'Minions' trend explained: Why are cinemas banning teens in suits?

Watch: Steve Carell reveals the origins of Gru's voice

Some UK cinemas have banned groups of young people wearing suits to screenings of the new Minions film.

Minions: The Rise of Gru, the latest instalment in the Despicable Me franchise, has inspired a wave of internet memes since its release last Friday.

But some young moviegoers dressed in suits have been criticised for rowdy behaviour in viral videos posted to TikTok.

As a result, some cinemas have enforced dress code restrictions during screenings of the animated hit.

What is the 'Gentleminions' trend?

The 'Gentleminions' trend involves large groups of young people – mostly teenage boys – wearing suits to screenings of the film.

Their unusually formal attire is linked to an ironic appreciation of the children's movie, which has attracted mixed critical reviews.

In videos shared on TikTok, many can be seen copying the film's supervillain Felonius Gru (voiced by Steve Carrell), and his signature hand gesture.

But some taking part in the craze have disrupted screenings with loud cheering, shouting and clapping.

Others has been filmed throwing bananas at the screen, in an apparent reference to the favourite food of Gru's yellow helpers, called Minions.

Read more: Why are there no female Minions?

The clips have generated more than six million views on TikTok so far.

Universal Pictures, which produced the film, tweeted: "To everyone showing up to @Minions in suits: we see you and we love you."

How have cinemas responded?

The Odeon cinema chain said it was forced to "restrict access" to some screenings last weekend due to "a small number of incidents".

Guernsey's only cinema has stopped showing the film after "stunningly bad behaviour" from moviegoers, including alleged vandalism and abuse of staff.

Mallard Cinema manager Daniel Phillips-Smith told the BBC that young children "have been in tears" as a result of the disruption.

Meanwhile, Cornwall's Regal Cinema has banned any unaccompanied children who are wearing suits from watching the movie.

But the Vue chain said it was still welcoming all customers to see the film.

Despite – or perhaps helped by – the controversy, The Rise of Gru has proved to be a huge hit.

It has already taken £10.4m at the box office in the UK and Ireland, knocking Baz Luhrmann's biopic Elvis off the top of the charts.

The film, which serves as the prequel to 2015's Minions, also stars Taraji P Henson, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Julie Andrews.