AMC Sees $100 Million in Popcorn-Bucket Revenue as Theaters Turn Movie Merch Into Profit
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 23
AMC Sees $100 Million in Popcorn-Bucket Revenue as Theaters Turn Movie Merch Into Profit
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 23
Summary
AMC estimates collectible popcorn buckets will bring in $100 million this year, nearly double 2023 levels, underscoring how theaters have turned limited-edition concession items into a meaningful revenue stream.
Prices reaching $70 have helped fuel the boom, with studios and chains commissioning movie-specific designs tied to major releases rather than treating buckets as standard packaging.
Cinemark said bucket sales helped lift its merchandise revenue 40% from 2024 to 2025, showing the trend extends beyond the largest U.S. theater chain.
Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” is among the latest examples: Snap Creative made a $50 IMAX-camera bucket and a 22-inch Trojan horse version selling for $70, both nearing sellouts.
The business barely existed for AMC seven years ago, but theaters now see collectible buckets as a growing part of the marketing and spending ecosystem around blockbuster films.