Several British cinemas have banned access to teenagers in suits and ties who came to see the latest installment in the
Minions saga.
Reason given?
The heckling caused by some young spectators encouraged by a movement on TikTok.
Following the slogan #gentleminions, groups of teenagers dressed in their 31s, imitating the main character, Felonius Gru, and his emblematic gestures, disrupted screenings of the film released on Friday in the United Kingdom, filming themselves and posting on social media videos went viral.
The official Minions TikTok account, which started the #gentleminions movement, has attracted 3 million followers since its launch 10 months ago, including 1 million in the last week.
The goal was to make the brand cool so that those who grew up with the franchise could make it their own.
“Due to a small number of incidents at our cinemas over the weekend, we had to restrict access in certain circumstances,”
said a spokesperson for the Odeon cinema chain.
The Mallard, the only cinema on the island of Guernsey, stopped showing the film due to
'incredibly bad behaviour'
by some groups.
Cinema director Daniel Phillips-Smith told the BBC that these young moviegoers had
"thrown things, swore"
and argued with other viewers during screenings.
An independent cinema in Wadebridge, Cornwall, The Regal, warned on Twitter:
'We are currently not admitting unaccompanied minors wearing costumes for
The Minions 2: Once Upon a Time Gru
"
.
This animated film, whose broadcast has been delayed by two years by Universal due to the pandemic, explores the origins of the franchise's main character who, since the first installment
Despicable Me
in 2010, has grossed 3.7 billion dollars (3.54 billion euros) at the box office, according to the specialized site IMDB, not to mention the multiple derivatives.
One-third of the opening weekend audience (34%) was between the ages of 13 and 17, which is unusual for an animated film, and nearly 90% of viewers were 25 or younger.
Released Friday July 1 in the United States, the United Kingdom and China, before a Wednesday July 6 release in France, this film dates back to the beginnings of Gru, the endearing villain who failed in this saga who, as a teenager and surrounded by a army of Minions, is looking to join a group of villains, the Vicious 6. Universal, which produced this animated film, for its part approved of the runaway, tweeting:
"to all those who show up to the @Minions in costumes : we see you and we love you”
.
