Here’s a win for the tumultuous theatrical business. The unexpected success of A Minecraft Movie continues to defy expectations, with the video game adaptation crossing $400 million in global ticket sales against a $150 million production budget.
Here’s what. What began as a seemingly improbable concept transformed into one of the year’s most profitable films, fueled by an internet-driven frenzy surrounding one particularly meme-worthy moment.
As many felt, when the project was first announced, skepticism ran high among fans of the block-building game. Many questioned how a feature film could capture Minecraft’s open-ended, pixelated world. The casting choices—including Jack Black as Steve (the game’s default character) and Jason Momoa as Garrett Garrison, a former gaming champion struggling to keep his retro game store afloat—only added to the curiosity.
What happened on screen was the movie’s over-the-top charm and how it won over audiences, particularly through a now-iconic scene featuring Momoa’s character battling a “chicken jockey”—a notoriously tricky Minecraft enemy where a baby zombie rides a chicken. The moment escalates when Black delivers the line “Chicken jockey!” exaggeratedly, sparking an internet wildfire.
Get this, what started as an ironic meme—initially paired with the caption “absolute cinema”—evolved into a full-blown theater phenomenon. Moviegoers began clapping excessively at the line, eventually escalating to throwing popcorn, candy, and drinks in celebration. The chaotic reactions have grown so intense that some screenings have required police intervention to manage rowdy crowds.
A Minecraft Movie‘s success highlights how social media culture can propel a film beyond expectations, turning an unconventional adaptation into a must-see event experience. What’s good, scary is its viral momentum is still growing, and the movie shows no signs of slowing down.