Joker works on various levels.  It deals with a person with psychotic issues, turning violent, employing weapons.  That is what has made it problematic for a lot of critics who believe it appropriates violence.  And if someone tries to scare people at the screening of a movie like this, things are expected to become… panicky. 

A Joker screening in Paris cinema was evacuated after a man shouted 'Allahu akbar', in the theater, leading to widespread panic. 

It was a 9.30 pm show at the Grand Rex cinema on Sunday and people could only watch the film half way through and then the panic erupted. 





Apparently the man kept saying, “It’s political”, many times and the audience asked him to keep quiet.  Then he suddenly stood from his seat, kept his hand on his chest and shouted, “Allahu akbar!” 

His action and his words caused a palpable panic and people started scrambling towards the exit, it was even rumored that the man had a gun, according to Le Parisien. 

One audience member reportedly said, “It was total panic.  People jumped over seats and women fell to the ground in the aisles.” 

Allahu Akbar translates to 'God is great' and unfortunately, the term has come to be associated with radical Islamic terrorism.  The man reportedly tried to exit the cinema and almost made it out even as the security tried to wrestle him to the ground. 





He was eventually stopped by Paris police and taken into custody. 

The 34-year-old was reportedly not armed.  The Grand Rex cinema was still evacuated and bomb squad was called to check for any explosives; none were found.  The man was reportedly released later and given a psychiatric examination. 

According to Le Parisien, a spokesperson from the cinema said that the man in question was working with an accomplice and trying to create disruption in order to divert people’s attention and steal their belongings.