Police are investigating an act of criminal damage after teenagers threw eggs at the screen during a late-night screening of A Minecraft Movie at Reel Cinema in Farnham.
The incident, which the cinema said caused thousands of pounds worth of damage, took place at about 9pm on Friday, April 4.
A cinema spokesperson said in a social media post: “Last night, during a showing of Minecraft, a group of children egged our cinema screens. What may have seemed like a harmless prank has actually caused thousands of pounds worth of damage.”
The spokesperson explained that the screens are made from special materials that cannot be easily cleaned, and in some cases, the damage could render a screen unusable for weeks.
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The cinema also confirmed that its auditoriums are covered by “high-quality CCTV” and the names of those believed to be involved have been reported.
“We’ll now be working with their school and the police to take the appropriate next steps,” they said.
The cinema also announced plans to increase monitoring during screenings, stating, “We will not tolerate any kind of disruption before, during, or after a screening. Anyone who disrupts a showing will be asked to leave, and if necessary, the police will be called.”
A spokesperson for Surrey Police said: “We are investigating an incident of criminal damage at Reel Cinema in Farnham that took place on Friday, 4 April.
“The incident took place between 8:55pm and 9pm and involved two teenage boys throwing eggs at the screen, causing significant damage.
“We have been in contact with the cinema and our enquiries to identify the suspects are ongoing.”
A Minecraft Movie, based on the popular video game, stars Jack Black and Jason Momoa as they’re transported into a blocky world.
While critics have given the movie generally poor reviews, it has been a box office success.
However, reports of antisocial behaviour, especially among younger viewers, have surfaced worldwide, with some screenings descending into chaos.
Social media footage shows food being thrown, loud shouting, swearing, and people jumping from their seats, many recording the mayhem on their phones.
Anyone with information about the Farnham egging incident is urged to contact Surrey Police, quoting reference PR/45250040334.