Cover Picture a sandworm-shaped bucket sparking memes or a designer tote doubling as a snack holder. Popcorn buckets are cinema's boldest merch play yet (Photo: AMC/IMDb)
Picture a sandworm-shaped bucket sparking memes or a designer tote doubling as a snack holder. Popcorn buckets are cinema's boldest merch play yet (Photo: AMC/IMDb)
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Popcorn buckets have become cinemas' secret weapon turning snacks into sell-outs. Explore the business hype around these quirky film tie-ins
Popcorn buckets have evolved from simple snack holders into a key revenue stream for cinemas grappling with post-pandemic attendance dips and reduced film releases. Chains like AMC now earn tens of millions annually from these novelty items tied to major films. This surge reflects broader efforts to make theatre visits event-like experiences amid a 2024 box office that fell 3.4% to $8.74 billion, as revealed in a report by CNBC.
The business of popcorn buckets hinges on scarcity and social media buzz to drive impulse buys. Just three years ago AMC sold no merchandise; last year it pulled in $65 million from buckets, drink containers and T-shirts alone. CEO Adam Aron credits the Taylor Swift Eras Tour bucket launched in October 2023 with kickstarting the trend now released almost monthly. Other operators including Cinemark Marcus Regal and B&B Theatres have followed suit using popcorn buckets to lift concession sales, create urgency around openings and offer reusable keepsakes.
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Why popcorn buckets are now big business
Novelty popcorn buckets tap into theme park merchandising tactics long used by Disney and Universal to boost profits. US cinemas lagged behind partly due to cup holder fit issues but firms like Zinc shifted focus here in 2016. B&B Theatres executive Farn Farnsworth noted that post-Covid audiences needed reasons to return, noting that distinctive popcorn buckets enrich visits and encourage repeat use at home.
In 2025, the trend accelerated with chains competing on absurdity to spark online chatter. Regal Cinemas business development head Matt Willard highlighted how the Dune 2 sandworm design marked a shift toward designs that prioritise virality over utility. This approach counters declining ticket sales by tying popcorn buckets to blockbuster hype drawing crowds for the collectible as much as the film.
Custom popcorn bucket markets also thrive on B2C platforms like Amazon for home use and B2B sites like Alibaba for bulk cinema orders with demand rising for eco-friendly personalised options.
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Who makes the popcorn buckets?
Above Godzilla popcorn bucket from Alamo Drafthouse (Photo: Alamo Mart)
Above The viral ‘M3GAN 2.0’ popcorn bucket (Photo: Alamo Mart)
Godzilla popcorn bucket from Alamo Drafthouse (Photo: Alamo Mart)
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Several manufacturers produce popcorn buckets for cinemas with specialists handling major studio tie-ins and bulk suppliers filling chain orders. Firms collaborate with theatres and studios on custom designs balancing novelty IP licensing and cup holder compatibility.
Zinc serves as a primary US producer partnering with operators like AMC Cinemark and Regal on film-specific popcorn buckets from Dune to recent releases. Overseas factories via platforms like Alibaba provide OEM options for generic or eco-friendly variants in paper or reusable plastic.
These producers manage high-volume runs for limited releases ensuring quick turnaround amid sell-out demand while smaller players offer wholesale for independent venues.
Popcorn buckets that have gone viral
The Dune Part Two sandworm bucket from 2024 ignited viral debate for its phallic form and impracticality spawning memes and sell-outs at AMC. Wolverine’s head for Deadpool followed as a gory practical design that doubled as a cup.
Alamo Drafthouse led horror ties with M3GAN 2.0’s splitting-head bust and Jaws 50th anniversary Bruce bucket. 2025 saw Despicable Me 4 baby carrier, Smurfs Movie village sets and The Naked Gun beaver gag from AMC and Regal.
Pixar’s Hoppers in March 2026 brought beaver-themed buckets across AMC Cinemark and Harkins with Regal’s Snack Pack Combo. These popcorn buckets often sell out fast blending film IP with shareable novelty.
AMC and Regal offer The Devil Wears Prada 2 popcorn buckets shaped like a designer handbag, which might help turn the film's release into yet another cultural moment.
Popcorn buckets have settled into cinemas' core playbook blending film promotion with merchandise revenue. Chains continue rolling out designs tied to blockbusters and nostalgia projects alike from recent hits to sequels like The Devil Wears Prada 2. This model sustains concession profits amid streaming competition and spotty attendance. Expect annual evolutions with bolder collaborations keeping the category fresh for audiences craving tangible takeaways from theatre trips.
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Chonx Tibajia is a senior editor at Tatler Asia’s T-Labs team, where she writes widely on lifestyle subjects including beauty, style, entertainment and travel. She has a long career in journalism, including roles as a columnist at The Philippine Star, and is the founder of the creative platform Pineappleversed. Beyond Tatler, her bylines appear in regional lifestyle and business publications, showcasing a broad portfolio that spans beauty trends, travel guides and culture pieces.
