A Minecraft Movie,” based on the hit video game, opened in theaters this weekend and became a surprise smash, eclipsing the box office openings of hits like “Barbie”—but disruptive behavior by theatergoers has alarmed some cinemas,

Goldstein is optimistic that “Minecraft” will help turn the box office tides. Fortunes have already begun to shift. Prior to this weekend, box office revenues were nearly 11% behind last year and 40% behind 2019, according to Comscore. Now the gap has shrunk to 5.3% behind 2024 and 35% behind 2019.

The viral trend of reacting to chicken jockey will probably keep pecking away given the film’s popularity. “A Minecraft Movie,” distributed by Warner Bros. Studios, racked up almost $163 million in box office receipts during opening weekend. Warner Bros. Studios, like CNN, is part of Warner Bros. Discovery.

The box office smash has scene chaotic scenes erupt in cinemas in the United States and in the United Kingdom.