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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Milica Cosic

UK cinemas BAN 'rowdy' teens wearing suits in viral TikTok minions trend

Cinemas across the country have started banning young people from wearing suits to screenings of Minions: The Rise of Gru, over rowdy behaviour fuelled by a bizarre TikTok trend.

The popular social media trend sees teenagers donning suits and bringing bananas into the cinema to watch the new movie which was released on the 1 July.

However, teens following the #gentleminions trend have been accused of disturbing others, making noise and throwing things during screenings.

Staff at some cinemas have said they've suffered a "massive" financial impact, due to issuing out a huge number of refunds because of this behaviour.

The Minions movie franchise began in 2010 with the release of Despicable Me (AFP via Getty Images)

Hundreds of videos of the trend have been shared across social media - with some racking up a million views.

They show young people going in large groups to watch the movie, and cheering loudly as it plays on the big screen.

While the movie plays, teenagers film themselves copying the hand motion the movie's supervillain, Felonious Gru, does.

Despite some cinemas condemning the celebrations, movie studio Universal Pictures have endorsed the trend.

They show young people going in large groups to watch the movie (bill.hirst/Tiktok)
Hundreds of videos of the trend have been shared across social media (bill.hirst/Tiktok)

On Twitter they wrote: "to everyone showing up to @Minions in suits: we see you and we love you".

And on TikTok, the official Minion's account comment on the most watched video, encouraging others to do the same - and writing things like: "This is the dress code".

Some viewers online are loving the new #gentleminions trend, and enjoy seeing teens participating in it.

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".

Another person said: "I can’t believe I’m saying this but this TikTok trend is legitimately hilarious."

While a third wrote: "Brilliant. Lads having a great time, something to tell their grandkids. They could be doing worse…and they’re not."

But, cinemas have been less appreciative of the trend, with many saying the trend spoils the experience for younger children on their first cinema trip.

Guernsey's only cinema had to cancel further screenings of the movie. They blamed the teens for "stunningly bad behaviour", including vandalism, throwing objects and abusing staff.

Mallard Cinema manager Daniel Phillips-Smith said: "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."

Teens have posted TikTok videos of themselves donning suits to watch the latest Minions film (bill.hirst/Tiktok)

Meanwhile, 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 said the teens wearing suits "cheering, clapping, whooping" and rising to their feet throughout the film.

A staff member added: "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.

Steve Carell attends the fans premiere of "Minions: The Rise of Gru" in California on June 25 (AFP via Getty Images)

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

Additionally, cinema company Odeon said: "Due to a small number of incidents in our cinemas over the weekend we have had to restrict access in some circumstances."

However, the Vue cinema chain said it was still welcoming all customers to see the film, adding it was "incredibly popular" over the opening weekend.

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