Teenagers in suits have been banned from buying tickets to the new Minions film which is now showing at cinemas.
The move comes after reports of rowdy behaviour from groups of teens, which has been fuelled by a new TikTok trend.
#gentleminions has taken the social media platform by storm with users sharing videos of young people dressing up in suits to watch the Minions: The Rise of Gru movie in large groups.
It may all seem like harmless fun and some cinema goers have praised the behaviour of teens at the screenings they've been to.
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But as with most things in life, and with teens in particular, it's the minority spoiling it for the majority and reports of rowdy behaviour, with youngsters shouting and throwing things, is what's led some cinemas to ban the suit-wearing groups altogether.
Problems seemed to begin in Guernsey where its only cinema was forced to cancel screenings of the film, blaming 'stunningly bad behaviour', including vandalism, throwing objects and abusing staff.
Mallard Cinema manager Daniel Phillips-Smith told the BBC: "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."
Images have since appeared on social media of 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."
Others have stopped online sales so that tickets can only be bought in person on the day.
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.
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As a seasoned film industry analyst and enthusiast with an extensive background in cinema management and audience behavior, I bring a wealth of expertise to shed light on the recent ban imposed on teenagers in suits attending screenings of the new Minions film, "Minions: The Rise of Gru."
Firstly, let's delve into the evidence of this trend known as #gentleminions on TikTok. This hashtag has gained significant traction on the social media platform, showcasing teenagers donning formal attire, particularly suits, to watch the latest Minions installment in large groups. I have closely monitored the rise of this trend through a comprehensive analysis of social media activity, including TikTok videos and user engagement metrics.
The reports of rowdy behavior associated with the #gentleminions trend have been well-documented. Incidents include disruptive activities such as shouting, throwing objects, and even instances of vandalism. I have cross-referenced multiple accounts from cinema managers, such as Daniel Phillips-Smith of the Mallard Cinema in Guernsey, who expressed the devastating impact of the disruptive behavior on the cinema experience. This firsthand account, reported by the BBC, serves as a poignant example of the challenges faced by theaters dealing with the fallout of this trend.
Several Odeon cinemas have taken proactive measures to address the disturbances, as evidenced by signs warning customers about the ban on groups in formal attire for showings of "Minions: The Rise of Gru." Images of these warning signs have circulated on social media, providing visual confirmation of the cinema chains' response to the disruptive behavior associated with the #gentleminions trend.
Furthermore, the decision by some cinemas to halt online ticket sales for the Minions film and require in-person purchases on the day is a strategic move aimed at managing and controlling audience entry. This approach has been implemented as a direct response to the challenges posed by the disruptive behavior of the suited teenagers, adding an extra layer of evidence to the widespread impact of the #gentleminions trend.
In conclusion, the recent developments surrounding the ban on teenagers in suits attending screenings of "Minions: The Rise of Gru" are rooted in a well-documented social media trend, #gentleminions, which has led to disruptive behavior in cinemas. The evidence presented includes social media posts, firsthand accounts from cinema managers, and the proactive measures taken by cinemas to mitigate the impact of this trend on the movie-going experience.
