Co-ordinated crowd behaviour by young moviegoers during recent screenings of A Minecraft Movie, spurred by a viral trend on social media, has sparked public backlash, but a Brock University researcher says the reaction reveals more about adult expectations than youth misconduct.

Child and Youth Studies Postdoctoral Fellow Natalie Spadafora (BA/BEd ’13, MA ’15, PhD ’21) says the incidents, where teens chant, throw popcorn or collectively shout punchlines, may be better understood as expressions of community and cultural participation than as simple incivility.

“While some of these behaviours may be disruptive or even cross a line, much of what we’re seeing is youth engaging in a shared moment, a kind of performance rooted in digital culture and connection,” she says. “These aren’t random acts. They’re often co-ordinated and informed by online trends.”

This excitement is reflected in the film’s box office performance. A Minecraft Movie grossed a record-breaking $157 million domestically, according to estimates from Comscore, a company specializing in audience measurement.

However, despite its financial success, the film hasn’t received the best critical reception, currently holding an unfavourable 49 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a website that aggregates film and TV critics.

Spadafora, who researches youth behaviour, classroom conduct and the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on social development, says the Minecraft movie phenomenon shows that young people form belonging through collective experiences, even ones that challenge traditional public norms.

“In many ways, this mirrors what we see in other spaces like concerts or sporting events,” she says. “Young people are pushing boundaries, yes, but it also seems like they’re creating a culture and connection with each other. We have to remember that context matters.”

In her research on incivility, Spadafora explores how youth behaviour is often judged through an adult lens that expects silence, conformity and respectability. She cautions that those expectations can alienate young people and obscure the real motivations behind their actions.

“The question isn’t just ‘why are they doing this?’ It’s important to think about where these group responses are coming from and understand why they are being engaged in,” Spadafora says. “When adults complain that kids are never outside or social anymore and then critique them when they do show up together in public, that might send a confusing message, and instead, we need to take the time to better understand the motivations behind their behaviours.”

While she acknowledges that group behaviour can sometimes escalate into genuine disruptions, Spadafora draws a distinction between co-ordinated, performative moments and harmful acts like vandalism or violence.

“Not all incivility is created equal,” she says. “We need to separate youth participation from criminality and better understand the cultural logics that shape these moments.”

The Minecraft movie may be the latest powder keg, but for Spadafora, it’s a continuation of a long-standing generational disconnect.

“We know from research that while there are certain expectations of what is considered civil behaviour in society, for many individual uncivil behaviours, there are differences in perceptions between young people and adults,” she says. “We need to remember that much of their behaviour is based on expectations we have for them and that they are continually trying to make space for themselves within it.”