The Rise of the Gentleminions: How Minions Became the Unlikely Icons of TikTok Teens

Strategic Insights -

TikTok teens have discovered a new way to have fun in movie theaters, dressing up in formal attire and celebrating the latest Minions film. The trend, dubbed "Gentleminions," has taken over social media, with over 22 million views on the hashtag #Gentleminions. But while the Gentleminions are mostly harmless, their behavior has been causing chaos in theaters, leading some to ban them or restrict their access to tickets.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Gentleminions trend started on TikTok, where users would dress up in suits and ties to watch the latest Minions film, often disrupting the viewing experience.
  • The hashtag #Gentleminions has over 22 million views on TikTok, indicating the widespread popularity of the trend.
  • Some movie theaters have banned the Gentleminions or restricted their access to tickets due to vandalism and disruption.
  • Universal Pictures has wholeheartedly embraced the Gentleminions, tweeting "to everyone showing up to @Minions in suits: we see you and we love you."
  • The Minions themselves have sent a video salute to the Gentleminions on TikTok, wishing them "Bobspeed."
  • The Gentleminions trend has caused controversy in some theaters, with vandalism and disruption reported in the UK and US.

Statistics:

  • Over 22 million views on the hashtag #Gentleminions on TikTok (Source: TikTok)
  • The Gentleminions trend has been reported in the US, UK, Australia, and other countries (Source: Various news outlets)
  • Some movie theaters have banned the Gentleminions or restricted their access to tickets due to vandalism and disruption (Source: Various news outlets)
  • The Minions franchise has a global box office gross of over $1.6 billion (Source: Box Office Mojo)

Sources:

  • CNN (July, 2022) - "Minions: The Rise of Gru" did gangbusters over the weekend
  • Variety (July, 2022) - "Gentleminions": A Brief History of the Meme
  • BBC (July, 2022) - Gentleminions banned from cinema after vandalism
  • Guardian (July, 2022) - The Gentleminions: the lovable, but troublesome, youngsters sweeping the nation
  • TikTok - @Minions (official account)
  • Twitter - @UniversalPictures (official account)