Movie theater popcorn buckets have become one of the most collectible items in film culture, with major chains releasing sculpted, light-up, and limited-edition designs for every major release. Fantasy Land News tracks every theater popcorn bucket and collectible across AMC Theatres, Regal Cinemas, Cinemark, Showcase Cinemas, Epic Theatres, Marcus Theatres, Harkins Theatres, and Alamo Drafthouse — chain by chain, film by film, with prices, availability dates, and everything you need to know before you head to the theater. This page is updated with every new release. Bookmark it and check back before every major film opening.
Last updated: March 14, 2026
Why Movie Theater Popcorn Buckets Have Become a Big Deal
The shift started around 2021 when the Dune popcorn bucket went viral, and collectors realized theater chains were producing items that rivaled Disney park merchandise in design quality. Since then, every major studio release comes with a coordinated chain-by-chain collectibles program. Some buckets top out at $80 or more. Others sell out online before the film even opens. Resale prices on eBay for limited releases regularly hit double or triple the original price within days.
What makes theater collectibles different from park merchandise is the chain-exclusive model. AMC, Regal, and Cinemark each typically produce their own exclusive design for the same film, meaning a true completionist collector needs to visit three separate chains to get the full set. Some items are also available online through each chain’s shop before they hit theater concession stands, which creates a secondary rush for online orders days or weeks before opening day.
Fantasy Land News covers all of it. We are the only Disney and entertainment fan site that tracks theater collectibles across every major chain with the same depth we apply to Disney park merchandise. If a bucket is announced, we have it.
How Movie Theater Popcorn Bucket Releases Work
Each chain handles releases slightly differently, which is worth understanding before you go.
AMC Theatres typically announces collectibles 1 to 2 weeks before a film opens and makes select items available through the AMC Shop online before they hit concession stands. In-theater availability usually begins on opening day or the day prior for preview screenings. Prices at AMC run slightly higher than those at other chains, with premium sculpted buckets often landing between $45 and $80.
Regal Cinemas tends to release exclusive designs that lean into character-specific sculpts or combo packs that include both a bucket and a sipper. Regal also uses online pre-orders through the Regal Store for high-demand items. Their Fantastical Four Fantasticar and Jurassic World Incubator Dual Container are good examples of the kind of exclusive designs Regal specializes in.
Cinemark is the most consistent chain for detailed pricing announcements ahead of release and frequently bundles collectibles into Super Ticket packages that include the ticket, bucket, and additional merchandise at a set price. Cinemark also tends to have the widest variety per film, often releasing four to six different items, where other chains release two or three.
Marcus Theatres has become increasingly aggressive with collectibles in the last year, offering items online through the MegaStore and often carrying light-up and premium designs that rival AMC and Regal. Worth checking even if you don’t have a Marcus location near you, as online ordering ships nationally.
Showcase Cinemas, Epic Theatres, and Harkins Theatres each carry a mix of chain-exclusive items and shared multi-chain releases depending on the film. Epic Theatres, in particular, has been strong on the Super Mario Galaxy Movie with its full six-color Luma LED bucket lineup. Harkins consistently shows up for major Disney and Pixar releases.
Alamo Drafthouse takes a different approach, often partnering with artists for limited-edition glassware and poster-style collectibles rather than sculpted buckets. The TRON: Ares pint glass by Chris Bilheimer and the Project Hail Mary exclusive glass are examples of the Alamo style — smaller run, higher art direction.
Fandango has also entered the collectibles space, offering pre-order merchandise bundles tied to ticket purchases for major releases. The Orange Luma LED Popcorn Bucket for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie was a Fandango-exclusive pre-order item, separate from anything available at theater concession stands.
Current and Upcoming Theater Popcorn Buckets — 2026
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (April 1, 2026)
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is the biggest collectibles release of spring 2026, with every major chain producing its own exclusive designs on top of the shared multi-chain Yoshi bucket. Opening day is April 1, 2026. Fantasy Land News has covered every chain announcement as it dropped. See our full chain-by-chain breakdowns below.
