‘Star Wars’ Fans Almost Rioted After A Sound Malfunction At A Screening Of ‘The Last Jedi’

Disney

There’s no way to prove it, but I would be willing to bet I have seen The Italian Job more times than anyone else on the planet. I’m not necessarily proud of this distinction, but it’s a reality I’ve come to accept. I don’t know what drew 14-year-old me to that movie (although I assume it has something to do with Charlize Theron), but it spoke to my soul like nothing else.

In the middle of the movie, Mark Wahlberg has a conversation with the ironically-named Samoan gangster Skinny Pete, who tells him there are three things you should never mess with: “mother nature, mother-in-laws, and motherfreakin’ Ukrainians.” It’s sound advice, but there’s one very important group he neglected to mention: Star Wars fans.

As you’re probably aware, Star Wars: The Last Jedi hit theaters last night and was greeted by eager fans who have spent the past year overanalyzing posters, coming up with wild theories, and devouring every single teaser and trailer that’s been released. As if there wasn’t enough anticipation already, there’s been an outpouring of positive reviews suggesting this might be the best Star Wars movie since The Empire Strikes Back, so while I’m looking forward to seeing it as a casual fan, I can’t imagine how excited the diehards must be.

Everybody knows there’s no better way to prove your fandom than heading to a midnight showing dressed up in your finest cosplay getup and getting ready to scream at the screen if something isn’t canon. A number of like-minded people flocked to a movie theater in Burbank, California last night with the intention of finally getting their Star Wars fix, but things went around when the sound malfunctioned after the start of the movie.

Thankfully, the attendees reacted calmly and rationally, and by that I mean they stormed the lobby and staged a rebellion that rivaled the one in the original trilogy.

Here’s an alternate angle of the chaos filmed by someone who could clearly not give less of a shit about the problem.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, employees who do not get paid enough to deal with this shit informed the attendees the movie would not be restarted, and the police were eventually called to restore the peace.

Hell hath no fury like a Star Wars fan scorned.

[AV Club]