Cinemas are stopping people dressed in suits from watching Minions: The Rise of Gru

Virgin Radio

5 Jul 2022, 09:32

If you’re trying to jump on this obscure TikTok trend, you might want to think again. 

Anyone wanting to watch the next Despicable Me spin-off, Minions: The Rise of Gru, while dressed in a full suit could find themselves turned away from the cinema. 

The strange trend sees young moviegoers turning up to screenings in their droves to watch the new film, while in a shirt, blazer, shirt and tie. 

Despite it being seemingly harmless, cinema bosses are now turning groups of suited-and-booted youngsters away due to loud and rowdy behaviour. 

It’s not entirely clear how the trend started, but the hashtag #gentleminions shows countless videos of well-dressed youngsters mimicking the main character Gru and his villainous hand gesture. 

Cinemas around the country aren’t too happy with the viral trend. The only picture house in Guernsey has cancelled screenings after reports of vandalism and abusing staff, according to BBC News.

Mallard Cinema manager Daniel Phillips-Smith told the publication: "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."

Meanwhile, The Regal Cinema in Wadebridge, Cornwall said they’re no longer admitting in “unaccompanied children wearing suits” to screenings of the animation. 

Odeon Cinemas have been posting signs throughout their venues, which tell people wearing “formal attire” that they will be “refused entry” to screenings. 

The cinema chain told Metro: “Due to a small number of incidents in our cinemas over the weekend we have had to restrict access in some circumstances.”

Despite the cancellations and restrictions, Universal Pictures, who produced the film, have fully endorsed the trend. 

They tweeted: “To everyone showing up to @Minions in suits: we see you and we love you.”

Minions: The Rise of Gru comes seven years after the original Minions movie, and follows on from 2010’s Despicable Me, which first introduced the loveable yellow henchmen. 

This latest spin-off tells Gru’s origin story, which focuses on his rise in the supervillain business.