Every Movie Theater Candy, Ranked From Worst to Best

Take popcorn out of the equation. What are you eating at the movie theater?

Seriously, nachos? I was hoping for something sweet! Candy is way better, and maybe even an Icee if I’m lucky. But the real question is, which candy? There are just so many options now, it’s crazy how quickly they’re coming out with new stuff. And honestly, what’s with all the freeze-dried candy lately? Why does everything have to be freeze-dried? Did someone decide that candy is just better without any moisture? I wonder if the big candy companies got a bulk discount on vacuum chambers or something… it’s a mystery!

I was amazed by the huge selection of candy when I last went to the movies. Instead of just a few options, the entire concession line was packed with rows and rows of different candies – chocolates, gummies, sour treats, and everything in between. Movie theater snacks can be expensive, but you definitely have a lot to choose from if you like sweets!

I made a similar list eight years ago, and it’s surprising how much has changed already. Some snacks are no longer available – goodbye, Butterfinger Bites! – but plenty of new options have appeared. We can now enjoy foods that weren’t even around in 2016, all while watching things like Ryan Gosling talking to a smart rock in space. Maybe the future isn’t so bad after all.

Find a comfy seat, get your favorite snacks, and please, don’t check the nutrition facts while I share my ranking of all the best movie theater candies!

Every Current Movie Theater Candy, Ranked From Worst to Best

34. Sno-Caps

Let’s be clear: Sno-Caps are really unpleasant and shouldn’t be eaten unless you absolutely have to – like, if they’re the only food available to keep you alive. We’ve actually written a whole article about why we feel this way!

33. Red Vines

It’s baffling why people even compare Twizzlers and Red Vines. Honestly, the only way someone would choose Red Vines over Twizzlers is if they hadn’t tried Twizzlers before. Red Vines just taste like old, hardened cough syrup.

32. Mike and Ike

The movie theater has a lot of fruity candies, but Mike and Ike is my least favorite. I’ve never had one that tasted truly fresh. No matter how many times they change the packaging, the candies themselves always taste stale, like they’ve been in an old vending machine for ages.

31. Jujyfruits

Honestly, there are better fruit candies available. And Jujyfruits caused a lot of trouble for Elaine on Seinfeld – they cost her both her boyfriend and her job! I still haven’t forgotten that episode, and I don’t think I ever will.

30. Trolli

I don’t understand the sudden popularity of these candies that try to combine the flavors of Sour Patch Kids and gummy worms. They just don’t have the same satisfying texture as either one. And it’s strange to me that kids are so eager to eat something shaped like a worm, especially when they’re usually scared of real ones! It doesn’t seem logical that they’d want to eat a worm-shaped candy when they’d avoid a real worm at all costs.

29. Skittles Gummies

Skittles Gummies actually taste a lot like regular Skittles – they deliver the same great flavor, but in a soft, chewy gummy form instead of the classic chewy candies with a crunchy shell. However, it’s debatable whether gummies are actually an improvement. And personally, I can’t get on board with the green ones being green apple instead of lime – that’s just wrong!

28. Airheads Soft Filled Bites

Airheads’ new, softer version kind of points out a flaw in the original candy – regular Airheads are just too hard to eat! That’s always been my problem with them; they require too much effort. These bites are a little better because they’re softer, though still not the most enjoyable concession stand treat. And I just learned something strange: the Wikipedia page says Airheads are made using a process similar to how Play-Doh is made! Now I’m thinking about Play-Doh, which is…weird.

27. Whoppers

Malt belongs in milkshakes, not in little chocolate balls. That’s my position.

26. Milk Duds

Milk Duds are okay, but they’re really rich and sticky. They always get stuck in your teeth! Plus, if you buy a box, you pretty much have to buy a drink with it – it’s impossible to eat a whole box without one. Seriously, your throat would probably protest!

25. Hi-Chew

I’m trying to understand what people like about Hi-Chews. They’re similar to gum, but you’re supposed to swallow them eventually? I might need to sample more of their many flavors—they have almost 30! Though, honestly, too many choices could also be the issue. A good variety is nice, but there’s a limit!

24. Gummy Bears

Concession stands usually sell snacks in really big bags. That’s perfect for some treats, but not so good for others. Gummy bears, for example, are delicious in small amounts, but eating a whole bag is definitely overkill!

