Two new Cars popcorn buckets and a matching cup are heading to theaters on September 7, giving fans their first real look at how chains plan to mark the film’s 20th anniversary re-release. The reveal comes a few months after Disney Parks released its own light-up Lightning McQueen bucket at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort, and it lines up with our earlier report that a full theater collectible lineup was in the works.
The first item is a standalone Lightning McQueen bucket shaped like the character himself, with his roof opening to hold popcorn. It follows the same basic design as the Disney Parks version, minus the shoulder strap. The second is a black-topped red metal tin topped with figures of Lightning McQueen and Mater, paired with a matching cup carrying the same two toppers. Both the tin and the cup carry a “Disney Pixar Cars 20 Years” logo.
If that combination sounds familiar, it should. It is close to identical to what chains did for Toy Story’s 30th anniversary re-release last year, right down to the tin-and-cup pairing with character toppers on the lid. That release moved fast once it hit theaters, so we expect similar demand here given how well Lightning McQueen and Mater work as a pairing.
Pricing has not been officially confirmed. Based on comparable releases, we estimate somewhere in the $25 to $35 range depending on the item and the chain. We will update this once official pricing is out.
There are also early signs that a third item tied to the Piston Cup could be announced in the coming weeks, which would round the lineup out closer to what collectors pieced together across multiple chains for Toy Story. We will report on that as soon as it is confirmed.
At this point we expect these items to reach most major theater chains rather than a single exclusive retailer, though the specific participating chains have not been confirmed yet. For the latest as details firm up, keep an eye on our Movie Theater Popcorn Buckets hub, where we track every chain and every film.
Cars returns to theaters this September for its 20th anniversary.
Cars 20th Anniversary Popcorn Buckets and Cup Coming to Theaters September 7
