In April 2025, reports described a preshow message asking A Minecraft Movie audiences to be kind and not use popcorn buckets as Ender Pearls. It appeared amid reports of viewers cheering and throwing popcorn during the film’s “Chicken Jockey” scene—but the available accounts do not show that every cinema used the message or that Warner Bros. required it.
What did the reported disclaimer say?
GameSpot reported this wording from a screening video: “Be kind, be respectful. Remember that popcorn buckets are not to be used as Ender Pearls.” Insider Gaming reported a longer version: “Welcome to the Block Party. Please remember, be kind, be respectful, and most of all, remember that popcorn buckets are not to be used as Ender Pearls.”
The Ender Pearl reference is a Minecraft joke: in the game, throwing one teleports the player to where it lands. The reminder applied that idea to real popcorn buckets—not to an actual game item. GameSpot explained the reference, while Insider Gaming reported the longer wording.
Why were cinemas warning audiences?
The message was reported as the “Chicken Jockey” trend drew attention. During that scene, some viewers reportedly shouted, cheered, and threw popcorn. The Guardian described disruptive incidents and cinema responses in its April 9, 2025 report. That coverage also noted that some early-afternoon screenings in Manchester were quiet, so audience behavior varied by screening.
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Neither the reported incidents nor the screening video establishes how often popcorn was thrown or how widely the disclaimer was used. Reports document particular experiences, not a representative count of screenings.
How did cinemas respond?
Responses differed by venue. Some cinemas warned that disruptive patrons could be removed or that police might be called. Others created designated screenings where more vocal participation was welcome, provided it stayed within limits. Cineworld advertised its special screenings with the phrase “No mess please, just good clean fun,” as The Guardian reported. A New Jersey theater also restricted unaccompanied minors after an incident. These were venue-specific measures, not evidence of one industry-wide policy.
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The distinction matters: a cinema could set expectations for an ordinary showing, enforce rules against dangerous disruption, or offer a separate participatory screening. Those approaches were not interchangeable, and the reports do not indicate that every theater adopted them.
What happened at Springs Cinema & Taphouse?
In a separate Atlanta-area incident, food and drinks were thrown at Springs Cinema & Taphouse. Owner Brandt Gully told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that staff called police because the behavior was dangerous and families were present—not simply because of the mess. Cleaning took more than three hours, according to the newspaper’s April 15, 2025 account.
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Gully described the balance the theater wanted: “It’s a fun movie. We want people to enjoy it but they have to do it the right way.” His account concerns that specific venue and incident; it should not be treated as evidence of what happened at screenings generally. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the incident and Gully’s comments.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Was this a universal or continuing studio policy?
The April 2025 reporting supports a narrower conclusion: a disclaimer was captured and reported at a screening, while other reports documented individual cinemas’ warnings, enforcement decisions, and special events. It does not establish a Warner Bros. mandate, use at every screening, or continued use today. The reports are historical snapshots from April 2025, not confirmation of current theater practices.
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Box-office figures reported at the time do not answer how widespread the disruption was. The Guardian reported about $314 million worldwide on April 9, 2025, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported more than $279 million in domestic revenue during the film’s first 10 days. Neither figure measures popcorn-throwing incidents or the prevalence of the disclaimer.
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