Shouting, cheering and clapping at Minecraft movie

[netherite]

I'm actually on the fence about how I feel so rather than aibu I guess I'm just wondering what others think/thought.

Took DS (6) to the Minecraft movie tonight - this isn't a question about taste or quality of the film! Obviously Minecraft is enjoyed by a wide range of ages, and in particular there were large groups of teenage boys there, I'd say between 13 and 17 at a guess. They were generally polite in any contact (Ie; saying excuse me to get past etc) but when the film started, every time there were particular references there would be loud cheering, shouting, clapping and repeating the line - to the point of not being able to hear the film. I had briefly seen reference to this online and a friend who took their child to a different cinema also experienced it previously. I guess it probably happened about 15 times throughout the movie.

Now on the one hand, it was a bit of fun, they've paid their money too and it was an experience - I guess similar in vein to Rocky Horror audience.

On the other, there were lots of children around my D's age and some (D's included) were quite startled, upset and didn't understand why people were doing this - some left early, some were tearful and for D's it definitely spoilt his evening a bit.

I don't really know what a solution would be to make it so both groups enjoy it, but I think ultimately I'm a bit annoyed. Have others experienced this and what did you think? (For the poll purposes - iabu would be it's fine people are just having fun, ianbu would be that it's a bit annoying and antisocial

Go when the teenagers are still in bed. It’s very hyped right now, Minecraft was obviously a big thing when they were younger.

I would just put it down to bad timing.

Having said that, sorry your DS was startled, maybe the cinema is not the best environment for him, it can be very noisy and unpredictable at the best of times.

I think anything apart from a quiet chuckle or gasp is unacceptable at the cinema!

I'm sorry that your DS was startled by it. We went to see it today and there was a lot of clapping and cheering but it made for a great atmosphere, everyone was having a great time. It wasn't that disruptive but a member of cinema staff made an announcement at the start that people would be removed if it got too rowdy so I think it probably wasn't as bad as it might have been.

Quite the mixed bag then! I can see more and more on social media people being bothered by it, so it's definitely wider spread. It's a real shame that some groups have taken it way too far and caused actual damage. I saw a comment from one woman that groups had been throwing cups and one had hit her.

To be fair to ds - he's been going to the cinema since he was 4 (he's nearly 7 as well, I appreciate the comments about the game rating, just clarifying that he's not a young 6) and has no issues with the noise of the film/can sit perfectly well through a film no issues, it was the sudden outbursts that startled him and he was annoyed he couldn't hear for those bits.

It also just happened to be teenage boys I noticed - nothing to say the girls would be different.

There were staff in the foyer, trying to upsell food and drink at the serve yourself machines. They ignored the kids making a noise.

Oh and yes, people at the back threw things in our cinema too. Looked like empty cups from where I was sitting.

I went today with my DD8 and DD10. I didn’t know about the clapping before I went. The girls enjoyed the audience interaction and liked joining in. I thought it was fun! I loved the movie too, a real fun watch!

I love this! It's not often you get this in films so I'd enjoy it and hope my DS felt excited too.

I remember people clapping and interacting during: Independence Day, Snakes on a Plane, Titanic, etc.

Yeah, go for it, I mean it's hardly Citizen Kane so it couldn't make the experience any worse?

My 12 year old went with her 14 year old friend. She said this happened too. She said the film was so bad it was good. She basically said it was some bloke just naming all the Minecraft things!! I think something has been on tik tok to have encouraged this. My DD didn’t say it ruined anyone’s viewing though. Just that it was a bit random.

I know you didn’t mean to be funny but I find this hilarious.

A quiet chuckle or a gasp?

I can’t tell if you’re super uptight or typically see dull movies.

I took a bunch of 11 year old girls on Friday. The theatre was packed with kids of all ages. It was interactive with clapping, laughing, and the odd bit of dialogue chorused. No one was out of control, or a nuisance. Everyone gathered up their rubbish. I didn’t know it was a TikTok thing. To me it was a shared, fun experience of a hammy, silly film, and we all enjoyed ourselves.

Agree with this.

The problem is how does the cinema define what is interactive with this film? A singalong version of a film is pretty obvious what it means. But the behaviour during Minecraft film is being fuelled by TikTok with audience being encouraged to be disruptive, so in less extreme ways by clapping and cheering at various points but now in some showings more extreme behaviour which people then film to share on SM.

My son's aged 6 and 9 were so excited to see this movie so would have hated for it to be ruined for them. I took them early on Sunday morning and there were only young kids there, hardly any teens. Very peaceful showing which was a pleasant surprise!!

This happened when I saw Barbie.

The difficulty is the mismatch of how people want to enjoy this type of experience. We see it with Wicked and with musicals in the theatre. Some people want it as an interactive singalong experience and others want to sit in silence and enjoy. Neither is wrong. Maybe venues need to advertise specific showings as specific things ie Audience Participation and Non Audience Participation. There used to be specific singalong showings of films which I loved.

@helpfulperson theatres don’t normally want the audience singing/dancing along until you get to the encores

Not generally no but there are musicals and films that are put on with express intention that the audience will sing along and are great fun. If some performances of a musical were listed as feel free to sing along and others as sing and you will be asked to leave that would work.

My DS (11) went to see it on Saturday with a group of friends. He said they joined in with “Flint and steel!” “Release!” and “chicken jockey!” parts, and clapped and cheered at the Technoblade tribute. That’s all. They had a blast.

The film is meaningless (and so i imagine unenjoyable) without familiarity with the game. Cheers and clapping at our viewing too, but DSs 9&12 loved all of it. In jokes were great :)

Singing along at a live theatre event (unless explicitly designated as such) a TOTAL no-no (IMHO)

We just saw it at the cinema and the behaviour of people in there was shocking. Shouting out, videoing, shining torches around the walls and talking loudly throughout. Was very odd!

I've seen people mention the clapping and cheering on Facebook over the weekend, I'm guessing it must be a think the kids all know about? I'm taking the kids tomorrow, so we'll see!

I went to see Six at the cinema yesterday, never been to event cinema and wasn't sure how people would behave. Thankfully nobody sang along, though I know the lyrics so well I think I was singing along in my head

We went yesterday with 4 kids from 5-11. It was an early showing so full of little kids. The 5yo found it a bit too scary with the fighting so they (niece and sister) left in the middle but other niece and my 2 were ok.
There was no shouting out or clapping during our film but at the end there was lots of clapping and cheering. Both me and the kids were a bit shocked and one of the kids said “it’s only Minecraft, we’re not at the theatre!”. I said it was a bit odd too but whatever. There was clapping when we watched wicked at the cinema but that was a bit different to Minecraft. Must be whatever you’re referring to. Thought it was odd!

We saw it yesterday and the clapping and cheering added so much to the atmosphere - it was brilliant.

It’s a really stupid, silly film but very funny (Jason Mamoa and Jack Black man sandwich anyone?!)

Our DC loved the clapping and joined in, and it was all done with good timing and in good humour.

It isn’t just children being selfish and disruptive - they are celebrating a film that is iconic to them.