Nicole Kidman once wisely said that we go to the movies “to laugh, to cry, to care.” But, if recent blockbuster releases are any indication, we’re also going for the themed popcorn buckets.
The worm-shaped vessel designed for the Dune sequel broke the internet with a flood of suggestive memes. The team behind Deadpool and Wolverine tried to mimic the same joke with their mouthy popcorn bucket (to less success). With every movie launch, you can expect to find a commemorative popcorn bucket with plenty of bells and whistles.
The newest limited-edition popcorn bucket was just announced—and it just might be the most elaborate one yet. In honor of Gladiator II, which premieres November 22, Cinemark is offering a limited-edition themed popcorn bucket.
This gold-tinted vessel is designed to look like the Colosseum, complete with Roman columns and arches. But that’s not all; there’s an innovative feature that makes it a major collector’s item.
The “AR” in “AR-ena” stands for augmented reality. Each popcorn bucket comes with a QR code that activates an AR gladiator battle inside. So if you want to relive Paul Mescal’s riveting performance, you can watch it from your popcorn bucket again and again.
@DiscussingFilm posted about the popcorn bucket today, and users quickly took over the comments section. “These buckets are getting outta hand but this one is actually cool AF,” one user wrote.
Another added, “Not as fun as the dune bucket but I’m still going to try.”
Cinemark has yet to release the bucket online or in theaters, and they haven't announced how much it will cost either. Commemorative popcorn buckets typically retail for $25-$40—but with the added AR technology, the price for this one could be even higher.
