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

I went with the kids and their friends thinking I'd have a nice nap during it. No chance. Loved the shared experience for all the kids though. Clapping, laughing etc- a whole world they knew everything about.
Surely this is what is good about it? Active enjoyment.. My contribution was.. crying unexpectedly, when the kids explained one of the references. Pink leather man saved the day thank God.

I think Jason Momoa should win an award for being Jason Momoa.

That man is gorgeous.

My partner once told me I have the woman version of Jason Momoa’s hair and I’m still bragging about it.

It's a game my grand daughters love to play not many games interest boys and girls like that. My grand daughters keep chickens in their world. 😊

My DS 14 is going with his friends in a few days - their first cinema trip on their own which is exciting. They’re all really well behaved kids.

I’m delighted to hear that the teens are having so much fun watching it - it’s a movie for them, they have grown up playing the game.

I wouldn’t take a very young child to see it and certainly not to the first Friday evening showing when schools have broken up for Easter.

there are so few things that teenagers can enjoy on their own without parents that are safe and fun activities.

its ridiculous to compare this with drunken football fans shouting on trains.

Same thing happened when we watched it too!

Yep.

its nothikng like rocky horror its noit a bloody singalong event

Neither is The Room. Some movies are just made for this kind of interaction. It’s not Citizen Kane ffs.

Ah man I’m jealous. My husband and I want to go and see the Minecraft movie so much but have been unable to secure childcare for our toddler. I grew up playing it, and DH and I play the game almost every night when our toddler is in bed and when we aren’t playing it we’re watching other people play it on YouTube 🫣🫣

I find it hard to get wound up by things like this, maybe at a daytime screening more aimed at kids I’d find it more annoying but a Friday night showing will have way more teenagers and the film has been designed to be very meme-y, reference-heavy from what I’ve seen as well as cameos from YouTubers that I would probably excitedly point at when they appear onscreen hah. I get the feeling the whole movie is geared more towards the tween/teen audiences who grew up with Minecraft rather than little kids which is a shame for younger fans of the game where jokes may go over their heads etc.

I personally think that mild clapping/cheering adds something to the cinema experience, but then again I am an avid Rocky Horror goer and have been to several midnight screenings of The Room, where people take footballs into the cinema and throw plastic spoons at the screen, so…

Never wished for a like button more. God, our teens can do no right.

I’m obviously a grumpy bastard because I would have hated that and probably would have complained & asked for a refund. At the very least there should be quiet vs interactive screenings. I also hate it when people sing along to musicals or stand up in the seated areas at concerts. Tickets are too expensive for others to ruin the experience.

I must ask my teens what they make of this as they loved Minecraft and will be going to watch the movie.

The more I read this thread, the more I love the thought of these kids all having such a fun time @justasking111agree the world needs more silliness 😄 it's made me realise how uptight I've become!

Same at our cinema. Happened about 8 times, loud and making others miss the dialogue they were clapping over.

Movie ended up paused and a worker came out to tell them to calm it down as people with hearing/auditory issues were also watching and people had walked out because of it. Was my fave part of the movie as I found it extremely annoying and my wee boy kept having to cover his ears when it happened.

I don't have an issue with this as it sounds like a novel way to experience a film and is clearly some teen cultural phenomena that adults are not part off. I think maybe at the point of booking there could be a little disclaimer that the film has some audience participation element so everyone knows what to expect.

The only problem I can anticipate is if this behaviour spills over into other films or performances where its not meant to be rowdy. I've seen this happen at the theatre where people think every show is like a panto and shout along where its really not appropriate to do so. They usually get a good shooshing.

My teen DC went tonight, they said the same about clapping etc. They said that it made it an experience not something they had experienced before. I think maybe, as others have said, it is more suitable to tweens/teens 🤷🏼‍♀️.

Oh FGS. They are teenagers clapping and cheering at a movie, not murdering anyone. Don''t be so ridiculous.

Really?! I feel that’s an extreme response.

Wooping and cheering at a movie with your mates is not in the same league as being pissed up on a train singing football chants or being an Andrew Tate fan

Minecraft has been around for YEARS. Lots of our now adult, teens, and tweens (and parents) have loved it along with the memes and in jokes (which I'd have to work hard to get but would hope to guess at as I have years of context, and I also play with them periodically) As PP have said, it might have been better to not choose the last day of term late showing for your little one. They seem like a group enjoying their experience, not disrespectful. I'm of an age where going to the cinema on a Friday night was a good social thing, and it was only teens and adults around.

It's because teenagers have been playing this for years and love it. Its a big deal for them . It's nice they are enjoying something accessible to them .
6 year olds won't understand or be included in that . They are to young.
It is a kids film but it's a film about a exceptionally popular game that people love like people love Taylor swift

Also, guidance, which has to be applied to each individual circumstances separately is that PG is exposure to children over 8.

I think that’s the thing about going on a Friday evening on release week to a film that has such a following. I remember when Final Destination 3 came out I went to a Friday evening showing on the first night it was released and it was very boisterous. People were cheering the deaths and shouting advice to the characters. I also went to see LOTR extended editions in the cinema recently and there were lots people laughing before a joke or reciting some lines along with it. It was a communal experience

I’m really worried now. Promised DS we would see it once on Easter break (we still have another week to go). He’s autistic and clapping and cheering unexpectedly will freak him out.

Ds2 went with a group of his peers as school finished 1/2 day. He's played it for years, but says the film was weak, a bit naff, baby'ish.
but YABU with the clapping.

Do all teens want to whoop and scream at films? If so, and films are specifically marketed like this, then that is fine.

If only half of them want to, that half are runing it for the other half.

It's not a difficult concept. If your idea of "having fun" stops other people having fun, then don't do it.

Otherwise it's self-fulfilling. It becomes "Oh, nobody minds noise at the cinema" which has become true because all the people who do have stopped going.

DS friend went yesterday, he told me the same thing too so I suspect it’s also some online thing going around