Two of the biggest films in recent memory, A Minecraft Movie and Wicked, have taken social media by storm— not just for their content but also for how audiences reacted to them, often loudly. Discussion around these audience reactions has sometimes overshadowed talk of the films’ plots or characters in online spaces.
In the case of Wicked, many people have posted online expressing appreciation for the crowd interaction, even sharing videos of audiences singing along in packed theaters. Others have criticized the behavior as distracting, with numerous viral clips featuring people ranting about this “obnoxious” phenomenon.
Responses to the outbursts during A Minecraft Movie have generally been more positive, likely because the antics align better with the film’s irreverent tone. For many, it felt like being part of an inside joke, which enhanced the overall experience. Still, some viewers expressed disapproval, seeing it as childish behavior being rewarded rather than discouraged.
Traditionally, the movie theater has been a place where silence is a virtue. Forgetting to silence your phone and having it ring mid-movie used to be a cringeworthy faux pas, but something is changing.
One possible explanation is that rowdy audiences give people a new reason to visit theaters in the first place. With more people opting to stream movies at home, the draw of a unique, in-the-moment, communal experience becomes a selling point. Interactive audiences offer something you simply can’t get on your couch— unless you invite friends over to shout at the screen.
Another factor could be the meme potential. At their core, memes are inside jokes we share with strangers. Movies often create shared bonding moments— part of why they’re a go-to first date activity. Going to a film to chant, “Chicken Jockey,” might not be what the director intended, but it taps into a desire for a collective experience.
This isn’t the first time a hit movie has gained momentum from its status as a meme. In 2023, many people flocked to the movies Oppenheimer and Barbie, in part because of the viral, “Barbenheimer” meme, which stemmed from people making tongue-in-cheek comparisons between the two radically different films that premiered on the same day.
Whether or not the trend continues is anyone’s guess. Who knows… maybe studios will lean into it and start advertising moments to shout at the screen as a deliberate marketing tactic. If the fad does linger around, it’s safe to assume it will occur more often in goofy comedies and musicals than, say, dramatic war epics. Ultimately, there is a time and place for everything. One man’s annoying audience member is another man’s reason for buying a ticket.
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