'Gentleminions' Tiktok trend causes cinemas to ban teens in formal attire for despicable behavior
Minions: Rise of Gru has birthed a new viral trend where teens flock to theaters all suited-up. However, their dapper looks contradict their despicable moviegoing behavior, and theater managers are not thrilled at all.
The Gentleminions trend has taken the internet by storm to the extent that cinemas have declined moviegoers wearing suits or any formal attire. This comes after several customer complaints in UK cinemas were made because of rowdy behavior from teenagers or “gentleminions” who were said to have vandalized, thrown objects like bananas, abused theater staff, and cheered loudly during the movie screening.
Vue Cinema Worcester’s manager claimed in a report that £1,300 (around P86,700) worth of refunds had to be issued in just one day because of the complaints.
“I had to refund all of the tickets in that theatre because of kids shouting and mimicking the Minions while the film was playing,” said the manager, who noted that they now give warnings to kids who are formally dressed up before entering theaters.
Daniel Phillips-Smith, manager of Mallard Cinema in Guernsey, told BBC that Mallard also experienced a “massive financial impact” due to refunds. He stated that it has been “heartbreaking” given how some children cried while families left even before the movie began.
Meanwhile, the UK-based Odeon Cinema has posted signages declaring their refusal of entry for guests showing up in formal attire: “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.”
Thoroughly entertained by this sign @ODEONCinemas and then saw a bunch of kids in suits refused entry! #gentleminions pic.twitter.com/zo7seJ5COl
— 𝔾𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝔻𝕦𝕕𝕤 (@gillduds) July 3, 2022
Aside from Odeon, Cornwall’s Regal Cinema also put up a notice stating that it would no longer admit "unaccompanied children wearing suits" to the Gru screening.
"When it was just an idea of fancy dress, we were really excited. We thought it was going to be great fun," Philips-Smith told As It Happens guest host Ginella Massa. "But the moment they were in their seats and the film started, it became a whole other story, sadly. The behaviour just went downhill very quickly."
The trend that originated from TikTok has seen many teenagers uploading videos of them donning suits and mimicking the hand motion of Gru, the villain and main character of the Despicable Me franchise.
@lyndon.c Despicable af 🍌 #fyp #minions #riseofgru #cineplex #gentleman ♬ original sound - billh
One TikTok video even briefly captured a manager’s appearance prior to a group being “kicked out” of the cinema. The user’s caption read: “Manager ruined our experience.”
@anikets520 Manager ruined our experience 😩#minions #riseofgrumovie #riseofgru #RowH #fyp #foryou #movie #suits ♬ Universal Fanfare - The Minions
In another TikTok video, the police showed up and were caught on camera by one of the ‘gentleminion’ participants.
@skydivingaubrey i can’t believe we actually got kicked out of a kids movie. sophie crying at the end bc she just wanted to see the movie 😂. @stunkysonx101 @eyeheart.emoboys ♬ Ï CÖUNT MONEË - Twïzz
Despite the chaos that the trend has caused, Universal Pictures did not try to stop it and has even shown support for the trend via Twitter: “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
Minions: Rise of Gru premiered last July 1 and was reported to have generated $125.2 million in ticket sales during its domestic opening weekend. It is the second Minions movie, the second prequel to Despicable Me, and the fifth Despicable Me film released.
The Minions sequel was directed by Kyle Balda along with co-directors Brad Ableson (The Simpsons) and Jonathan del Val (The Secret Life of Pets). Oscar nominee Steve Carell (voicing Gru) co-starred with Pierre Coffin (voicing the Minions).
Watch the official trailer below.