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If you weren't a person with at least a middling understanding of Minecraft, you probably had to google why crowds were going so crazy for the 'Chicken Jockey' easter egg in A Minecraft Movie. Well, get used to that feeling - that kind of fan service is going to be a big part of franchise moviemaking from now on. That is, if people listen to folks like Minecraft's associate brand director, Harry Elonen.

Elonen was speaking as part of the Entertain or Die: How Minecraft is Becoming a Modern Media Mogul presentation at SXSW London, as reported on by Variety. During the TED Talk-esque speech, Elonen laid out how A Minecraft Movie paid homage to a gaming moment that was admittedly obscure even for those with a casual understanding of the Minecraft game.

"I cannot tell you," Elonen said, "How many times a parent has come to me and asked, ‘What is actually a chicken jockey?’ The truth is, people don’t necessarily really know what a chicken jockey is, because it happens so seldom in the game. So what that reaction is all about is essentially a celebration that only we in this room know what this is. It’s a form of community."

Just in case you had any doubts that movie studios were listening to people like Harry Elonen, remember - A Minecraft Movie was one of the biggest financial successes of 2025 so far. With a worldwide box office take of $948M, the film is the second most successful video game movie ever made, behind The Super Mario Brothers Movie from 2023. In other words, the people who make decisions when it comes to movies are taking note.

I guess that means you better bone up on your references before heading out to see the latest big budget video game movie adaptation. Or if not, get ready to have to Google up during screenings.

A Minecraft Movie will stream on Max June 20.

You don't need to beat the game to prepare for the next one—here are all the major new and upcoming games coming our way.