Netflix begs fans to stop doing the 'Bird Box challenge'

3 January 2019, 12:21

By Jazmin Duribe

We saw this coming a mile off.

'Bird Box' fever has taken over the world and now Netflix has a little problem on their hands. If you haven't heard about the post-apocalyptic thriller movie, firstly, where the hell have you been? The story follows Malorie (Sandra Bullock), a woman who is battling to survive with her two children after a mysterious entity kills off most of the world's population. Cheery stuff really.

Viewers never actually see the force (although they did film a scene with the monster but deleted it) and not much is known about it, but if you look at it, you're driven to take your own life. To survive, Malorie has to make a dangerous journey to safety with her two children, Boy and Girl, all while blindfolded.

The gripping tale has seen the birth of viral 'Bird Box' memes and even the 'Bird Box' Challenge. But the later is causing some problems – we probably should have left it in 2018, tbh.

People are now going out of their way to do all sorts of dumb and dangerous things blindfolded in honour of the film and, obviously, the consequences can be dire.

From walking around the supermarket to even stupidly driving on the motorway, people are sharing their challenge videos online and the results can be absolutely hilarious… or incredibly fatal. It's so dangerous, in fact, Netflix were forced to issue a warning on Twitter.

"Can't believe I have to say this, but: PLEASE DO NOT HURT YOURSELVES WITH THIS BIRD BOX CHALLENGE," Netflix warned. "We don't know how this started, and we appreciate the love, but Boy and Girl have just one wish for 2019 and it is that you not end up in the hospital due to memes." Okay, mum.

Now will this stop people walking into traffic with their eyes concealed? Probably not. And with more people watching the movie (45 million viewers and counting) we can only predict Bird Box fever will reach epidemic levels.

People couldn't believe others were actually putting themselves in danger for this.

What do you think? Tweet us @popbuzz and let us know!