Teens stampede at movie theater over '50 Shades'

OCOEE, Fla., Feb. 17 (UPI) -- A Florida mall said its changing policy as a result of hundreds of teens rushing a movie theater that refused to sell them tickets to 50 Shades of Grey.

Police said hundreds of teenagers swarmed around the AMC theater at the West Oaks Mall in Ocoee Saturday night and about approximately 100 of the teenagers made it into the theater before its doors were locked and attempted to force their way into a screening of 50 Shades of Grey, which is rated R.

"It wasn't a mob. They weren't smashing windows. They weren't crashing in to steal anything. They were just saying, 'Hey, I can get in and see a free movie," Ocoee police Lt. Mike Bryant told WESH-TV.

Bryant said earlier reports of a gunshot during the incident were actually caused by fireworks being set off by teenagers in the parking lot.

A statement released by the West Oaks Mall said the incident came after a group of teens were denied tickets to see 50 Shades of Grey.

"It wasn't like, we're all going to the movie theater to storm the theater. It's, we're going to the theater, and there was a lack of control, so kids took advantage," Bryant said.

The mall said minors under the age of 17 will no longer be allowed on mall property after 9 p.m. without being accompanied by an adult.

Police said two juveniles were arrested; one on charges of battery and resisting arrest and the other on drug charges.