Yoshi Popcorn Bucket — approx. $50, available at all major chains. A 105oz full-figure sculpt of Yoshi holding a white Yoshi Egg bowl where your popcorn goes. Available at AMC, Regal, Cinemark, Harkins, Marcus Theatres, Showcase Cinemas, and more. This is the shared non-exclusive bucket across chains. Full Yoshi Popcorn Bucket details here.
Cinemark Super Mario Galaxy Movie lineup. Cinemark has the most extensive per-chain lineup for this film: a $35 Super Ticket Package with six collectible items, including a mini Bowser’s Cauldron keychain and a mini poster, a Luma Star LED Popcorn Bucket in four colors (green, red, yellow, blue) at $49.99, a Bowser’s Cauldron standalone bucket, and a 170-oz Square Tub. Full Cinemark Mario Galaxy lineup here.
Epic Theatres — all six Luma LED Popcorn Bucket colors plus a 260oz tub. Epic Theatres is offering the full set of six Luma color variants plus an oversized 260oz tub option. Full Epic Theatres Mario lineup here.
Showcase Cinemas — opening day lineup confirmed. Full Showcase Cinemas Mario lineup here.
Regal — advance tickets and MAR10 Day. Regal began selling advance tickets for the film on MAR10 Day (March 10) and has its own exclusive collectibles tied to ticket purchase. Full Regal Mario details here.
Fandango Orange Luma LED Popcorn Bucket — exclusive pre-order. A Fandango-exclusive orange variant of the Luma LED bucket, available as a pre-order through the Fandango app. Full Fandango Luma bucket details here.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026)
Cinemark is leaning fully into the fashion film aesthetic with six collectible items for The Devil Wears Prada 2, including a popcorn bucket designed to look like a designer handbag — one of the more creative concept executions in recent theater collectible history. Full Devil Wears Prada 2 bucket details here. Cinemark’s full six-item lineup, including the Diet Coke cup, is covered separately. Full Cinemark Devil Wears Prada 2 lineup here.
Project Hail Mary (March 20, 2026)
Regal’s astronaut helmet bucket, modeled after Ryan Gosling’s EVA suit in the film, is the centerpiece of the Project Hail Mary collectibles program, with a chrome-finish visor that flips up to access popcorn. Alamo Drafthouse produced an exclusive pint glass by artist Chris Bilheimer. Marcus Theatres offered a light-up satellite/cylinder bucket featuring Ryland Grace on the exterior. Full Project Hail Mary popcorn bucket guide here. The bucket arrived in theaters on March 3. Project Hail Mary helmet bucket arrival coverage here.
Hoppers — Disney Pixar (March 6, 2026)
Hoppers is the Pixar film about a girl who puts her mind into a robotic beaver to talk to animals, and the theater collectibles lean hard into the beaver and character themes. AMC, Cinemark, and Harkins all announced designs at launch, with Regal adding a Snack Pack Combo. Cinemark’s Fun-Sized Combo at $9.95 is one of the more accessible entry-level collectibles in recent Pixar releases. Full Hoppers popcorn bucket guide here.
Scream 7 (2026)
AMC dropped its Scream 7 Ghostface door and bust popcorn buckets online ahead of the theatrical release. See our AMC Scream 7 coverage here.
One Piece (Regal, 2026)
Regal offered a 3D-printable One Piece popcorn bucket promotion with free popcorn included. Full One Piece Regal bucket details here.
How to Find and Buy Theater Popcorn Buckets
The fastest way to secure a theater collectible for a major release is to check each chain’s online shop in the week before the film opens. AMC Shop, Regal Store, Cinemark’s online store, and Marcus MegaStore all sell collectibles online for in-store pickup or shipping. Online stock for high-demand items like the Yoshi bucket or the Galactus bucket sells through within hours of going live, so setting up an account and having payment ready before the announcement goes public matters.
For items that are in-theater only — Cinemark frequently does this — arriving at an early showing on opening day before the concession stand runs out is your best option. Chains typically receive limited initial stock and reorder based on demand, but the first wave of a popular release can sell out the same day.
