King's Lynn Majestic Cinema joins TikTok trend #gentleminions surrounding Minions: The Rise Of Gru film with Steve Carell

Lynn's Majestic Cinema says it has had a positive response to a TikTok trend surrounding the new Minions film as followers have been spotted in town.

Groups of young people have been wearing suits during screenings of Minions: The Rise Of Gru, which was released on Friday.

The film stars Steve Carell as Felonious Gru and features the likes of Jean-Claude Van Damme, Michelle Yeoh, Russell Brand and Julie Andrews.

Tickets have been selling like hotcakes with Majestic manager Joe Marsh saying: "It's been very popular, especially over the weekend.

"I think we were selling out."

The trend, which has become a smash-hit on social media app TikTok, involves large groups of teenage boys, who call themselves The Gentleminions, filming themselves going to watch the latest instalment in the Despicable Me franchise dressed in suits.

Some go as a banana in reference to the favourite food of Gru’s yellow helpers, called Minions – and there are pictures circulating of youngsters outside Lynn's Majestic Cinema.

It is not clear where the trend originated but the #gentleminions videos show suited groups attending the screenings and copying the main character, supervillain Felonius Gru, and his signature hand gesture.

In the videos, which have racked up millions of views on the app, groups can be seen celebrating “the five-year wait is over”.

Some of the viral videos show those taking part cheering and clapping loudly and being disruptive during screenings, leading to some UK cinemas to enforce dress code restrictions.

For example one independent cinema in Cornwall has banned any unaccompanied children who are wearing suits from watching the film.

But the Majestic have had no such problems with those arriving in fancy dress and are not considering any bans.

Mr Marsh said: "I heard in other cinemas there was a drone and people throwing bananas. It was a bit louder but not too much. Ninety-nine per cent it is totally fine."

Universal Pictures, which produced the film, has backed the #gentleminions trend, tweeting “to everyone showing up to @Minions in suits: we see you and we love you”.