'Dune', 'Godzilla' and more. See the popcorn buckets stealing the show - USA Today

Popcorn at the movies continues to have a pop culture moment. Studios are outdoing themselves with ever-extravagant popcorn buckets to accompany upcoming blockbuster films.

For the film "Street Fighter," a movie based on the popular video game and currently in theaters, you can choose from several competing popcorn buckets including one in the shape of a bust of the character Guile (played by Cody Rhodes) and a 13-inch popcorn bucket shaped like a Street Fighter arcade game.

Commemorative movie popcorn buckets typically range from $20 to $80, and there are more coming to theaters in the weeks ahead. "The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping," in theaters Nov. 20, has a decorative bucket that comes with a keychain available at select locations.

Ahead of the Dec. 18 release of "Avengers: Doomsday," you can secure a Doctor Doom Statue Bucket, already being sold with an advance ticket ($79.99) on the Fandango Fan Store.

"Dune," the movie franchise which arguably kicked off the trend off with a sandworm-shaped bucket for "Dune: Part Two" in 2024, has not one, but two new sandworm-inspired collectible buckets for "Dune: Part Three," out Dec. 18.

And, of course, Godzilla would reign as the king of all monster popcorn buckets. Moviegoers headed to see "Godzilla Minus Zero," will be greeted by a 19½-inch-tall Godzilla bucket. The $100 bucket already sold out on the Fandango Fan Store, and resellers are listing them on eBay for as much as $170. "Never wanted a popcorn bucket more in my life," posted one commenter on an Instagram post from Japanese film studio Toho showing the bucket.

Popcorn buckets have become a blockbuster trend over the last two years, with a "Deadpool and Wolverine" bucket shaped like Wolverine's head and popcorn coming from his mouth helping cement the post-"Dune Two" momentum. "Years from now they will look back at 2024 as the year the War of the Popcorn Buckets began," said Ryan Reynolds, who collaborated with AMC on the bucket, while promoting it.

Expect more buckets of varying shapes and sizes – and other movie tie-in goodies. The merchandise has been a hit with moviegoers and buoyed theater revenues.

Cinemark Holdings, which has more than 4,200 screens in the U.S., posted a record $25 million in merchandise sales in the three-month period ending June 30, said Melissa Thomas, Cinemark's executive vice president and chief financial officer, during the company's second quarter earnings call on July 30, according to a transcript from S&P Global Market Intelligence.

In addition to "strong demand for the merchandise itself," Thomas said, promotion of unique movie merchandise "also enhances title awareness and audience engagement given its significant social media reach."

To that end, Cinemark will be selling commemorative blankets for "The Cat in the Hat," which opens Nov. 6, and "Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping," in addition to the big Godzilla bucket and other movie buckets. You can buy movie merch on the online Cinemark Shop.

Similarly, AMC has an online shop, which offers an Official Dr. Doom Mask Light ($29.99) available for pre-order as well as a Star Trek Enterprise, Iron Man mask and Infinity Gauntlet, all of which hold popcorn. Regal Cinemas' online store has specialty movie popcorn buckets for "Clayface" ($29.95), "Street Fighter" ($52.95), "Resident Evil" ($24.95) and "The Mandalorian & Grogu Bust Popcorn Bucket" ($63.95). But unfortunately, "The Odyssey" IMAX Film Camera Popcorn Bucket ($49.99) is sold out.

These days, nearly every blockbuster movie has a special popcorn bucket, if not commemorative cups, too. Here's a look at some of what's coming to theaters in the weeks ahead.

Godzilla kicks off another popcorn bucket beginning Tuesday, Nov. 3, when the movie opens in IMAX theaters. On through the holiday season, there's a movie with a popcorn bucket sure to suit most moviegoers.

For the upcoming movie "Godzilla Minus Zero," in select IMAX theaters Tuesday, Nov. 3, and all theaters Nov. 6, the massive monster is looking to dominate the movie merch market. The movie is a sequel to "Godzilla Minus One," which won an Academy Award for best visual effects and became the series' highest-grossing Japanese entry to date.

The 19½-inch Godzilla popcorn container is expected to be available during movie showings at a wide range of exhibitors including Marcus Theatres and local independent theaters, as well as other online stores including Marcus Theatres and B&B Theatres, according to movie company Toho.

In addition to the Godzilla-shaped popcorn bucket, Cinemark will have a Heat Ray Drink Bottle and commemorative popcorn tin. Other theaters will have alternative Godzilla popcorn buckets and cups.

Of course, there will be a popcorn bucket shaped like the hat from "The Cat in the Hat," which opens Nov. 6. Regal Cinemas has a one you can eat out of, which goes on sale at theaters a day before movie opens.

AMC theaters also will have the red and white-striped popcorn bucket; Cinemark and AMC theaters will also include a Fishbowl Popcorn Bucket and a hooded blanket.

From tumblers to popcorn buckets with a keychain, mementos to commemorate Haymitch Abernathy's participation in the 50th Hunger Games are going to be available for the "reaping."

A blanket and a dome-shaped popcorn bucket are also debuting alongside the aforementioned merch. The merch collection will be available at select locations, while supplies last.

"The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping" officially hits theaters on Friday, Nov. 20.

AMC Theatres' line of "Dune"-themed concession collectibles could conjure a sandworm or two. The movie theater chain is celebrating the Dec. 18 release of "Dune: Part Three" with intricate popcorn tins and a souvenir cup resemble a tool and creature that can be found in the hostile desert wasteland known as Arrakis.

"Exceeding" fan expectations was the goal from the moment the theater chain began planning the "Dune: Part Three" collectibles, Hank Green, AMC's senior VP of food and beverage, said in a statement.

"The Sandworm Thumper and Double Sandworm collectibles take the experience to the next level with designs straight from the movie," Green said.

Cinemark, like AMC, is showing that it understands the assignment through the upcoming release of some very on-theme items, including a bluetooth speaker that resembles a Shai-Hulud, or sandworm.

Regal Cinemas has an exclusive Spacing Guild Navigator popcorn bucket, a Sandworm plush toy and a blanket for "Dune: Part Three."

Cinemark is getting "Doomsday" with it. Ahead of the Dec. 18 premiere of "Avengers: Doomsday," the latest blockbuster film from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the movie theater company is dropping custom, limited-edition merchandise.

From an LED Doctor Doom statue popcorn bucket to souvenir cups, Cinemark has moviegoers covered in the snack and beverage departments. "Exclusive" popcorn tins and an LED Doctor Doom character 3D cup also form part of the collection, which will be available for purchase closer to the film's release date.

AMC Theatres will also have glowing team icons (Avengers, X-Men or Doom), and an exclusive Sentinel head with glowing eyes (all come with popcorn). Regal Cinemas also has two "Avengers: Doomsday" exclusives, a Doom's Throne popcorn container and Sentinel Collectible Drink Vessel.

Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads (mikegsnider), Bluesky (@mikegsnider.bsky.social), X (@mikesnider) and email him msnider@usatoday.com.

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