Fandango bundles are worth watching for major franchise releases. These are often announced in the week before ticket sales open and sell out quickly. The Orange Luma bucket for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie was a Fandango-exclusive that required a Fandango ticket purchase to access.
If you miss a release in theaters, eBay and Facebook Marketplace are the secondary market. Prices vary significantly — some items that sold out quickly maintain a 2x to 3x markup for weeks, while items that had wider availability normalize quickly. The Galactus bucket from Thunderbolts is a good example of one that held secondary market value for months due to its size and the viral moment it generated.
The Chain-by-Chain Guide to Theater Collectibles
Each major chain has its own personality when it comes to collectibles. Here is a quick reference for what to expect from each one and where to find their online shops.
AMC Theatres. Strongest on Marvel and franchise releases. Tends toward large-format sculpted buckets with LED features. Online shop at amctheatres.com. Some items ship nationally; others are in-theater pickup only.
Regal Cinemas. Strong on exclusive combo designs that pair a bucket with a sipper or second container. Online pre-orders through the Regal Store. Funko Topper sippers have been a recurring Regal exclusive format for Marvel releases.
Cinemark. Best for variety and the most transparent about pricing ahead of release. Super Ticket packages are a Cinemark signature. The Luma Star LED bucket for Mario and the Emerald City bucket for Wicked are examples of Cinemark going all-in on design. Online orders through the Cinemark Shop.
Marcus Theatres. Growing quickly in the collectibles space. The Marcus MegaStore ships nationally and often carries premium light-up designs. Worth bookmarking for any major Disney, Marvel, or franchise release.
Epic Theatres. A Florida-based chain that has become a strong player in the collectibles space, particularly for Nintendo and Disney-connected releases. Offered the full Luma color set for Mario when other chains had partial lineups.
Showcase Cinemas. Regional chain with consistent coverage of major franchise releases. Opening-day availability is usually confirmed a week in advance.
Harkins Theatres. Southwest-focused chain. Consistent with Pixar and Disney releases. Wicked: For Good and Hoppers are recent examples of strong Harkins collectibles programs.
Alamo Drafthouse. Takes an art-forward approach with artist-designed glassware and limited-edition prints rather than sculpted buckets. Ticket add-on model means collectibles are often tied to specific screenings rather than available generally.
Archive: Past Theater Popcorn Buckets Covered by Fantasy Land News
These films have completed their theatrical runs but their collectibles coverage remains useful for collectors, resellers, and anyone tracking down a specific item on the secondary market.
The ‘Sold Out’ Marty Supreme Ping Pong Ball Popcorn Bucket (December 24th, 2025). Is Finally Back via A24. Marty Supreme from A24 opened in theaters on December 24th, 2025. Yesterday, January 22nd, 2026, Marty Supreme was nominated for 9 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Today, A24 is selling the Marty Supreme Ping Pong Ball Popcorn Bucket for $15, but you must purchase a ticket first!
Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25, 2025). AMC’s Giant Galactus Bucket at 341oz with LED eyes was the standout of the summer. Regal offered the Fantasticar exclusive. Cinemark had H.E.R.B.I.E. as a combo vessel holding popcorn, drink, and candy simultaneously. Full Fantastic Four collectibles guide here.
M3GAN 2.0 (June 27, 2025). AMC’s Face Off bucket with a removable M3GAN face panel and Cinemark’s Cyberpunk bucket were the two standouts. Regal offered a Collectible Combo with figurine topper. Full M3GAN 2.0 collectibles guide here.
Jurassic World Rebirth (July 2, 2025). Regal’s Incubator Dual Container with a growing dinosaur inside was the exclusive item of note. AMC had the life-sized T-Rex Footprint at $28. Cinemark offered a T. rex head bucket with a same-day free refill. Full Jurassic World Rebirth collectibles guide here.
Marvel Thunderbolts (May 2, 2025). AMC’s Red Guardian Limousine at $49.99 was the most talked-about item. Regal offered Funko Topper sippers for the full team roster. Cinemark had the Helmet bucket. The AMC Galactus bucket from Fantastic Four was briefly compared to the scale of this release. Full Thunderbolts collectibles guide here.
