The brawl took place in the UK, but the chain now won’t be showing the movie in Ireland.
Five teenagers were arrested on Saturday night in Birmingham, following a mass brawl which involved machetes.
As reported by the BBC, seven police officers were hurt while attempting to disperse the fighting at the Vue cinema in Star City complex.
The force said for those responding to the disorder “it may be the worst thing they have ever seen”, resulting in police drawing tasers and using a dispersal order to clear about 100 youths.
It is reported that teenagers as young as 13 were arrested on suspicion of assaulting police.
The disorder reportedly began at a screening of Blue Story, a semi-autobiographical movie from director Rapman, dealing with two best friends from warring postcodes, who quickly form a firm friendship until it is tested and they wind up on rival sides of a street war.
As a result, Vue Cinemas have now pulled the movie from all 91 outlets in the UK and Ireland. Tickets are no longer available to be purchased online, while their automated phone service tells customers that “We regret that we will no longer be screening the film ‘Blue Story’ at any of our venues.”
Rapman took to Twitter to respond to the incident, saying “It’s truly unfortunate that a small group of people can ruin things for everybody. Blue Story is a film about love, not violence.”
Other cinema chains appear to still be showing the movie, which was released in Ireland on Friday 22 November.
Clip via Paramount Pictures UK
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
