The GentleMinions TikTok trend, explained

You might have seen a Minion-related trend among teens and young adults: They are wearing formalwear for watching movies. Gru is on the Rise: MinionsTheaters. The trend soared to ridiculous heights, with individual videos garnering as many as 24 million views and the “#gentleminions” tag on TikTok exceeding 24 million views as well. The “GentleMinions” trend is fueled by a commitment to shitposting that blends a chaotic love of Minion memes, nostalgia, and the good old moviegoing experience.

Gru is on the Rise in Minions The Despicable Me prequel features yellow bean-like, bumbling characters. This trend was launched July 1, during the first weekend of Gru is Rising. The videos vary, but most of them involve groups of friends donning formal attire, flooding the theater, and chanting “I count money! I count money!” as the song “Rich Minion” by Yeat plays.

Ryan Broderick, the writer behind the internet culture newsletter Garbage Day, traced the origins of the joke to the 2019 “Tickets to Joker” meme. The meme, Broderick explains, originated on 4chan with the phrase “two tickets to Joker, please” and made fun how a stereotypical incel would dress. Redditors, TikTokers and others reshaped this meme over the years to suggest that certain movies are Chad-like traits. TikTokers riffed again on the meme, which led to an original idea: wear a suit and go to see Minions 2.

Most of the video stars teens dressed in suits and moviegoers. Some videos just show people dressing up for the theatre, while others add their own spins. One clip showed people sneaking bananas into a garbage can, Minions’ favourite food. The YouTube sensation Mr. Beast got on board the trend by renting out a whole movie theatre for him and his friends dressed up in suits.

While most videos appeared to be innocent shitposts there was one instance in which a crowd got rowdy enough that police were summoned to the theater. And some theaters in the United Kingdom have responded by banning “unaccompanied children wearing suits” from Rise of Gru showings. It is a family movie, so parents and their children might have not known what they were getting themselves into by just going to the movie — not to mention the workers impacted by moviegoers’ rowdiness.

A group of folks dressed up at a Minneapolis theatre were I able to see. I asked them some questions and they answered my question about the reason for their participation in this trend. Norvil Rogers, who wore a flashy yellow button-up shirt, told Polygon, “We just thought that, with [Rise of Gru]We would be so proud to own such a work of art, it is only natural that we should wear appropriate clothing. [laughs].” His friend, William White, told Polygon that they got the idea to dress up after seeing it on TikTok and Instagram. For White, dressing up was “worth it” and “made the experience a lot better.”

While we chatted with each other, we were surrounded by Minions dressed as sports enthusiasts. “I am definitely a fan. I have, like, a little plushie,” White said, while Rogers interjected: “Film connoisseur.” At one point, a third friend entered the conversation and mentioned that Rogers had made a funny meme, but the young men declined to share their art with Polygon.

This movie became a huge success at the box-office, earning approximately $125.1 million its debut weekend. Over the last decade, Minions has displayed remarkable cultural longevity. The movie’s success can be difficult to explain. It was made possible by a mix of factors, including nostalgia and character recognition as well corporate marketing and TikTok.

It’s hard to say just how much the GentleMinions trend contributed to the film’s massive opening weekend. Memes can still have a tremendous impact on our lives. MorbiusBecause so many were talking about the flop, ‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace’ was brought back into theaters. It was a flop. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen train hit theaters, fans shouted “Eren Yeager” (from Attack on TitanWhile watching the film, you can also tweet (@) Officially, Shitposting is a part the moviegoing experience.

GentleMinions was not just a trend that brought attention but visibility as well. It Rise of GruIt also created a common atmosphere for all those who attended the movie. The mood was chaotic and fun when I entered the theater and watched, giggling, as a group of suit-clad moviegoers lined up for tickets and settled into the theater’s plush velvet seating. It brought the joy of other rituals in life — gathering, dressing up, and making an occasion of something — to a silly movie about these yellow guys that like bananas.