Cinema chains are banning groups of moviegoers from watching the latest instalment in the Despicable Me franchise due to a newly viral social media trend.
Minions: The Rise of Gru tells the origin story of supervillain Gru and his yellow banana-loving helpers. But the movie has also kickstarted a surprise trend known as ‘The Gentleminions’, where large groups of teenage boys are going to watch the movie dressed in formal attire.
It’s not clear where the viral trend started from, but while it all seems to be done in good jest – with many attending with bananas, the snack of choice of a minion – some UK cinemas are far from amused.
This whole “dress up in full suits to watch the new Minions” trend on tiktok got me cackling like an idiot pic.twitter.com/NadlgL4f0K
— Black Swordsman Shakoichi (@ShakExcellence) June 30, 2022
‘Due to a small number of incidents in our cinemas over the weekend we have had to restrict access in some circumstances,’ an Odeon spokesperson tells Time Out.
An independent cinema in Cornwall, the Regal, has also changed its admittance policy. ‘We are currently not admitting unaccompanied children wearing suits… this is due to the issues we have encountered over the last two days and its associated behaviour,’ tweeted the cinema.
Customer Notice:
— Regal @ Wadebridge (@WTW_Wadebridge) July 2, 2022
We are currently not admitting unaccompanied children wearing suits for ‘Minions: The Rise Of Gru’ (U)
This is due to the issues we have encountered over the last two days and it’s associated behaviour.
Thank you
But not everyone is unhappy with the trend. Minions’ studio, Universal, has thanked fans going to see the movie in their best attire, tweeting: ‘To everyone showing up to @Minions in suits: we see you and we love you.’
to everyone showing up to @Minions in suits: we see you and we love you. 🫶
— Universal Pictures (@UniversalPics) July 1, 2022
Universal are right to celebrate, as even with groups of fans being refused entry to watch the movie, Minions: The Rise of Gru is still making a huge impact at the global box office.
The fifth entry into the Despicable Me franchise had a huge opening weekend, taking more than $200 million worldwide.
2015’s Minions soared to a worldwide total of $1.15 billion and the total box-office for the franchise now stands at just below $4 billion, making it the highest-grossing animated film franchise.
Minions: The Rise of Gru is set to dominate multiplexes for family audiences, with the next animated release, DC League of Super-Pets, not landing until the end of July. We can’t wait to see what fans wear to that one.
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