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 agree. DSS loved feeling "part of something" when he went to see Minecraft with half the school

Yes, usually they get taken down quite quickly.

Anyway back to the original message of the thread. Think we’ll wait to end of Easter holidays to watch it. Just checked and there are no “quiet” showings. Have explained to DS that there maybe shouting and he’s not keen so we’ll just wait. And I’m torn tbh between teens enjoying themselves and my child wanting to enjoy it too.

I feel exactly this. There’s no actors etc there, no one can hear you clapping etc. Unless it’s an interactive showing like Rocky Horror, just keep it down. We went to a singalong showing of the greatest showman and a group of over-the-top musical theatre 20-somethings (so, not kids, old enough to know better) were so loud and boisterous it was distracting and really annoying. Most of the cinema sat and joined in the songs, but this group whooped and cheered and stood up etc, I wanted to poke them in the throat

I can barely stand how po faced this is. Clapping is for infectious good times. It isn't just for approbation. It's for joy and excitement. You utter fun sponge.

It is called an atmosphere - the film makers absolutely knew what reaction the film would get and knew their target demographic well!

It would be like watching a comedy and nobody laughing. I don’t think the film it’s self will be winning awards for its story telling - it is literally a meme film by design for the kind of audience the OP described to react in the same way the OP described

This!

This! Every word.

Just reported too. Boringly unimaginative slurs, but unacceptable all the same.

Anyway, DS1 is 16 and will probably see the Minecraft film over the Easter break and I’m fairly sure he will be right on board with a bit of clapping and repeating the lines. But I can understand why it would be upsetting for little ones. In fact he would have hated it when he was younger! He commented yesterday that all these films have appeared after he’s finished with that phase in his life😆 First it was Five Nights at Freddy’s, now Minecraft and apparently there’s a Bendy and the Ink Machine film in the offing.

I find if you go to any movie opening night especially book/ game based ones the real die hard fans are there and there is a lot more engagement from the audience.

I’ve booked to take my son today so it’s good to know this could happen.

I saw it yesterday. There was some whooping and cheering, calling to lines but that didn’t really bother me. What did was a sizeable minority of people were talking the whole way through which was really annoying and puts me off going back to the cinema for any similar teen focussed type of film.

This seems to be a theme now in so many places ! Singing along with the chorus in shows ,clapping and so on.Teenagers I guess to be excused ,as young and lively maybe .I think as people seem to be going out less now and maybe dont know how to behave?

Adolescence was a hyperbolic tv show. It wasn't real. It's kind of weird to base your view of young boys on a piece of actual fiction based on a complete misrepresentation of a very particular and largely niche internet culture.

"You utter fun sponge" 🧽

Exactly the same with us last night, in Chorley. Perhaps around 60% of the auditorium were culpable and although there was no intimidation from them, they did ruin the experience.

I bet that a Minecraft fan club page online has ignited it.

The cinema was so apologetic afterwards when I complained - although it wasn’t their fault. Apparently, the manager said that it has happened several times that day and the culprits were raucous as they queued for the film too. The Police had even been called out, but there’s little that can be done I suppose aside from stopping the show, as they were not causing malice or damage. It was a shambles though.

You went to a singalong and are moaning about people singingalong? Why? Because they sanglong more than you sangalong and you think this is bad singingalong and they should only quietlysingalong the way you dictate that they should?

Fuck that.

The "A Minecraft Movie" (2025) has a PG age rating in the UK, meaning it's suitable for general viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children, with parental guidance suggested.

• Reasoning for PG Rating: The rating is due to violence/action, language, suggestive/rude humor, and some scary images.

In the UK, a film with a PG rating is generally considered suitable for general viewing, but some scenes might be unsuitable for younger children, and a PG film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older.

So, OP child ds of aged 6, is below this recommendation.

There you go then! Me thinks limited , ie weak, nonexistent grounds for complaint.

@Oblomov25 and just because a film is a PG (or U) doesn't actually mean it's aimed at children.
This was definitely aimed at the teen and older crowd than 6 year olds.

Just going to add, there is very little for young people to do and places they are allowed to go (unless you count the local ‘Spoons). Couple this with the fact that cinemas are seriously struggling to stay open and many chains going into bust - I think it has to change to survive and if adopting the Rocky Horror Show style of entertainment (remember all those lads dressed in tuxes going en masse to watch the last Bond movie, or people dresses as Minions for that one?) enables cinemas to survive and creates a space for 15-22yos to have some good clean fun, I’m really all for it.

Cinemas just need to label showings like they do when they have a subtitled/signed showing for the hearing impaired as ‘family friendly showing’ or even ‘audience participation showing’ so that everyone knows what to expect. My kids were high on the experience last night. They had a blast and I know know where the ‘chicken jockey’ in a jack black voice comes from…

Agree completely with this

Well the politically correct remake of Snow White has divided cinema goers but the Children enjoyed it.

These movies aren't aimed at adults we need to remember.

@Edrospage ok that one doesn't sound good but saying an online group probably "ignited" it makes it sound like it was a pre arranged thing to deliberately ruin a film.
But I don't think it was. The interactive element just seems to be a way of having fun.
Playing computer games such as Minecraft is interactive with online players talking to each other and/or essentially narrating what they are doing.
This film is just an extension of the game really.

It is a trend to clap.

A lot of teenagers have waited years on this film. I'm not excusing the behaviour but I think it brings them back to being a kid.

Personally if my children were overwhelmed I'd wait a few weeks before going.

I remember the 1D film was the same, as expected when it is a teenagers dream.

If groups of teenagers had done this during Schindler's List or 12 Years a Slave, I would have found it more than annoying. In the Minecraft Movie, not so much.

My 15yo went last night, and it was exactly as you described. He and his friends would’ve been exactly like that-polite and “excuse me”, but clapping and cheering at the references. It’s all the quotes they’ve seen on line.
He said the film wasn’t particularly any good but it was the best “cinematic experience” he’s had. Some groups even turned up wearing suits etc.
He did say there was one family with a younger DS and the dad was sat with his head in his hands, shaking his head at all the noise, which my DS did feel bad for.
I think it’s up to the cinema to explain that this maybe the case for films such as this, to pre warn people that don’t want such an immersive experience (for want of a better phrase)
I’m sorry your son didn’t enjoy it and it’s a shame his experience was spoilt. I agree with a PP though, there’s so little for teenagers to do and this really is on the better end of the scale of things they can do to entertain themselves