Teens Are Going Wild for the Chicken Jockey in The Minecraft Movie, and El Paso’s In On It
What started as a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it game reference has exploded into a full-blown movie theater moment, and El Paso teens are just as hyped as the rest of the country. If you’ve heard shouting, popcorn flying, and the words “Chicken Jockey!” echoing through your local movie theater, you’re not alone.
What Is a Chicken Jockey, Anyway?
In the world of Minecraft, a Chicken Jockey is an ultra-rare mob, a baby zombie riding a chicken, and it only appears in certain versions of the game. It’s silly, it’s weird, and because of its rarity, it’s become a bit of a badge of honor to spot one.
So when The Minecraft Movie dropped its trailer earlier this year and showed Jack Black dramatically shouting “Chicken Jockey!” during a chaotic action scene, it quickly turned into meme fuel. It didn’t take long for TikTok to do what TikTok does best: launch a trend.
From Meme to Movie Mayhem
Now, moviegoers are timing their reactions to that exact moment in the film. Videos from across the globe, including here in El Paso, show teens cheering, tossing popcorn, and losing their minds when the Chicken Jockey hits the screen. Some theaters in town have reported rowdy crowds, with groups of teens literally waiting for that scene just to join in the madness.
TikTok clips of these reactions have racked up millions of views, and what was once a niche in-game reference is now the star of a viral movement.
Theaters Are Starting to Push Back
Not everyone’s thrilled, though. Cinemas across the US and the UK have started posting warnings, asking moviegoers to cut the chaos. Several theaters have gone as far as banning unaccompanied minors or promising to kick out anyone disturbing the experience for other viewers. One New Jersey theater said large groups of boys vandalized the lobby during a Chicken Jockey frenzy, prompting a strict “no groups without adults” policy moving forward.
Locally, while no official bans have been posted in El Paso theaters just yet, ushers are keeping an eye out, especially during that infamous scene.
Whether you're cheering with the crowd or just trying to watch the movie in peace, there's no denying the Chicken Jockey has become the unlikely icon of 2025. It’s another reminder that when meme culture and blockbuster movies collide, anything can happen, even a baby zombie on a chicken becoming the face of a TikTok trend.
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