A group of men ran into a California movie theater with a leaf blower, scaring the entire crowd.
Police received several 911 calls from frightened theater-goers.
Many of them rushed outside upon hearing the commotion.
Prank victim Mara Rothbart explained the situation.
"Everyone just started screaming,” she said. “It was chaos within five seconds. I just heard loud sounds. I hear oh my god this is happening, this is happening, get out now."
Three people suffered minor injuries, including at least one sprained ankle.
Kyndall Aldama, a movie-theater goer, said. "Everybody there thought that someone was in the theater trying to kill them."
Police are still searching for the men responsible for the dangerous prank.