A trip to the movies turned dramatic in Pukekohe, New Zealand, when two women were trespassed for bringing their own food into Cinema 3. The altercation, caught on TikTok but later removed, quickly escalated when staff asked the women to leave, prompting a heated exchange and a call to the local ‘popcorn’ police.
The incident began on a typical Tuesday afternoon. The women, accompanied by children, were asked to remove their snacks or leave the cinema. Instead, a debate ensued, with one staff member heard on video saying, “Let’s call the police.”
Operations Manager Robert Greig explained, “We can’t run a business if everyone brings their own food and drinks.” The women were eventually escorted out without further incident.
Two TikTok videos, viewed 250,000 times before being taken down, sparked a broader discussion about cinema policies. While some argued that snacks should be allowed, others defended dietary needs and shared their own sneaky snack stories. Others stressed the importance of following rules to support local businesses.
Pukekohe’s Cinema 3 stands by its no-outside-food policy, communicated by five signs around the premises. The moviegoers claimed they didn’t see these signs.
Despite the mixed reactions, one thing is clear: moviegoers are passionate about their snacks.
