Hayden Cinema enacts new minor policy following disruptive 'Minecraft Movie' behavior

HAYDEN — Minors must now be accompanied by a parent at evening screenings of "A Minecraft Movie" after several instances of disruptive behavior have left Hayden Cinema theaters trashed. 

“If you are under 18, you must be with your parent or a friend's parent,” reads a social media post from Hayden Cinema explaining the policy. “The parent must be watching the movie with you.” 

Hayden Cinema owner Michael Lehosit explained that the disruptions were sparked by an online trend that involves audience members intentionally overreacting during a scene that features a "Chicken Jockey," which is a baby zombie riding a chicken and are rare to come across during Minecraft gameplay.  

One video, which has garnered 4.4 million likes on TikTok, shows a theater in Provo, Utah, erupting into chaos during the particular scene, with dozens throwing popcorn, popping confetti cannons and climbing onto one another’s backs. One person can even be seen holding a live chicken in the air.  

Lehosit said that “copycat” behavior from Hayden Cinema patrons over the last week led to the decision to bar unaccompanied minors from Minecraft screenings after 8 p.m. The policy took effect Saturday.  

“I don’t want everyone else’s experience to be ruined,” Lehosit said.  

The hugely popular movie has made more than $552 million at the box office and is among the “top five” most popular at Hayden Cinema ever, Lehosit said.  

Seven teenagers were removed from a single Minecraft screening at Hayden Cinema for disruptive behavior last week, according to Lehosit.  

Lehosit attempted to hold special “Chicken Jockey screenings” over the weekend, where moviegoers were welcome to yell, cheer and clap so long as no damage was done — however, those screenings also quickly got out of hand.  

Fifteen moviegoers asked for refunds from Hayden Cinema after teenagers threw popcorn, ice and soda, discharged silly string and confetti cannons and even removed their shirts following the appearance of the Chicken Jockey.  

“We gave them a little bit of grace, but they overstepped,” Lehosit said.  

While audiences of popular movies becoming unruly to this degree is uncommon, Lehosit pointed out that it’s not entirely unheard of.  

Audiences of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," for example, are infamously known for throwing toast in theaters during a scene where a character proposes a toast. 

“This is nothing new under the sun,” Lehosit said.  

Aside from being disruptive, Lehosit said the mess resulting from audience members participating in the trend was creating more work for his employees.  

“These employees often go to school with the same kids that are doing this,” Lehosit said. “They’re basically creating more work for their friends and classmates.”