Joseph Tralongo is a playwright and screenwriter who approaches storytelling with a deep respect for film’s ability to distill human behavior into meaningful moments. His personal work- i.e. his plays, screenplays, and films- leans into semantic tension, moral ambiguity, and the quiet unraveling of social dynamics- not to preach, but to parse. For him, writing is a slow excavation of truth through craft. With a background in theatre and independent film, he brings a structural precision and dramatic instinct to every film he reviews. Hollywood Insider’s mission to champion substance over spectacle aligns with Joseph’s belief that storytelling should investigate, not dictate.
Jun 15, 2025
Table of Contents
A 21st Century Battle Cry
Battle cries are a palpable component of combat, particularly in guerilla warfare. From the Rebel Yell to “Banzai!” and the ancient Roman barritus, these shouts threw one’s opponent off-guard and/or struck fear into their hearts as these cries signified the battle had begun and fatality may be imminent. Today, a new battle cry has emerged- “chicken jockey.” Only this cry is more in line with the battle tactics of Heath Ledger’s iteration of the Joker, an agent of chaos who “just wants to watch the world burn,” as Michael Caine’s famous line goes.
In the film, a particularly rare figure from Minecraft lore- a chicken jockey, a baby zombie riding a chicken- appears in a boxing ring to battle, and predictably clobber, Jason Momoa’s character. During the scene, Jack Black’s character calls out, “Chicken jockey!”- and the crowd, quite literally, goes insane.
The viral trend sparked by this moment was never entirely innocent, and it has since spiraled into blatant vandalism and, one might say, full-blown helter-skelter.
Remember When We Wanted Young People in Theaters? For years, the film industry has been concerned with attracting younger audiences. It was not that long ago that we were all bemoaning the fact that young people were not going to the movie theater.
In 2017, film data researcher Stephen Fellows noted in a BBC article that although “the traditional median age of going to the cinema was 24” “the idea of going to the cinema seems antiquated to [young people] and it is possibly a generational shift.” The once-cherished ritual of attending the Cinema felt antiquated to them. As theater operators scrambled to find ways to bring younger viewers back, little did they know that the price for doing so might come at the expense of the moviegoing experience itself. What these so-called “screenagers” fail to understand is the empathy and consideration needed for the communal experience of the movie theater.
Variety’s Rebecca Rubin highlights the so-called “social media supernova” surrounding ‘A Minecraft Movie’ as one of the key reasons the film became a record-breaking box office success. While she does mention moviegoers erupting into spontaneous cheers and hollers during certain scenes, she overlooks the more drastic stunts that have become part of the phenomenon. These include masked vandals balancing on friends’ shoulders while sneaking live chickens into theaters, and incidents of vandalism, such as one case involving fireworks. These disruptive acts point to a larger issue: the apparent inability of contemporary youth culture to engage with a movie without turning it into a spectacle centered on themselves.
The concept of audience participation during a film is hardly a new frontier. ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ and ‘The Room’ famously host screenings where traditions such as shouting out lines and using props are an expected part of the experience. However, the participatory activities in these films fall under a more controlled, ritualistic, and almost choreographed form of audience engagement. Whereas, the “chicken jockey” outbursts are truly random and dangerously unpredictable.
Recently, Jack Black appeared at a local Cinema in Century City to make a personal plea- both to the audience there and to audiences worldwide through a shared video- to refrain from engaging in the chaos encouraged by the viral trend.
Similarly, The Room director Tommy Wiseau delivers a speech at screenings of his cult classic. As he explained in a New York Timesarticle, “You can laugh, you can cry, you can express yourself, but please don’t hurt each other.” His warning speaks to an early concern that ‘The Room’’s participatory culture could lead to potential injury.
‘A Minecraft Movie’ audiences certainly need a similar reminder, as there have already been reported instances of physical assault against theater staff amidst the chicken jockey madness. One employee in Wasilla, Alaska, was reportedly “body-slammed.”
According to an article from The Guardian, the Township Theatre in Washington, New Jersey, banned unaccompanied minors from attending ‘A Minecraft Movie’ screenings after what it described as an “unfortunate situation” on April 4. And this issue extends beyond the United States.
For those of us who grew up with DVDs, we likely remember the copyright warning at the start of the film, which often mentioned the potential for jail time. It turns out those rules still apply in the age of smartphones. Pow’s County Times reports that The Regent Cinema, following “a small minority of individuals” who “crossed the line,” is now threatening legal action. It’s an offense punishable by “a limitless fine and up to 10 years in prison.”
These limitations raise a larger question: is today’s youth culture incapable of, or simply unwilling to, engage in a genuine movie experience- where the focus is on just watching the film? Or has the rise of social media, with its emphasis on self-promotion and individualism, completely eroded their empathy or sympathy for fellow moviegoers? Can they truly engage with entertainment- sit down and watch a movie- if they can’t make it about themselves?
