Cinemas are forbidding teenagers in suits from viewing the latest Minion film, Minions: The Rise of Gru, due to an odd trend. Teenagers from all around the world have been attending the newest installment of the Despicable Me franchise while dressed in full suits and ties. The film, which debuted on July 1, reportedly earned $128 million in its first weekend.
Something Quite New
High school students have started arriving at theaters in big groups, dressing up, and even going above and beyond as part of a mocking internet passion for the film. Some even go as far as to noisily moshing and cheering within the theater.
Quite the Trend
The phrase “gentleminions” was coined by the film series itself to describe the style. Following the movement’s videos, the official Minions account released a clip of a plush Minion staring out the window while clips of business suits are playing in the background.
It’s a strategy that has been in development since before the film’s debut. As part of a strong online satirical adult fandom for the film, TikTok users made jokes about purchasing tickets for the kid-friendly film while dressed in full suits, parodying the popular 2019 “Tickets to X, Please” meme.