Banned movie linked to 25 ‘incidents’ at cinemas

THE cinema chain which pulled gang film Blue Story after a huge ‘machete’ brawl in Birmingham has revealed that it was just one of 25 ‘significant incidents’ at its sites within 24 hours of the film’s release.

Vue said more than one in four of its 60 multiplexes experienced an incident ‘that had a risk to audience members’ which was linked to the 15-certificate movie, developed and part-financed by BBC Films.

But Vue and rival Showcase yesterday faced accusations of racism for banning the film. It came as details of violent incidents linked to Blue Story at other cinema chains’ sites began to emerge.

The fight at Birmingham’s Star City entertainment complex erupted on Saturday as young children queued for a screening of Disney’s Frozen 2.

Yesterday police revealed a 14-year-old boy had been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.

Meanwhile, movie-goers had to be evacuated during an opening night screening at

Wimbledon’s Odeon in South London after a fight broke out.

And at Huddersfield Odeon in West Yorkshire, up to 200 youths were said to have reduced cinema-goers, including children, to tears after being refused entry to a Saturday screening of the debut film by British director Andrew ‘Rapman’ Onwubolu.

However, last night Showcase revoked its Blue Story ban.

A spokesman said: ‘We have come up with a plan to reinstate screenings of the film supported with increased security protocols.’