Top 24 Popcorn Buckets from Movie Promotions
- AMC has been selling collectible tie-in popcorn buckets since 2019.
- Buckets are themed after blockbusters like Star Wars and Taylor Swift Eras Tour.
- Cinemark and other chains have joined the trend, creating unique designs.
- Some designs include Alien Romulus, Despicable Me 4, and Inside Out 2.
- This trend may just be beginning, with more imaginative buckets expected.
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24 MOVIE TIE-IN POPCORN BUCKETS WE LOVED AND HATED
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2024 GO Media Commentary
24 MOVIE TIE-IN POPCORN BUCKETS WE LOVED AND HATED
FROM DUNE TO BEETLEJUICE 2, THESE POPCORN BUCKETS ARE REGRETTABLY JUST THE TIP OF THIS WEIRD-AS-HELL ICEBERG
Star Wars By Moises Taveras
Published Thursday 9:40 AM
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A collage of various tie-in popcorn buckets including Dune, Saw X, Barbie, Ghostbusters, Ant-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Star Wars
Image: AMC Theatres, Cinemark, Streamers Visuals
As it turns out, the Dune Part Two sandworm-shaped monstrosity that AMC passed off as a popcorn bucket wasn't the only one of its kind.
In fact, since 2019, AMC has apparently made a killing selling all kinds of collectible tie-in buckets for the year's biggest blockbusters, from Star Wars Rise of Skywalker to Taylor Swift Eras Tour.
This year, they've been making a killing by selling buckets themed after a bunch of blockbusters and family-centric movies, which tend to bring in huge audiences that live and die for this kind of stuff.
It's all a racket, I tell ya, but a racket that has spawned a bigger market than I was led to believe.
Cinemark and other movie theater chains have also jumped on the train, and by now, there are folks with a sizeable-enough bunch of these buckets at home to call it an honest-to-goodness collection, and their interest in them an obsession.
And frighteningly, we may just be at the start of this trend.
Since first going down this rabbit hole earlier this year, theater chains have only continued putting out the weirdest and most imaginative collectible popcorn buckets, running the gamut from cute to horny.
On one hand, there's a baby carrier for Despicable Me 4 that I simply must have.
On the other hand, there's also a Chestburster bucket from Alien or Wolverine's mouth.
What are we doing here?
I've come to you all with my findings. I'm so sorry.
Here are some of the best and absolute worst popcorn buckets you can pick up
For real American dollars
Of your own volition
For some reason
ALIEN ROMULUS
A popcorn bucket shaped like a Weyland-Yutani canister complete with a Chestburster
Screenshot: Regal Cinema
Alien Romulus is the latest movie to jump on the weirdo popcorn bucket trend, and I've got to give credit where it's due—they swung for the fences.
I don't know who decided that anyone would like to eat out of something that once contained the monstrosity from one of the most iconic horror scenes ever, but the mad person did it.
And should probably be locked away for it too, but that's neither here nor there.
DESPICABLE ME 4
A Despicable Me 4-themed popcorn bucket that looks like a baby carrier
Image: Universal Pictures
This is actually likely my new favorite popcorn bucket.
It's adorable and keeps with the family-oriented theme of the Despicable Me series, and it seems like it's almost got actual utility.
I'll forgive the Minion cameo—I can't stand those little freaks—because this is overwhelmingly a home run, especially compared to the other Despicable Me 4 buckets.
SOME MORE DESPICABLE ME 4
A Despicable Me 4-themed popcorn bucket that looks like a Minion
Image: Universal Pictures
Simply terrifying.
I am not only tired of eating popcorn out of the heads of fictional characters, but I don't want to have to look one of the Minions in the eye or open the back of its head to eat out of it.
The only comforting thing about this bucket is that at least I don't have to listen to the gibberish that comes out of these things' mouths.
INSIDE OUT 2
A popcorn bucket themed after Inside Out 2; the main receptacle is shaped like the control center that can be seen in the movies
Image: Cinemark
These kinds of trays have always felt aimed way more at children than adults, which is a bummer because I know several grown men whose happiness would spike through the roof if I gave them this.
Inside Out 2 made several of my friends cry far too many tears, but at least they'd cry happy tears at the sight of this thing, which looks like the control center inside of Riley's head.
In the meantime, get it for the emotional kid in your life.
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
A popcorn bucket themed after Deadpool & Wolverine, featuring Wolverine's face and a comically wide mouth
Image: AMC
In case you doubted Deadpool & Wolverine's ability to channel its crass humor to a popcorn bucket, here's the perfect collector's item to prove the naysayers wrong while simultaneously horrifying anyone who actually sees it.
Yes, that's Wolverine's comically large mouth—even though Deadpool is often called the Merc with a Mouth—and yes, you are meant to put your hand in there to fetch popcorn out of the bucket.
