You may have seen it for yourself, or maybe you’ve heard about it online. But what is the Gentleminions TikTok trend, and why is it so disruptive?
Released earlier this month, Minions: The Rise of Gru was intended to be a children’s film, but due to a trend on TikTok, it seems it’s attracted a whole new audience.
What is the Gentleminions TikTok trend?
It’s not completely clear where it started, but TikTok has been inundated with videos of teenage boys wearing suits to see Minions. Some have taken bananas (the minions’ favourite snack) and watched whilst copying Gru’s (Steve Carrell) signature hand gesture.
Celebrating that the “five year wait is over”, thousands of young boys have been piling into cinemas nationwide to share their love for the next instalment in the franchise.
A teaching assistant from Surrey even went as far to say that the Gentleminions at her screening were “so much fun” and “so well behaved.”
So what seems to be the problem?
Cinemas ban Gentleminions
Whilst some groups have been mindful that others, particularly families have gone to see Minions, some gentleminions have ruined it for the best. Now, lots of cinemas such as Scott Cinemas, are putting rules into place to stop the ‘disruption’ they’ve been facing.
Barnstaple’s wrote on social media: ‘Scott Cinemas has taken the decision that any children under 18, dressed in formal wear or cosplay and unaccompanied by an adult, will not be admitted to the screening. You must be with a parent or adult guardian over 18.’
‘Screenings of ‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’ will now have a staff member permanently monitoring the screening (lets hope they like the Minions!) and anyone who starts to disrupt the screening will be asked to leave immediately, and may not be able to return to our venues in the future. Our screens are also CCTV monitored as well for the safety of our staff and customers – this is paramount to us at Scott Cinemas.’
Disruption has included cheering, clapping and shouting throughout screenings of Minions: The Rise of Gru. Now, some cinemas are banning unaccompanied minors from screenings to put an end to it.
Other cinemas, including Guernsey have stopped screenings of the film altogether. Staff there have been verbally abused and the cinema itself vandalised, so has the trend gone too far?
It’s understandable that lots of cinemas are fed up with the trend. However, Universal, the makers of the film have tweeted their endorsement of the film.
Is encouraging the Gentleminions trend the right thing to do, or are they just pleased with the extra publicity?
With millions of views, the Gentleminions trend has taken over the platform. But will this be the end to this smartly-dressed trend?