'A Minecraft Movie’, starring Jack Black and Jason Momoa, was released in UK cinemas on 4 April and has broken opening weekend box office records, but it’s also been hitting the headlines for another reason, all thanks to a TikTok trend.
Why is Minecraft so popular?
Since its test release in 2009, Minecraft has grown in popularity and is now the biggest selling computer game of all time. The game is set in an 'open world', allowing players to create almost anything imaginable out of blocks. It was an instant hit on YouTube, where it has been played by the likes of DanTDM, LDShadowLady and even MrBeast, which has only helped the game grow in popularity – YouTube videos related to Minecraft have been viewed more than one trillion times.
Why is the Minecraft movie trending on socials?
Videos have appeared on TikTok showing cinema-goers causing chaos in screenings of the movie; antics include throwing popcorn, fighting with Minecraft swords, and loudly shouting some now-iconic lines from the movie including, "chicken jockey", "I…am…Steve…", and "flint and steel". This trend has snowballed, with one TikTok video showing a rowdy cinema already gaining more than 8 million views. There were even reports of police being called to one cinema in New York to escort some viewers from the screen.
Cinemas in the UK have released statements online calling for calm, after angry parents taking younger children to the see the film complained, with one cinema saying, "disruptive behaviour, including taking part in TikTok trends, before, during, or after a screening will not be tolerated." Not all showings of the film have been disrupted and some of the screenings have even had positive reviews from cinema goers on socials due to the lively nature of the audience.
This is not the first time that TikTok has influenced movie goers, with 2022's #gentleminions trend having similar influence – groups attending screenings of Minions: The Rise of Gru wore suits, carried bananas and clapped in time once the movie finished. But why is social media influencing movie fans to exhibit such strange behaviour?
How does social media influence our behaviour?
There’s a possibility that the copycat behaviour seen in 'A Minecraft Movie' screenings comes from people seeing similar content on their FYP page. As more and more people in cinemas film the behaviour, it continues the snowball effect, giving people something to post on socials to gain likes and popularity.
Trends go viral on social media as more and more people share content that they enjoy. You often see this with popular TikTok dances such as 'chicken/banana', or food trends such as Dubai chocolate, which has seen shops sell out the tasty treat. If something is relatable and fun, it usually makes social media users want to share it, and the more shares, likes and reactions a piece of content gets, the more likely it is to appear on your FYP. This is because each interaction on the platform tells the algorithm more about what you like and what to suggest next. Trends might make people feel like they’re part of a collective, give them a sense of community and help them stand out.
This article was published in April 2025.
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