I fear hands are not what people are going to be putting in there, though.
If the reaction and horny fervor around the Dune bucket is any indication, God help this poor piece of licensed movie merchandise.
KUNG FU PANDA 4
A popcorn bucket that looks like Po from Kung Fu Panda 4 holding a giant bowl in front of him
Image: Dreamworks Animation
Summer's a time for taking kids to the movies to see the latest blockbuster or animated flick. 2024's summer has been no different, and we were lucky enough to get the fourth installment of the Kung Fu Panda movies.
Truth be told, I didn't even know there was ever a third, but that doesn't matter.
The fourth is clearly the best of the lot because it gave us this incredibly adorable bucket.
It's a shame that it doesn't seem to be sold anymore because I'd exclusively eat out of this every day of the week.
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA
A popcorn bucket that resembles Ant-Man's head
Photo: AMC Theatres
The bucket is obviously a very cool bit of memorabilia for the form factor alone, but I can't really imagine nonchalantly picking a dude's brains for popcorn. I think not.
AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM
A popcorn bucket and soda cup styled in the gold and green colors of Aquaman's costume
Photo: AMC Theatres
This is more or less the stereotypical version of these crossovers I tend to see when I go to theatres.
I sure wouldn't pay money for a reskin, but at least this one is kinda fun and doesn't just stick the poster art on and call it a day.
BARBIE THE MOVIE
Barbie's pink Corvette, which apparently in this case is also a popcorn bucket
Photo: AMC Theatres
You know that rule that reasonable folks employ about not eating in the car? Yeah.
BLUE BEETLE
A blue plastic mechanical-looking blue beetle. Popcorn can be seen within through its clear eyes
Photo: Cinemark
I'm more mixed on this Blue Beetle bucket than I thought I'd be.
On one hand, I quite literally never want to look it in the eye, let alone wear it around my neck like the straps seem to suggest you should.
On the other hand, it looks like you can close this bad boy and take it on the go, and there's no better way to snack as far as I'm concerned.
DUNE PART TWO
The famous Dune popcorn bucket with its opening stylized to look like a giant worm emerging from the sand
Photo: AMC Theatres
The one that kicked up all this dirt, sand in the first place.
I've come around on it, actually.
It's still hideous, and the folks who want to fuck it are still beyond help, but it's also just the right amount of unhinged for me to proudly display it on my mantle.
Now to get a mantle.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES
A very large 20-sided die that can be opened to reveal a bounty of delicious popcorn inside
Photo: AMC Theatres
This is the gold standard, easily.
It helps that the Dungeons & Dragons movie is a hoot and a half, but it's also practical and boasts a gorgeous design.
That's a hell of a D20. Imagine throwing that, getting a crit, and then popping that sucker open for a mid-game bite.
FAST X
A dark sports car with its upper section tilted open to allow one to enjoy the delicious popcorn filling the interior
Photo: AMC Theatres
Once again, no one should be eating on/from a car.
However, unlike Barbie's tie-in bucket, I've got to give this one kudos because much like Dom Toretto, it is completely impractical but likely to feed a family.
GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE
A Ghostbusters trap with popcorn sitting in a pink bucket atop it that is likely meant to suggest the dazzling light that emerges from an open ghost trap in the films
Photo: AMC Theatres
There's simply too much going on here, man.
It'd be one thing to do the ghoulish pink bucket on the top or the ghost trap on the bottom, but to slap them together like this is a crime.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3
A popcorn bucket that looks like it's made out of tendrils of wood, grows out of the arms of Groot
Photo: Cinemark
This Groot-themed bucket gets a thumbs-up for being a reasonably sized actual bucket.
I don't love the chunk in the front that has the movie's name emblazoned on it, especially since I think the wooden imagery and Groot handle do all the talking necessary, but I'll relent and eat from this thing.
MEAN GIRLS
Two juxtaposed images of the same item. On the left, it is closed, and we can see that it is a case meant to resemble the pink-covered Burn Book from Mean Girls. On the right, it is open, displaying where the tasty popcorn would go
Photo: AMC Theatres
Yes.
Simple, elegant, and most of all, fetch.
THE MARVELS
A cat, or at least a creature resembling a cat, looks cute and attentive while it seemingly pops out of an orange egg of some kind
Photo: AMC Theatres
Is this the cat that's actually an alien from Ms. Marvel?
I think the problems with this one are numerous, but let's start there.
It's not obviously a callback to something in these movies that the average person can pick up on.
That makes it much more of a hardcore fan collector item, which is great for the dozens of people who went to see this movie but not for a more casual fan.
Second big problem: Am I supposed to eat around the cat?
Is there actually less space in this huge popcorn bucket than if I simply bought a normal large bucket?
Third: Wait, am I supposed to pop open
