Movie theaters have taken a page from theme park merchandising with collectable cups and themed popcorn buckets. Recently, the trend has been the more over-the-top the better.
Summer 2026 popcorn buckets
One of the most successful popcorn buckets this year is the Yoshi Popcorn Bucket that hatched for “Super Mario Galaxy Movie” this spring. And with the summer blockbuster season on the horizon, there are quite a few pieces of movie theater merchandise to have on your radar.
“The Mandalorian and Grogu” collection
Many “Star Wars” fans are expecting big results from the little pale-green guy. With “The Mandalorian and Grogu” headed to theaters, movie theater merchandise tied to Grogu is likely to be a major draw, especially for collectors who have followed the rise of character popcorn buckets, sippers and limited-time concession items.
“Shrek” merchandise
DreamWorks released the original “Shrek” movie as the studio prepares to release “Shrek 5.” Naturally, this franchise has absurd collectible designs that quickly spread across social media. One of the most talked-about examples so far is AMC’s Shrek-themed outhouse popcorn bucket, which turns the swamp’s most famous bathroom into a full-size collectible container.
For longtime fans, the merchandise wave taps into more than two decades of Shrek fandom while also introducing the franchise to a younger audience.
“Masters of the Universe” / He-Man merchandise
The upcoming “Masters of the Universe” film could become one of the more unexpected movie merchandise stories of the year. While superhero popcorn buckets and fantasy-themed drinkware have become increasingly common, He-Man introduces a brand with decades of toy history and a fan base that already embraces collectibles.
Courtesy of Cinemark
Elaborate theater exclusives inspired by Eternia include Castle Grayskull, Battle Cat and the Power Sword. With nostalgia-driven collectibles continuing to perform well for theater chains, “Masters of the Universe” has the potential to generate some of the most elaborate concession merchandise of the upcoming blockbuster season.
Follow us:
No matter where you want to go, our trusted partner MEI-Travel will handle the planning so you can focus on the memories. They offer free vacation-planning services and have nearly 20 years of experience creating memorable vacations. Visit MEI-Travel for a fee-free, no-obligation quote today.
