We're taking the kids tonight. I didn't think I could be less excited for a movie than Dog Man, but here we are.

That was the wildest theater experience of my life. Most of the audience were middle schoolers and they would clap and hoot and holler whenever one of the meme lines was said or when they recognized something from the game. When Jack Black said "Chicken Jockey," the theater… https://t.co/k1ObGM3P9n

— The Kino Corner (@thekinocorner) April 5, 2025

Took my 12 year old son and his friends - great experience for them as they terrorized the theater filled with their peers. When my older son was 12 in 2017 we were in peak marvel era and every few months he had an elite superhero movie to look forward to. Now in 2025 my youngest son lives on YouTube and memes. This is his infinity war.

I had the same experience with kids clapping and cheering like it was a Rolling Stones concert. I had no idea why but just laughed.

TCTTS said:

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That was the wildest theater experience of my life. Most of the audience were middle schoolers and they would clap and hoot and holler whenever one of the meme lines was said or when they recognized something from the game. When Jack Black said "Chicken Jockey," the theater… https://t.co/k1ObGM3P9n

— The Kino Corner (@thekinocorner) April 5, 2025

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laughing my ass off picturing that scene as he describes it.

AustinAg2K said:

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I feel like some of y'all haven't been around kids for a long time. My daughter has been talking about this movie since the preview came out. The only reason we didn't go to the midnight showing is because her best friend wants to see it on his birthday and made her promise not to see it early. This movie is going to be huge.

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I don't see a single post in this thread that necessitates this comment. It's mostly just parents talking about their experience in the theater and a few people laughing at how bat**** crazy kids are for this thing, which is awesome.

Maybe I'm conflating this thread with all the headlines I keep seeing that say this is a surprise hit. Sorry for offending you.

That was ****ing terrible. But my kids liked it. Sigh.

Yeah, my 15-yr old son explained to me that, basically in the same vein of Rocky Horror, its a trend that started online where at specific moments in the movie (like when Jack Black says "Chicken Jockey!") they all stand up and cheer. Its not spontaneous. But hey, if they're having fun and not really causing legit trouble.

My 15-year old son went with his pals on Friday and enjoyed the fan service but thought the movie was stupid. He had a ball with his friends enjoying a movie about the video game he has been playing for half his life.

My 16-year old daughter went last night and came home so pissed off about how bad it was that we got a 10:30 pm hallway debrief, and today she showed me a Google doc in her phone where she has written out a whole 2-page exegesis of her issues with the movie.

How these two kids are from the same Genetics I will never know.

Took my wife, my 14 yo son, his gf, my 11 yo son, and one of his buddies. Like everyone said the theater was full of middle schoolers young teenagers.... The movie itself was actually pretty entertaining and funny it's not going to win any academy awards or anything but definitely some laughs.

BUT... The craziest thing about it like everyone said was the in theater experience it was hilarious and it made the experience all the more fun I got into it a little bit actually it was funny to me seeing all the kids having a good time I think it's great there's a lot of other stupid online trends but this was fun. Highly recommend seeing it with your kids hopefully at a crowded theater

I had a blast. My 13yr old son was getting a kick out of so many scenes

Yeah it's cheesy as hell but I won't ever get bothered by my son having a great time at a goody movie.

I just want to add to this thread, that I happen to go see labyrinth in a music venue this weekend where a live band played the songs.
It was all grown people, 30s-50s.

People were yelling out and hooting and hollering the entire movie.. Cheering when Jareth is first shown, yelling "Don't go in the right door!", "We love you Ludo", people were throwing up plastic babies during the david bowie song, booing at the step mom, and Hoggle when he gives Sarah the peach.. etc etc.

So I don't know that adults are any different than the kids being described in all these posts and links.

CDub06 said:

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I'm glad your boy enjoyed the movie, but your daughter is awesome. Hilarious.

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The best part was she drove home with the black-rimmed 3D glasses on her head, wearing her brother's size 8 kids Minecraft hoodie, so was a full-tilt Karen ranting in the hall.

This is actually insane (in a good, cool way). So neat to see these kids going nuts over a film. I know nothing of Minecraft and my 3 boys (13, 11, 7) never got into it either.

But jeez seeing all the hootin' n hollerin in the theaters is just genuinely fun! I love it when stuff like that happens.

What's sad…..is clearly way more thought and care went in to planning this and keeping the fans in mind than say……(do I even dare bring it up?)…..Star Wars…..

Seeing this much energy around a movie…..probably just inspired a few young kids to pick up a camera and a pen and start creating something….

Emotional Support Cobra said:

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Of note was what my son called "fan service" was featuring YouTube DanTDM and Technoblade, and maybe others, both of whom my kids followed, especially during the pandemic. I think these folks kept a lot of kids company over the years and they grew up watching these content creators like us gen x-ers grew up watching TV characters. My son was Dan TDM for Halloween one year in elementary school.

Sadly, Technoblade passed away a year or so ago after a brave battle with cancer. My daughter and millions of other youths were very upset when he passed.

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I thought Benny would cry when he woke me up to tell me about Technoblade.

Other than Dax the cat, he had never dealt with death before. He spent countless hours watching his videos and I developed an appreciation for him.

Now to the movie.
My son and his friends went opening night. Older than most kids, but they have been playing this game for a decade.

However they were most proud about what they snuck in. Two whole packages of Oreos, a 2 liter Dr Pepper, a 6 pack of Gatorade, and bags and boxes of 1.25 candy

It was cold. No one questioned wearing jackets.

Took my son and 6 of his buddies to see it for his birthday at a Cinemark XD. I was expecting the worst and came away pleasantly surprised at some of the laughs I had at Jason Mamoa. XD was sweet, if nothing else.