Cinema stopping kids in suits from coming in - Minions

[jackstini]

DS & his friend (both 13) had tickets this pm for Minions, Rise of Gru

Like lots of people per TikTok, they dressed up in suits/ties - just for fun
Got to cinema and were told they couldn't come in because of what they were wearing

DS called me upset and DH went down to see if he could sort it. Found 5 grown men standing over them and a few other kids, shouting at them that they needed to leave and they were not allowed in. Kids felt very intimidated

No dress code visible in the cinema or on the website

DH asked if they had misbehaved and was told no, we just don't like this suit thing as some of the people on TikTok have kicked off
DH pointed out, they hadn't kicked off, just wanted to watch the film, so what was the problem. Stoney silence
He took them outside, took their jackets & ties off & they went back in 5 minutes later and were admitted by a different member of staff

Is it just me or is this ridiculous? And pathetic for them to treat kids like that

I really want to complain but wanted the MN population to vote on if you think they were BU or not

YANBU - cinema staff were out of order & I should complain
YABU - don't complain

@Clymene …. ‘Chinny Reckon’ made my day 😅 and took me back to my childhood hehe

@GrinAndVomit where did you get 10 from?

5 men and 1 woman were on - as previously stated

What makes you call them grown up? Being confident is not just for grownups you know!

And yuor sarcasm missed the mark.

Cornettoninja but you it is not 'rational' to allow non entry based on 'dressing up', all it is exercising is irritationality as the cinema is basing entry on their age and what they are wearing, age discrimination is actually against the law. The law doesn't allow that kind of indirect discrimination.

The "law" also discriminates.

I live in an area where we've had a few section 60s (the police can stop and search anyone within a particular area).

I have a teen boy who is 6 foot 2, generally unshaven and likes to wear black hoodies.
I have a teen girl who is 5 foot nothing and walks with a stick.

Guess who gets stopped and searched?

"Found 5 grown men standing over them and a few other kids, shouting at them that they needed to leave and they were not allowed in."

Sure op🙄

@Goldenbear for that to stand up you have to disregard the effects of crowds and peer pressure. The law doesn’t require businesses to bare the brunt of any antisocial behaviour or prevent them from taking reasonable measures to protect their premises and staff from it.

It’s not discriminatory, it possibly would be if it was a blanket ban on all teens for all films regardless of clothing or accompanying responsible adult but it’s not and it’s ridiculous to toss around words like that without understanding what it actually means.

Well I didn't get dh to take a photo but all 3 of them said same thing and no reason to lie!

How patronising I absolutely know what it means due to professional past. You are incorrect as the example you use is direct age discrimination so a ban on all teenagers would be an example of that but this could be perceived as indirect as it making assumptions about a group of people wearing dress up clothes to the cinema based on their age. Under the law, It has to be a reasonable decision with no other alternative action to take but arguably this is not the case here as you can let teenagers in or any customers and take action based on 'what' they have actually done not what you 'think' they may do when many teenagers have dressed up, seen the film and acted in a civilised way.

@Goldenbear Ok, feel free to go test that in court ‘in your professional capacity’ then.

Apologies, I haven’t read all pp.
I think the cinema are being ridiculous. What happens if a group of people on their way home from work in suits want to watch it? When my son was in sixth form he had to wear a suit.
They need to challenge bad behaviour, not what people are wearing.

Maybe you should read at least some PP's and come back with your opinion then

Yes, what a very likely scenario.

"^Hey Bob, that was quite the board meeting today, how about we get the team together - not Hans as he is wearing chinos and a open necked shirt, but the rest of us and go to the odeon to watch the U rated film, Minions.

What do you mean you were going to go on Saturday with your children after their swimming lessons?^

^Come on Bob, it's been a stressful day. Watching the newly released Minions film is a completely normal thing to do after work. I'll see you under the clock in twenty minutes.

Not you Hans."^

Apologies, I haven’t read all pp. Clearly!!

I think the cinema are being ridiculous. What happens if a group of people on their way home from work in suits want to watch it? When my son was in sixth form he had to wear a suit.
Of course, That very likely scenario of corporate colleagues want to go and watch the Minions straight from work and find themselves in a middle of a Tik Tok trend! How unfortunate!

IRS quite unbelievable though.

Have you read the thread?

And you were actually planning on buying a suit for this express purpose?

WTF have I just read?

Once the film has started, it's a bit late...

My son and niece went yesterday in suits to Vue, they were fine. Said there were a few others dressed like it, no trouble!

I forget who wrote this but... 'cancel all showings of Minions'...

Really? DO you have any idea what that would mean for a Cinema? How much money they would lose? It isn't like telling your kids they can't watch Love Island because they've been naughty, there are huge financial implications for a business if they do this.

My point is that if they’re willing to pay five extra staff to provide security, it must be a huge problem.

This is ridiculous.

Nobody can know what anyone elses child intends.

I would be suspicious of anyone wearing tbe suits, but then I dont like tiktok..

But the age of someone seeing minions means nothing. I'm 30 and I like them!

Minions is a kids film. Why do loads of teenage boys suddenly want to go and see it unless it's to cause trouble?

Because when the previous films have been part of you childhood, you quote often still want to see the next one's? It's comforting and nostalgic. They are only 13. If a new Lilo and Stitch film came out on the cinema I'd be going to see it on my own and I'm a 26 year old woman .. because I love Lilo and Stitch and grew up with it. As a teenager I saw the new Ice Age films even though they were "for kids". I wouldn't assume teenagers can't want to see these films. Many teens and adults would be wanting to see a new Shrek film. It happened with Toy Story 4.

No but everyone can guarantee that none of the teens who are acting like dickheads will be going home and telling their parents the truth. They will all just say they wore a suit and watched the film without any of the disruptive behaviour.

We can also guarantee that if the problem is so big, cinemas are paying extra staff to police it, it is widespread and a big issue.

Exactly @GrinAndVomit, what kind of teenager goes home and tells their parents that they’ve been out being a dickhead? No, they go home and say everything was fine or moan about how unjustly they’ve been treated without expanding in their part in it all.

Oh FFS, this wins for most absurd comment of the thread so far.