Everscream Times day 31 by Omar Najam

ALT TEXT: Everscream Times

Headline: social media trend 'gremlinmaxxing' revives local theater scene

Sub header: don't feed them after midnight screenings

With ticket sales diminishing due to the proliferation of streaming services and post-COVID anxieties, the local movie theater was ready to turn off the popcorn machine and dim the house lights for good. 

But then a strange social media phenomenon took hold and business has never been better. 

“We literally can’t stop filling seats, it’s amazing!” says theater owner Pat Montgomery. “And it’s all thanks to a viral social media trend!” 

It’s called Gremlinmaxxing. And it’s not what you’d expect. 

“These gremlins, I guess they’re called gremlins, they all just choose a screening and show up and buy a ton of candy and a ton of popcorn and just... have a good time!” 

Last night I got a chance to attend a screening of Snow White (1937) and the theater was filled to the brim with these scaly, raptor-eyed movie patrons. 

“They’re singing, they’re dancing, one of them is spinning from a thing on the ceiling. They make shadow puppets in between trailers. These are some of the best customers we’ve had in years!” Montgomery boasts.

That passion for cinema has saved the old movie house, and stands as a reminder to all of us that maybe we should Gremlinmaxx every once in a while.