Is there something in the air? Did AMC give one rogue employee full creative control of the merchandise department? We don’t know what’s going on at the AMC Theaters headquarters, but those mad geniuses seem to know how to get people talking.

There’s been a LOT happening with AMC Theaters lately. The Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert film was a wild success, and — of all things — an AMC popcorn bucket went totally viral during the Dune 2 release. Even SNL was talking about it! AMC is not afraid to push the envelope. And now, they’ve teased a NEW souvenir that has some real potential to rival the infamous Dune 2 popcorn bucket. Wait until you see it.

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman took to Twitter/X to share a little teaser trailer in association with their NEW Deadpool & Wolverine movie. But this teaser wasn’t a movie trailer. We weren’t treated to a new movie poster or promotional photo. No, this teaser was for a new popcorn bucket. 

I’ve got the high ground. #deadpoolandwolverine ❤️💛 pic.twitter.com/FM12aAI67N

— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) May 20, 2024

 

 

 

Looks like Deadpool was feeling creative. He designed a new popcorn bucket just for AMC Theaters. Here it is, in all its glory. (Glory? Infamy? We’ll let you decide.) Yes, this is a new Wolverine head popcorn bucket. 

The bucket itself has some text giving credit to the designer, Deadpool. If you want to enjoy some nice, buttery popcorn, well, you can see where the hole is. Interesting choice.

We have a strong feeling that the internet is going to have a LOT to say about this popcorn bucket. Considering how many people can recite the Nicole Kidman AMC Theaters monologue, we wouldn’t be surprised if AMC’s loyal fanbase stocks up on this highly collectible new souvenir.

OK, so with all AMC’s viral moments lately, it got us thinking. People seem to be talking more about the movie theater (and its souvenirs) than the movies themselves. In fact, it seems like AMC is intentionally pushing the envelope — and it’s working. Yes, the Dune 2 popcorn bucket was bizarre. But people bought it, ultimately benefiting AMC AND the Dune 2 movie.

Recently, Adam Aron, the CEO of AMC Theatres, spoke with Variety about AMC’s successes and failures. The company reportedly has about $4.5 billion in debt, but Aron replied, “We’re still here.” The CEO added, “When you think about what we’ve been through the past four years, it’s kind of a miracle. It could have gone kaplooey 10 times, but it didn’t. And good for us. We’re almost finally through it.”

So, how exactly is AMC still standing? Could it have to do with the company’s relationship with people on the internet? Aron admitted to Variety that he communicates with fans on social media and is open to new ideas. In fact, AMC recently attempted to reignite that conversation about Nicole Kidman’s promotional campaign by creating new versions of the classic “somehow, heartbreak feels good in a place like this” monologue.

Aron also commented on the success of AMC’s Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour film, telling Variety, “It got an ‘A+’ on CinemaScore and 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s not like we threw together some garbage.” Both the Eras Tour concert film and AMC’s string of viral popcorn buckets show that AMC is paying attention to what people are talking about — and using it to their advantage.

The latest box office numbers have been disappointingly low. AMC seems to recognize that it’s going to take more than a flashy movie trailer to get people to the movies. So, yes, those goofy popcorn buckets are probably an obvious attempt to cash in on a new trend. But either way, when Ryan Reynolds from Deadpool & Wolverine declared #history was being made thanks to the “War of the Popcorn Buckets,” it got people talking. Will it help AMC get people out to the theaters? We’ll have to wait and see.  

Considering the fan reactions to the new popcorn bucket, it seems like AMC knew exactly what it was doing. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest pop culture news, so stay tuned for more.

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Have you ever purchased a souvenir popcorn bucket at AMC? Let us know in the comments!