Ryan Reynolds announces a war over popcorn buckets, and he may be onto something.
The bucket, rumored to be designed by Deadpool, is modeled after Wolverine and features a gaping mouth opening, complete with a playful reference to a tongue (typical of the lewd Deadpool character).
Announcing the special item on social media, Ryan Reynolds wrote, "Years from now they'll look back at 2024 as the year the Popcorn Bucket Wars began."
But what could Reynolds have meant by this war, and why is there so much excitement over these cinematic containers? Popcorn buckets, or as some call them "collectible concession vehicles," are enjoying a renaissance.
The first round of the 2024 bucket battles could be argued to have been won in March, when a "Dune: Part Two" popcorn bucket so unique it inspired an SNL skit.
The appeal of these buckets ranges widely, attracting both serious collectors and casual moviegoers.
Shahji Adam, a collector, said in an email to CNN, "The fact that I see an item at the movie theater related to my favorite characters draws me in. It's like nostalgic fun for me, with these items reminding me of how I felt when I watched each movie for the first time."
Branded popcorn buckets have been around since the 1990s, first seen at Disney theme parks, before making their way to theaters as part of promotion campaigns.
AMC's Nels Storm, Vice President of Food and Beverage Strategy and head of the merchandise team, said they took things up a notch in 2019 with the introduction of R2-D2 popcorn containers tied to "Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker."
The R2-D2 buckets sold out during initial showings, indicating there was room for growth in this novelty market, according to Storm. Other sought-after containers have included the Ghostbusters Ecto-1 car, Thor's hammer Mjolnir, Dom Toretto's Charger, the Wonka hat, and a Barbie car.
AMC briefly reissued the R2-D2 bucket for "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" this year. Adam, who showcases his collection on his YouTube channel, described it as his favorite because of its size and design. He said, "It's huge, and I love that the head of R2 is where you place the drink and the body is for the popcorn."
These buckets aren't as easy to acquire as you might think. Roland Romero, who has dedicated a YouTube playlist to showing off his collection, explained that they're popular worldwide and not always available. In some cases, theaters might be region-specific, or the items could be limited.
"To get your hands on one of these collectibles, you'll want to catch the movie on opening weekend, and in many cases, opening night," Storm suggested.
AMC's R2-D2 buckets ran out both times they were made available, and the Ghostbusters Ecto-1 car vessel "flew off the shelves during the first few hours" of "Ghostbusters: Afterlife's" opening night in November 2021.
Theater chains hope that enticing audiences to see movies in theaters instead of at home will result in more of these quirky containers.
Storm said, "The possibilities are endless, with AMC always pushing boundaries to make moviegoing a memorable experience."
Adam, a horror movie enthusiast, is excited about the upcoming "Alien: Romulus" bucket, which is expected to resemble a Xenomorph, a terrifying creature from the famous science fiction franchise.
The war rages on, and another encounter with an enticing popcorn bucket awaits.
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The entertainment industry is taking notice of the buzz surrounding popcorn buckets, with many studios wanting to join the Popcorn Bucket Wars led by Ryan Reynolds.
With new and innovative designs set to hit theaters in 2024, moviegoers can expect an exciting rise in unique collectible concession vehicles, continuing the entertainment value beyond the movie screening.
