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 were expecting big results from the little pale-green guy. “The Mandalorian and Grogu” headed to theaters this month and movie theater merchandise tied to Grogu seems to be a bigger draw than the movie itself, especially for collectors who have followed the rise of character popcorn buckets, sippers and limited-time concession items.
“Toy Story 5” collectibles
Both Cinemark and AMC are turning “Toy Story 5” into a full collectible movie event, with each chain offering its own exclusive lineup of popcorn buckets, souvenir cups, themed drinks, and limited-time merchandise ahead of the film’s June 19 release.
Cinemark’s offerings lean heavily into oversized collectible tins and colorful character-themed drinkware, while AMC is differentiating itself with a Buzz Lightyear spaceship bucket, Pixar mystery collectibles and even an exclusive Disney Lorcana trading card giveaway for Dolby Cinema guests.
“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.
“Monsters & Minions” merchandise
Universal’s mischievous Minions are back with a new line of collectible concession items arriving at select locations this summer. The limited-time “Minions & Monsters” collection includes themed popcorn buckets, drink containers, and other souvenir items inspired by characters from the upcoming crossover campaign.
Trojan Horse
Moviegoers will be able to bring home one of the most iconic symbols in literature as part of their concession order. Cinemark and Regal Cinemas will offer collectible merchandise for Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” including a massive Trojan Horse popcorn tub inspired by the legendary tale at the center of the film.
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