Minions: Cinemas ban teens in suits over #gentleminions trendon July 4, 2022 at 4:53 pm

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Young people following the #gentleminions TikTok trend are accused of disturbing other cinemagoers.

Minions Minions Bob, Otto, Stuart and Dave at the movie premier in HollywoodImage source, Getty Images

Some cinemas have banned young people wearing suits from screenings of Minions: The Rise of Gru over rowdy behaviour fuelled by a Tikor trend.

Teenagers following the #gentleminions trend have been accused of making noise and throwing things during screenings.

A staff member at one venue told the BBC they wanted to ensure the experience was not spoiled for younger children on their first cinema trip.

Some cinemas said they have had to give huge numbers of refunds.

Videos showing young people dressing up in suits to watch the movie in large groups and cheering loudly during the screening have gone viral on TikTok, racking up millions of views in some cases.

The teenagers filmed themselves copying the characteristic steepled fingers of the movie’s supervillain Felonious Gru and celebrated that “the five year wait is over” – referring to the time since the franchise’s last instalment, Despicable Me 3.

Movie studio Universal Pictures endorsed the trend, saying on Twitter: “to everyone showing up to @Minions in suits: we see you and we love you”.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

But cinemas have been less appreciative, with several complaining about the behaviour of the young fans drawn to the movie by TikTok.

Guernsey’s only cinema had to cancel further screenings of the movie, blaming “stunningly bad behaviour”, including vandalism, throwing objects and abusing staff.

Mallard Cinema manager Daniel Phillips-Smith: “It’s been absolutely heartbreaking. We’ve had families who won’t even go back into the screen when we’ve tried to sort it out, families leaving before the film has even started, and of course the children have been in tears.”

The Regal Cinema in Wadebridge, Cornwall, posted a notice saying it would no longer admit “unaccompanied children wearing suits” to screenings of the movie.

Box office staff told the BBC young people in suits had been “cheering, clapping, whooping” and rising to their feet throughout the film.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

“We were trying to talk to people on the way in after a while, but that wasn’t really getting anywhere. So we had to just decide to put a stop to it and say thanks very much, but we’re not doing the whole TikTok trend thing,” a staff member said.

“We had people coming in with children for their first cinema trip ever and we wanted to protect that really.”

The manager of the Vue Cinema in Worcester told the local Worcester News they had to refund £1,300 of tickets on Sunday because a group of young people had caused so many complaints.

Images on social media showed several Odeon cinemas displaying signs warning customers: “Due to recent disturbances following the #GentleMinions trend, any group of guests in formal attire will be refused entry for showings of Minions: The Rise of Gru.”

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

But some cinemagoers praised the behaviour of the #gentleminions at their screenings.

Stace Woods, a teaching assistant from Surrey, said on social media that a group in suits when she saw the film were “so much fun” and “so well-behaved”, adding they politely stopped bowing down and worshipping a giant poster of Gru so her children could pose for a photo with it.

One parent told the Mansfield Chad the ban on young people in suits had extended to two boys in his 13-year-old son’s group, who were merely wearing white shirts with collars.

They were reportedly turned away from their pre-booked screening until parents could drive down with a couple of jumpers to cover the offending items of smart clothing.

A spokesperson for the Odeon said: “Due to a small number of incidents in our cinemas over the weekend we have had to restrict access in some circumstances.”

The Minions movie franchise, which began with 2010’s Despicable Me, follows reformed supervillain Gru and his army of small, yellow henchmen, who quickly became the subject of endless online memes.

The latest film tells Gru’s origin story as an 11-year-old, struggling to break into the supervillain business.

Around the BBC iPlayer banner
Around the BBC iPlayer footer
- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

Labour considers processing asylum seekers overseason December 26, 2023 at 6:38 pm

The party is exploring whether some could have their claims assessed before they travel to the UK.Image source, PA MediaBy Iain WatsonPolitical correspondent, BBC...

T20 World Cup: Sam Curran bowls Mohammad Rizwan as England pick up first wicketon November 13, 2022 at 8:40 am

Watch as England's Sam Curran bowls Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan for 15 following an inside edge for the first wicket of the T20 World Cup...

NBA players urge colleagues to get financially educated during work stoppage: ‘Don’t look at this as a timeout,’ Chris Paul says

KEY POINTS Oklahoma City star Chris Paul said athletes should take this current sports pause to dive in on financial literacy. Pro athletes across the...

Covid: Care home restrictions to be eased in Englandon January 27, 2022 at 7:24 am

From Monday, there will be no limit on visits to care homes and self-isolation periods will be cut.Image source, Getty ImagesCovid restrictions on adult...

The Syrian girl whose parents were deported while she was at schoolon May 18, 2023 at 1:56 am

Lebanese authorities are stepping up a campaign to deport Syrians who they say are there illegally.Lebanese authorities are stepping up a campaign to deport...