Minions Rise of Gru

Earlier this summer on the first of July, Minions: Rise of Gru crashed into theaters an unexpected twist in the average family-friendly film category. The movie directed by Kyle Balda is the fourth film in the ongoing cash cow that is the Despicable Me franchise. The movie managed to gross almost $870 million dollars globally, which is no surprise as several of its predecessors during the pandemic managed 1.159 billion. Clearly showing the Minions are not foreign to making more money than most kids’ films. But the movie did more than just make money this time around. Shortly after the film’s first two trailers, memes started exploding online claiming the film was ¨peak cinema¨ and a ¨masterpiece¨. While the memes came in an ironic and parodic way that did not stop thousands of people across the world from taking the concept to the next level.

The craze started during the release of the film when hundreds of Tik Toks started exploding online as people started to dress up in full tuxedos and suits to the premier of Minions: Rise of Gru. The videos showed groups of 30-50 teenagers all taking escalators into the film while posing and acting comically ¨formal¨ and professional. More videos online actually showed inside the showing with extremely loud overtop screaming, jumping and celebration from the groups during the movie itself. The majority of the attendees taking part in the trend were male teenagers oftentimes showing up in groups of dozens at a time. While some thought this was a fun, and creative way to gain publicity for the movie; others thought of it as a disruption for kids and their families actually going to try and watch the film. The trend seemingly got support from Universal Pictures themselves when their official Twitter account came out and said ¨to everyone showing up to @Minions in suits: we see you and we love you¨ but not all companies found fun in the debacle, several movie theater companies started to actually ban wearing suits of any kind to the film. Some leaving signs outside of the theater reading ¨Due to recent disturbances following the #GentleMinions trend, any group of guests in formal attire will be refused entry for showings of Minions: Rise of Gru¨. The starting origins of the meme is relatively unknown as meme blowups about movies like this seem to be randomized, but possible reasons could have been the film having tracks from both American rapper Eminem and Lyrical Lemonade rapper Yeat Perhaps sparking the teenage interest in the film.

Whether an elaborate joke to some or a delinquent disturbance to others, no one doubts the internet’s ability to blow anything up at any time with the click of a button.