The 18 Most Over-The-Top Popcorn Buckets To Hit Movie Theaters

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There's some debate as to whether we are in a quality era of cinema. We live in an age of seemingly endless sequels and reboots, which some people view as a bad sign for the direction of the industry. However, there is no doubt whatsoever that we are living through an absolute renaissance of movie popcorn buckets.

The creativity is endless. The brand tie-ins are exquisite. The technology is surprisingly advanced. (Some of them even light up!) The promotional popcorn receptacles on this list aren't your typical plastic buckets with the movie poster stretched awkwardly around the outside. These are hilariously and cleverly-shaped collectible items that will have you saying, "Huh, I could see myself spending $44.99 for one of those." Yes, they're that powerful.

Some of these popcorn buckets are adorable, and some are literally straight out of horror movies. Others are — whether on purpose or not — slightly suggestive. But they all have one thing in common: they hold your popcorn. They are functional containers for the best movie snack in the world, as long as you butter it so every kernel gets some. They also just so happen to be a beaver, a vampire's tomb, or a baby carrier.

It's hard to start off so strong, because where is there to go from here? But the "Despicable Me 4" baby carrier popcorn bucket is not only the greatest popcorn bucket ever made, it also might be the greatest invention ever — period. You wear it like a backpack but in the front, then slip a large popcorn inside and wear it like a baby (like Gru's baby — Felonious Gru, Jr. — to be exact). It's genius.

Chances are you saw the "Dune: Part Two" sandworm popcorn bucket when the movie came out. This thing went viral, and for obvious reasons. Sure, it's a sandworm. But it's also... well, we don't have to spell it out for you. If you're still confused, just head to the comment section on any post about it. We have to believe that this popcorn bucket's design is the epitome of the phrase "they knew exactly what they were doing."

"Kung Fu Panda 4" gave us a Po popcorn bucket, which is maybe the cutest option on our list. The movie's main character is holding your big bowl of the good stuff. His face seems to be saying, "Yeah, you eat that popcorn! You deserve it!" And who doesn't want that kind of support and encouragement? If you squint, you can kind of tell that the iconic panda bear is voiced by Jack Black. They have the same facial expressions!

This "Barbie" car popcorn bucket was the subject of some controversy when the movie came out. We think it's pretty cool, but some were disappointed in the quality of the container considering the fairly steep price point, according to the New York Post. But a hot pink convertible filled with popcorn is inarguably every girl's dream, and this car allows you to fulfill that dream. What more could you ask for?

The original "Mean Girls" movie came out in 2004, a full 20 years before the golden age of popcorn buckets, so we're very glad that the 2024 musical adaptation paved the way for this giant Burn Book popcorn tin. This is one on the list that could totally be repurposed as a keepsake box, or even a home for your actual Burn Book.

The only thing scarier than watching "Jaws" is watching "Jaws" while repeatedly sticking your hand into the mouth of a great white shark. This popcorn bucket, released for the film's 50th anniversary, is legitimately frightening! You could get as lost in those piercing black eyes as you could in the ocean when Jaws is on the loose.

You may see this "Wonka" hat and think it's a little simple to make the list of the most over-the-top popcorn buckets. After all, it's the most bucket-like bucket in the collection. But just look at the details: the frayed edges, the purposeful creases, the fabric-like texture. It's art!

The "Alien" franchise is ripe with popcorn bucket opportunities, and 2024's "Alien: Romulus" spawned (pun intended) this incredible glowing specimen container, complete with an escaped facehugger clinging to the side.

But this wasn't the only popcorn bucket associated with the movie. Cinemark's exclusive Xenomorph bucket is pretty gnarly, and this other facehugger tin is nice and creepy, too. But we couldn't deny the magic of the light-up specimen container.

AMC went crazy with this "M3GAN 2.0" popcorn bucket. She's a bust of the murderous robot doll, complete with a removable face that reveals her cyborg insides. You flip open the back of her head to access your popcorn. There are so many levels of creepy to this one, and we're totally here for it.

It's hard to tell the scale of this thing from the photo, but this popcorn bucket for "Jurassic World Rebirth" could be compared to the size of an actual dinosaur footprint. Some of these popcorn buckets — while they are feats of design and ingenuity — simply don't hold enough of the salty snack. This footprint gets it right, though. It could probably hold at least five of the 10 best microwave popcorn brands out there at once!

The "Deadpool" movies are known for their irreverent humor and R-ratings, so it's no wonder the iconic "Deadpool & Wolverine" popcorn bucket played into that tone in a perfect way. Many fans also speculated that Wolverine's gaping mouth was a purposeful play on the "Dune: Part Two" sandworm bucket ("Deadpool & Wolverine" came out a little over four months after the second "Dune" installment). Whatever the reasoning behind it, it was a genius marketing move.

When you can mount a popcorn bucket on your wall, take a photo of it, and people ask where the popcorn bucket is because it looks like a super realistic gladiator helmet, you know you've got a quality popcorn holder on your hands. This "Gladiator II" helmet is super impressive, looks metallic and way heavier than it is, and totally makes a great wall decoration that you could absolutely make up a cool story about.

Wanna eat popcorn while crying about the journey of one of the most incredible Disney characters ever created? Now's your chance! Feel simultaneously powerful and emotionally wrecked while you chomp on kernels out of the exquisite Pride Rock, complete with the regal Mufasa looking out over the kingdom — which, if you're a "Lion King" fan, encompasses everything the light touches.

So often, we see Dracula's hand reach up out of his tomb, but now you can reach in for your movie snack with this "Nosferatu" tomb popcorn bucket (also known as a Nosferatomb). Then, when you're done with your popcorn (which we all know is by 10 minutes into the movie, max), you can use the tomb to hide your face from all the scary parts of Robert Eggers' masterpiece.

There is simply nothing cooler than walking into a movie theater with a big suitcase, slapping it down on your lap, busting it open, and eating popcorn from it. And thanks to "Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning," also known as the punctuation lover's dream franchise, you can do just that. This is one of those popcorn buckets we would totally take to other movies. It's just a smart way to hold your popcorn!

The "Batman" Bat Signal popcorn bucket, released to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the Caped Crusader, is maybe the most exciting popcorn bucket on the list. It actually lights up, which means that when you're at home on the couch, you can totally use it to sent a Bat Signal to your partner in the kitchen to bring you more popcorn from your ultimate movie-night popcorn bar.

The beaver popcorn bucket sold in conjunction with the release of "The Naked Gun" is a little bit goofy, a tiny bit cute, and has a mischievous look in his eye — much like the movie itself. We hope more comedies are released in theaters in the coming years; not just because we need it as a society, but also because the popcorn bucket possibilities are endless and hilarious.

As far as clever designs go, this "Karate Kid: Legends" wood plank that you chop in half to get to the popcorn might be at the top of the list. It will make you feel accomplished before you stuff your face. Just make sure you don't get too excited and fling popcorn everywhere.