning against throwing food and drinks at the screen during Black’s line. Videos capturing these reactions spread across social media platforms.

Nevertheless, ABC News highlights that these viral moments are part of a fresh strategy within the film industry. The concept of «clip moments» refers to scenes that can easily be transformed into viral clips for social media. According to Meg Herrmann from the University of Queensland, such instances serve as an «invitation» for reposts, parodies, and memes, which is particularly significant in the era of TikTok-like videos.