TRON: Ares (October 10, 2025). The $74.99 Lightcycle Popcorn Bucket with pulsing LED lights was the premium item. AMC had the 130oz Grid Pattern tub. Cinemark offered the TRON tin and cup in-theater. Alamo Drafthouse produced an exclusive pint glass by artist Chris Bilheimer. Full TRON: Ares collectibles guide here.
Wicked: For Good (November 21, 2025). The Emerald City Popcorn Bucket at $47.95 (Cinemark) and $56.95 (AMC Shop) was the standout. Regal produced an exclusive Musical Box that opened to reveal Elphaba and Glinda figures and played music for $48.99. Glinda’s Bubble lit up and featured a Glinda figure at $44.99. Full Wicked: For Good collectibles guide here.
Inside Out 2 (June 14, 2024). AMC, Regal, and Cinemark all offered Anger-themed and emotion character buckets for the Pixar sequel. One of the early examples of a Pixar film getting full multi-chain collectibles treatment. Full Inside Out 2 collectibles guide here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Movie Theater Popcorn Buckets
Where can I buy movie theater popcorn buckets online?
Most major chains sell collectibles through their online shops. AMC Shop is at amctheatres.com, Regal Store is at regmovies.com, Cinemark’s shop is at cinemark.com, and Marcus MegaStore ships nationally. Fandango also offers exclusive bundles tied to ticket purchases for major releases. For sold-out items, eBay and Facebook Marketplace are the main secondary market options.
Do movie theater popcorn buckets come with popcorn?
Most sculpted collectible buckets include a large popcorn at the time of purchase. Some chains also offer same-day free refills with certain bucket purchases. Cinemark’s standard policy on most of their large-format buckets is a free same-day refill. Check each chain’s specific listing for what is included, as it varies by item and film.
Are movie theater popcorn buckets limited edition?
Most are available while supplies last, with no set production cap announced. In practice, high-demand items like the Galactus bucket or the Yoshi bucket sell through quickly at popular locations. Items available online through chain shops tend to sell out faster than in-theater stock. Some Alamo Drafthouse items are explicitly limited to a specific number of units.
Can I get movie theater popcorn buckets if I don’t live near that chain?
Yes for most items. AMC Shop, Regal Store, and Marcus MegaStore all offer national shipping. Cinemark and Epic Theatres are more in-theater-only for some items, though Cinemark has been expanding its online ordering. Fandango bundles require ticket purchase but ship nationally.
Which movie theater chain has the best popcorn buckets?
It depends on the film. AMC tends to have the biggest and most expensive premium items. Cinemark has the most variety per film. Regal specializes in exclusive combo designs. For any specific film, Fantasy Land News covers all chains side by side so you can compare before deciding where to buy your tickets.
How far in advance are movie theater popcorn buckets announced?
Typically, one to three weeks before a major film opens. Cinemark and AMC tend to announce earlier and more completely. Some chains trickle information out over multiple weeks. Fandango bundles are often announced the same week ticket sales open. Fantasy Land News covers every announcement as it happens, so you always have the earliest possible notice.
What is the most expensive movie theater popcorn bucket ever made?
The TRON: Ares Lightcycle Popcorn Bucket at $74.99 and the AMC Giant Galactus Popcorn Bucket at $79.99 are among the most expensive released to date. The Galactus bucket also holds the record for the largest volume at 341oz — more than seven standard large popcorns.
Does Fantasy Land News cover non-Disney movie theater buckets?
Yes. While Fantasy Land News is rooted in Disney and Disney-connected entertainment, the theater collectibles coverage extends to any major film releasing significant collectible merchandise. Marvel, Universal, Pixar, and franchise films like Jurassic World and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie are all covered. The full archive is at the link below.
For every new movie theater popcorn bucket announcement the moment it drops, follow us at Fantasy Land News. Full popcorn bucket coverage for both parks and theaters: Fantasy Land News Popcorn Buckets. Disney Parks Bucket Guide: Disney Popcorn Buckets 2026