**Family Forced to Leave Cinema After Young Children Exposed to Horror Trailers**
A family outing intended to delight two young boys transformed into a distressing ordeal after a London cinema reportedly displayed horror film trailers ahead of a screening of the children’s classic, *Lilo & Stitch*. The incident, which took place last Saturday at Cineworld in Enfield, has raised questions about cinema protocols and the handling of age-appropriate content.
Jenny Ellice, aged 43, along with her husband Robert, had arranged a special day for their sons Max, four, and Bertie, five. Eager to enjoy the newly released remake of *Lilo & Stitch*, the family opted for the full 4DX experience. These screenings, marketed as an “extreme sensory experience”, feature moving seats and other sensory effects—and, at £85 for the family, are considered a premium offering by the cinema chain.
Cinemas are generally expected to ensure any trailers ahead of children’s films are suitable for younger viewers, often showing previews for other PG or U-rated titles. However, as Jenny described, what happened at Cineworld that morning left her children severely shaken. Instead of gentle family-friendly content, the boys were shown trailers for films like *Jurassic World Rebirth* and horror titles such as *Megan*—both rated PG-13, and in the case of the horror films, containing graphic and frightening material not intended for children.
Jenny said the effects were immediate and distressing. The combination of graphic images, frightening sounds and the movement of the seats overwhelmed the boys, who soon became “rigid with fear”. Jenny recalled, “There was swearing and screaming in the trailers—I was desperately trying to cover their eyes, but it was too late.” She added that Max has since been waking up screaming at night and that Bertie confided to his teacher about his fears linked to the cinema outing.
The family were the only guests in the 10:10am showing, which Jenny described as a small blessing. Despite the initial excitement (the boys had been looking forward to popcorn and wearing their 3D glasses), the mood shifted rapidly after the inappropriate previews began. Jenny told reporters, “We’d been so happy when we arrived, but as soon as the horror trailer started, I knew something was wrong.”
Staff at Cineworld apologised after Jenny raised her concerns, and the family were offered free tickets as compensation. However, Jenny has made it clear this response did not go far enough. As a television journalist from Epping, Essex, she believes more robust safeguarding needs to be in place. “It’s not just about my children,” she stated, “Any family could have experienced this. We trust cinemas to do the right thing.”
Jenny attempted to escalate her concerns through Cineworld’s customer service channels but found their response inadequate. “Their approach made me feel like my complaint was being brushed aside,” she said, explaining that communication ceased after the free ticket offer. Dissatisfied, she has since instructed solicitors to pursue the matter further, intending to approach Enfield Council and relevant film classification bodies to formally register her complaint.
According to Jenny, her primary aim is to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. “Children absorb everything around them. Exposure to violence and strong language at such a young age can have lasting effects,” she argued. Legal representation, she says, was a last resort after failing to find meaningful engagement with the cinema chain. She hopes the incident will prompt a review of procedures, ensuring that screenings for young audiences are safe and suitable.
As of publication, Cineworld has yet to provide a public statement in response to these allegations. The situation has sparked discussion among parents and professionals about the responsibilities of cinemas and the need for industry-wide standards when curating film trailers for family audiences. The story serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly routine family activities can go awry—and robust protections for children are crucial in public entertainment settings.