A Personal Experience with Self-Centered Moviegoers
Recently, a group of friends and I went to celebrate a friend’s birthday with a matinee showing of the 20th anniversary re-release of ‘Revenge of the Sith.’ I was particularly pleased when we all agreed to attend the afternoon screening, hoping to avoid the loud crowds that would likely fill the later shows. The 2:35 p.m. time seemed like the perfect opportunity for a peaceful movie experience.
However, when I sat down and saw a trio of boys- they must have been between 13 to 15 years old- I had a sinking feeling. And sure enough, I was right. They started belching. At first, I’ll admit, the timing of the first burp with a particularly dramatic line from the movie made me laugh. But then it became excessive, a series of belches that were, at this point, just a hat on a hat. Eventually, I had to tell them, “Look, guys, enough.” One of them sheepishly apologized and explained that they “got caught up in their burping contest.”
In that moment, I realized that their little competition was a microcosm of the larger issue with audience behavior during ‘A Minecraft Movie.’ These kids weren’t just acting out- they were seeking attention. It wasn’t about the movie or the shared experience, it was about being noticed, whether by their peers or strangers online. And in the end, that’s exactly what the viral trends fueling chaos in theaters are: a bunch of kids- blinders on- competing for the spotlight in any way they can.
The real question is: will the Cinema sustain if today’s youth refuse the experience it’s selling- a calm, communal environment where consideration for others takes precedence over self-centered indulgence? As we watch viral trends like “chicken jockey” disrupt the movie theater, it becomes clear that the traditional moviegoing experience is increasingly at odds with the behavior of younger audiences. Will the Cinema, as we know it, even survive? The answer lies in whether youth culture can find value in sitting down, together, in silence- if they can reconnect with the shared experience of Cinema and respect for others in a dark room. Until that shift happens, the future of movie theaters remains uncertain.
Click here to read The Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase’s love letter to Cinema, TV and Media. An excerpt from the love letter: The Hollywood Insider’s CEO/editor-in-chief Pritan Ambroase affirms, “We have the space and time for all your stories, no matter who/what/where you are. Media/Cinema/TV have a responsibility to better the world and The Hollywood Insider will continue to do so. Talent, diversity and authenticity matter in Cinema/TV, media and storytelling. In fact, I reckon that we should announce “talent-diversity-authenticity-storytelling-Cinema-Oscars-Academy-Awards” as synonyms of each other. We show respect to talent and stories regardless of their skin color, race, gender, sexuality, religion, nationality, etc., thus allowing authenticity into this system just by something as simple as accepting and showing respect to the human species’ factual diversity. We become greater just by respecting and appreciating talent in all its shapes, sizes, and forms. Award winners, which includes nominees, must be chosen on the greatness of their talent ALONE.
I am sure I am speaking for a multitude of Cinema lovers all over the world when I speak of the following sentiments that this medium of art has blessed me with. Cinema taught me about our world, at times in English and at times through the beautiful one-inch bar of subtitles. I learned from the stories in the global movies that we are all alike across all borders. Remember that one of the best symbols of many great civilizations and their prosperity has been the art they have left behind. This art can be in the form of paintings, sculptures, architecture, writings, inventions, etc. For our modern society, Cinema happens to be one of them. Cinema is more than just a form of entertainment, it is an integral part of society. I love the world uniting, be it for Cinema, TV, media, art, fashion, sport, etc.
Joseph Tralongo is a playwright and screenwriter who approaches storytelling with a deep respect for film’s ability to distill human behavior into meaningful moments. His personal work- i.e. his plays, screenplays, and films- leans into semantic tension, moral ambiguity, and the quiet unraveling of social dynamics- not to preach, but to parse. For him, writing is a slow excavation of truth through craft. With a background in theatre and independent film, he brings a structural precision and dramatic instinct to every film he reviews. Hollywood Insider’s mission to champion substance over spectacle aligns with Joseph’s belief that storytelling should investigate, not dictate.
Joseph Tralongo is a playwright and screenwriter who approaches storytelling with a deep respect for film’s ability to distill human behavior into meaningful moments. His personal work- i.e. his plays, screenplays, and films- leans into semantic tension, moral ambiguity, and the quiet unraveling of social dynamics- not to preach, but to parse. For him, writing is a slow excavation of truth through craft. With a background in theatre and independent film, he brings a structural precision and dramatic instinct to every film he reviews. Hollywood Insider’s mission to champion substance over spectacle aligns with Joseph’s belief that storytelling should investigate, not dictate.
Joseph Tralongo is a playwright and screenwriter who approaches storytelling with a deep respect for film’s ability to distill human behavior into meaningful moments. His personal work- i.e. his plays, screenplays, and films- leans into semantic tension, moral ambiguity, and the quiet unraveling of social dynamics- not to preach, but to parse. For him, writing is a slow excavation of truth through craft. With a background in theatre and independent film, he brings a structural precision and dramatic instinct to every film he reviews. Hollywood Insider’s mission to champion substance over spectacle aligns with Joseph’s belief that storytelling should investigate, not dictate.
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