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BBC News
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Sevenoaks cinema ejects group from A Minecraft Movie screening
A cinema in Kent has said it had to eject a group of people during a screening of A Minecraft Movie due to rowdy behaviour sparked by a TikTok trend. The film stars Jason Momoa and Jack Black and is based on a popular video game which was launched in have been reports from cinemas across the country of viewers taking part in a TikTok trend of throwing popcorn, food and drinks, and shouting at certain moments during the McEwen, deputy chief executive of the Stag Theatre in Sevenoaks, said: "Since the opening weekend, we've had a few incidents and it's mostly groups of young boys aged between 11 to 14. "We ejected one group of seven young people who were being particularly rowdy."He added patrons thanked him and his staff for asking the group to leave. Sam from Tunbridge Wells, who went to watch A Minecraft Movie, told Radio Kent it was the "worst cinema experience of his life"."I just wanted to chill out to a funny film and it turned out to be a disaster," he said."The screening was full of teenage boys who talked through the entire film and they were daring each other to shout silly things."Sam added the teenagers would stand up, cheer and throw food whenever Jack Black's character, Steve, quoted anything which referenced a meme."I left the cinema with lettuce down me and they were really rude about female characters," he said. 'Visceral and legitimate' Mr McEwen said there was a fine line between people immersing themselves in the full cinema experience tastefully and being disruptive to the point which "ruins" it for other told Radio Kent about his personal experience of going to the cinema in his youth."I was a sci-fi fan. I remember going to see the Star Wars films and I and many others cheered when Yoda was involved in his first lightsaber duel," he McEwen said it was a "visceral and legitimate reaction" because viewers had been long-time fans of the franchise and the reaction was emotional rather than sparked by a social media trend. He said the cinema had a similar experience back in 2022 when Minions: The Rise of Gru was screening. "There was a TikTok trend called Gentle Minions and young people dressed up in suits and were rowdy during the film," he said.
BBC News
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Kent's cinemas hope for a Bridget Jones Valentine's boost
Independent cinemas are hoping for a bumper Valentine's weekend with the release of the new Bridget Jones movie as the industry continues to struggle with cost of living pressures. While it is hoped the film - which opens in the UK on Friday - will do good business at the box office, some cinema owners and operators have said this is not the of living pressures, the coronavirus pandemic and the changing streaming landscape have left many smaller venues fearing for their Eyre from the Stag Theatre in Sevenoaks has a simple message: "If you don't use your local independent cinema, you'll lose it." The above factors have forced some venues to change tact to stay afloat. Corinna Downing, co-owner of the Palace Cinema in Broadstairs, said the venue would operate on a part-time basis from April. "We just couldn't afford to stay open with energy costs and the cost of living crisis," she Downing said it was "beyond our control" as fewer films were being released "which is why cinemas are showing classic blockbusters to get by".The 111 seat-venue often only fills about 30% of seats per showing, Mrs Downing explained. However, there is a buzz around the latest instalment of screenwriter Helen Fielding's Taylor, general manager at The Kino in Hawkhurst, said showing Bridget Jones - Mad About the Boy would "put us on the map, bring in lots of revenue and get people talking about where they saw it and how good it was".Efforts are being made to make the experience as "accessible as possible" through mother-and-baby showings and screenings for school groups. Louis Boswell, who also works at The Kino, said: "Huge films like this can encourage new faces to come through our doors and visit again another time." Jo Holmes, manager of the Carlton Cinema, said there was a "pyjamas and ugly Christmas jumpers" dress code at the Westgate venue for the film."Life is hard enough, so she turns up at job interviews [and] the school gates in her PJs. It's very refreshing," she Holmes believes big releases like Bridget Jones represent an opportunity for independent venues - one she hopes to capitalise on with themed events such as "Crafternoons", where people crochet or knit while watching the with the Stag Theatre still 15-20% short of pre-pandemic levels, Mr Eyre hopes this latest release will help."This weekend will certainly be big for us, it's one of the biggest films and we're hopeful it will help tickets sales," he said. Times like these emphasise the value of independent cinema, something which Mr Eyre hopes resonates.
