Romulus Popcorn Buckets May Haunt Your Nightmares

The moviegoing experience has become increasingly engaging lately, thanks to some imaginative popcorn buckets. While novelty popcorn buckets have been part of cinema culture for a while, things really started heating up earlier this year. The release of AMC Theatres’ sandworm bucket for Dune: Part Two created a major buzz online and even inspired a humorous Saturday Night Live sketch. Now, it seems like other movies are getting in on the action, rolling out even more bizarre designs.

This time around, it’s Alien: Romulus that’s taking center stage. With its release just around the corner, we’ve been introduced to two new popcorn bucket designs that are sure to stand out. Fandango has revealed a creepy Facehugger design, while Regal Cinemas has unveiled a rather nightmarish Xenomorph bucket.

“Here’s a sneak peek at the #AlienRomulus popcorn bucket. Get your tickets now!” Fandango wrote, driving home the anticipation. Regal’s post was equally enticing, saying, “Its structural perfection is matched only by its collectability. A horrifying new popcorn bucket is coming to Regal. #AlienRomulus.”

The viral nature of these novelty buckets has created waves in the movie industry. Elizabeth Frank, Chief Content Officer for AMC, recently discussed this in an interview with Variety. Reflecting on the unexpected success and the mixed reactions to the Dune: Part Two bucket, Frank said, “We continue to learn and evolve. We would have never imagined the Dune thing. We would have never created it knowing it would be celebrated or mocked.”

When asked about the response garnered by the Saturday Night Live sketch, Frank admitted it felt like a sort of “seal of approval.” She added, “And you couldn’t make it happen if you wanted to. It wouldn’t be fair to pull our creative talent aside to say, ‘We hope it makes SNL.’

Frank also touched on the different types of fans buying these collectible items. “Some fans are collectors. There’s another group of people who are specific film fans, buying three different Ghostbusters products. It’s all a mix. It’s a material part of our food and beverage business, but it’s not the majority of it. It also makes the movies more fun. It’s like going home from a concert with a T-shirt. There is a lot of creative energy from it,” she noted.

As for Alien: Romulus, the film is being positioned as more of a spinoff rather than a direct continuation of the Alien franchise. The story focuses on a group of young space colonizers who encounter the most terrifying life form in the universe.

Alien: Romulus features a talented cast, including Cailee Spaeny from Priscilla, David Jonsson from Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy, Archie Renaux from Shadow and Bone, Isabela Merced from The Last of Us, Spike Fearn from Aftersun, and Aileen Wu. The film is directed by Fede Álvarez, known for his work on Evil Dead and Don’t Breathe. He also co-wrote the screenplay with frequent collaborator Rodo Sayagues, based on characters created by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett.

Fans don’t have to wait much longer to dive into the world of Alien: Romulus as it’s set to hit theaters on August 16th.

Source: Variety, Fandango, Regal Cinemas