The Popcorn Hall of Fame: The Top 10 Movie Buckets of 2025. Why are movie theater popcorn buckets so popular? Because they aren’t just for snacks anymore.
2025 was a massive win for movie theaters, but not just at the box office. The real gold mine was the collectible popcorn bucket market. Forget the simple cardboard tubs. Movie studios and theater chains went all out, turning simple snack containers into seriously detailed, limited-edition movie props.
From light-up Tron: Lightcycle to fuzzy characters like the Stitch Flocked popcorn bucket and scary horror doll Annabelle, these buckets became the new must-have merch. Fans lined up on opening day, and the best ones—the ones with the most detailed sculpts or cool features—instantly sold out. They then appeared on resale sites at inflated prices, proving that the movie popcorn bucket trend is bigger than ever.
It’s all about creating an “event.” When you buy one of these, you get more than just popcorn; you get a piece of the movie to take home. They’re a perfect way to show off your fandom. We are still waiting for The SpongeBob Movie, Avatar: Fire & Ash, and FNAF 2 to hit theaters, and we will revisit this list if we find one of them to be as good as what has already been released.
Our list just consists of Movie Theater released popcorn buckets; no sippers were considered for this article. That is going to be a different article.
Here’s our ranking of the Top 10 Popcorn Buckets of 2025. These are the most memorable buckets that collectors went crazy for this year:
The Sci-Fi & Superhero Giants
- 1. TRON: Ares Lightcycle Light-up Bucket Retail Price: $74.99. Here’s the thing: This was the one that everyone wanted. It was a futuristic Lightcycle, super detailed, and it actually lit up. This one sold out everywhere instantly. We saw it going for $80 or $90 easily on eBay after the movie came out.
- 2. Fantastic Four Galactus Bucket Retail Price: $79.95. They went big for the biggest villain. This bucket was seriously huge, which made it a must-have for Marvel fans and anyone who just likes massive stuff. It even had light-up eyes.
- 3. Back to the Future 40th Anniversary DeLorean Bucket. Retail Price: $55.00. So here’s what happened: This bucket came out for the re-release of the original film’s 40th anniversary, and it caused chaos. It was shaped like the iconic time machine, the wheels could fold down for “hover mode,” and it lit up. People went nuts for this one.
- 4. Fantastic Four Fantasticar Bucket Retail Price: $59.99. A bright, fun bucket shaped like the team’s flying car. It was a unique, colorful collectible that comic fans loved.
- 5. Predator: Badlands Spaceship Bucket Retail Price: $42.99. This was creepy and cool all at once. It looked like a sci-fi vehicle, or maybe the Predator’s head. Either way, it was a dark, must-have piece for the serious sci-fi crowd.
The Magical & Fuzzy Favorites
- 6. Wicked: For Good Emerald City Bucket Retail Price: $65.95. This was a huge, beautiful model of the city of Oz. People loved how detailed the sculpt was. It looked like a statue, not just a popcorn holder. It even had luminous details.
- 7. Wicked: For Good Glinda Light-Up Orb Bucket Retail Price: $54.95. Another one for the musical fans. It was a light-up globe, showing how complicated these buckets are getting. It felt more like a fancy holiday decoration than a snack holder.
- 8. Lilo & Stitch Flocked Stitch Bucket Retail Price: $49.95. And that’s why it matters: This was a simple idea that worked perfectly. The bucket was covered in a soft, fuzzy texture—it was “flocked.” This made it feel different, and collectors went crazy for it because it was so tactile.
The Creepy & Cute Standouts
- 9. The Conjuring: Last Rites Annabelle Bucket Retail Price: $39.99. A horror best-seller that scared everyone, even when it was empty. It looked exactly like the famous creepy doll. It was a huge seller for people who love the spooky stuff.
- 10. Zootopia 2 Gary De’Snake Bucket Retail Price: $36.95. A fun, specific character bucket for the big animated movie. It was cute and friendly, a nice break from all the monster heads and dark sci-fi designs.
This year proved that the popcorn bucket is now a major part of the movie experience. The best ones are true collector’s items that are gone the minute they hit the counter.
