A Spider-Man evacuation became the night’s unexpected plot twist after a mystery odor drove viewers from the theater.
Moviegoers reportedly rushed out of a screening of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” in Cartagena, Colombia. The disruption happened after a powerful smell spread through the auditorium midway through the movie.
Several reports blamed the odor on a moviegoer experiencing uncontrollable flatulence. However, that explanation has not been independently confirmed.
What reportedly happened inside the theater?
The unusual incident reportedly happened at a Cine Colombia theater inside the Plaza Bocagrande shopping center. The screening had reached about its halfway point when the smell became difficult to ignore.
People began leaving the auditorium, with some covering their noses and faces. Video shared online appeared to show viewers gathering in the hallway after exiting the screening.
Reports described the event as an evacuation. However, the theater reportedly did not cancel the screening, and some viewers later returned.
No injuries were reported. Other screenings at the cinema also continued as scheduled.
Was flatulence really responsible?
Online reports quickly claimed that an unidentified audience member caused the odor. The person was never publicly identified.
Some social media users suggested that the smell could have come from a prank device instead. No evidence has confirmed that theory either.
Cine Colombia had not released a detailed public explanation when the story began spreading. Without an official investigation, the true source of the odor remains uncertain.
TMZ reported that fans left the screening because of the smell. Other outlets published similar accounts based on videos and reports from the scene.
Social media finds the movie’s unexpected villain
The strange story quickly attracted jokes online. Several commenters described the unidentified person as the movie’s real villain.
Others questioned how one smell could disrupt an entire auditorium. Some viewers also criticized the lack of respect shown to people who had purchased tickets.
The humorous reactions helped the incident spread far beyond Colombia. A local theater disruption soon became an international entertainment story.
Despite the jokes, the exact cause remains an allegation. Reports have not established whether the odor came from a medical issue, an ordinary bodily function, or a prank.
Spider-Man dominates the box office
The unusual evacuation did little to slow the movie’s massive opening. “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” earned about 932 million dollars worldwide during its opening weekend.
That total gave the movie the second-largest global opening in film history, according to The Guardian.
The film also earned about 360 million dollars in North America. That result set a new domestic opening record, according to early box-office estimates.
The enormous opening came as theaters continued trying to attract audiences with premium screens, stronger sound systems, and special viewing formats.
Tom Holland returns as Spider-Man
The movie marks Tom Holland’s fourth solo appearance as Peter Parker. Destin Daniel Cretton directed the film, which also features Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, and Jon Bernthal.
The story follows Peter after the events of “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” He continues protecting New York while living in a world that no longer remembers his identity.
The movie received strong early reviews. Its reported Rotten Tomatoes scores reached about 90 percent from critics and 98 percent from verified audience members during opening weekend.
Scores can change as more reviews arrive. The film’s official Rotten Tomatoes page provides the latest available ratings.
An evacuation with an unanswered question
The Cartagena incident created a viral story built around an unusual mystery. Viewers clearly left the auditorium because of an overwhelming odor, according to footage and witness reports.
What remains unclear is who or what caused it. The popular flatulence explanation has produced plenty of jokes, but no official source has confirmed it.
For one audience, the biggest surprise did not appear on the screen. It arrived halfway through the movie and sent viewers searching for fresh air.