23. Sour Punch Straws

Trolli candies are a mix of Sour Patch Kids and gummy worms, and Sour Punch Straws are similar – like a combination of Sour Patch Kids and Twizzlers. Honestly, that’s a pretty good idea! I don’t love the blue raspberry flavor because I generally don’t enjoy artificial blue raspberry, but the other flavors are really flavorful… I’m just trying to find the right word to describe it.

22. Cookie Dough Bites

It’s almost unbelievable that people started buying raw cookie dough! It feels like a bit of a trick. While some uncooked snacks like pasta are okay, selling raw cookie dough seems strange.

21. Welch’s Fruit Snacks

These fruit snacks are a better choice than gummy bears, offering a wider range of delicious, natural flavors. The company even highlights that fruit is the first ingredient, making it easy to feel a little better about snacking on them – even at the movies!

20. Reese’s Pieces

Okay, so Reese’s Pieces definitely benefited from being in E.T., which is cool. But honestly, compared to other Reese’s products, I don’t think they’re the strongest. I’d be way more excited if they made Reese’s Cups with caramel! My wife, though, she’s a huge fan and insists they’re the best movie candy ever, and she thinks I’m crazy for putting them so low on the list. So, just to keep things peaceful at home, I wanted to mention that she disagrees with my ranking!

19. Lemonheads

These candies are really good, but the name “Lemonheads” is a bit awkward. It just doesn’t sound right, and honestly, it holds them back. If they had a different name, they’d definitely be ranked much higher.

18. Good & Plenty

Licorice is definitely a candy people either love or hate, and I’m on Team Love! I especially enjoy Good & Plenty at the movie theater. The boxes they sell at concession stands are huge, and the licorice flavor is so intense that a single box lasts throughout all the trailers. And, as a bonus, they’re fat-free, which I always take as a good sign!

17. Raisinets

Sure, they’re okay, but let’s be real – they’re practically health food! People don’t go to the movies to eat healthy. It’s a place to indulge in junk food in the dark, where you can enjoy it without feeling judged. I don’t need to hear about ‘fruit antioxidants’ – I want all the unhealthy goodness I can get!

16. Swedish Fish

These candies are tasty, and definitely Swedish, but the flavor gets old quickly. While good at first, the consistent taste becomes tiring, and we’d likely prefer a candy with a similar feel but more diverse flavors.

15. Hot Tamales

I have to say, I really like these! They’re one of those candies you either love or hate, but I’m definitely in the ‘love’ camp. What I appreciate most is the texture – it’s really satisfying and crisp. Plus, they’re so much more refreshing than a lot of other candies out there that just leave you feeling sticky and craving a drink.

14. Butterfinger Unwrapped Minis

I really enjoy Butterfingers, especially the fun-size ones you get on Halloween. But a whole box of them might be a bit much – they can get overly crunchy and intensely peanut buttery. Even I have my limits!

13. Kit Kat

Kit Kat is also a fantastic Halloween treat – I think it’s one of the best. (Let’s just say my kids once held a serious intervention after catching me eat all their Halloween Kit Kats. On my lawyer’s advice, I’m not commenting further.) However, a whole bag can be a bit much. It’s perfect if you can share it with someone – maybe your partner or kids – especially if you owe them an apology for, well, you know… the Kit Kats.

12. Dots

Dots Flavors Power Ranking:

1. Red

2. Green

3. Yellow

4. Pink

5. Orange

11. Buncha Crunch

Most small, bite-sized chocolate bars are lower quality, made mainly for trick-or-treaters. But Buncha Crunch is an exception – the smaller pieces are actually better than the full-sized bar! Why bother with a regular Crunch bar when you can enjoy a handful of the crispy bits instead? It’s a much better experience.

10. Sweetarts Ropes

These movie candies are a recent and welcome addition to the options at the theater. They don’t have that chalky taste you might expect from older candies like SweeTarts, but it’s understandable that brands want to be recognized. No matter what they’re called, though, they’re incredibly easy to eat – I know, because I finished a whole bag myself!

9. M&M’s

M&Ms are a timeless treat – honestly, all the flavors are great except for those strange cherry ones. And they’re even better when you add them to popcorn! Someone really needs to invent an M&M dispenser for movie theaters, similar to the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines. Imagine being able to build your own custom mix – like plain, mint, and pretzel all together! This idea is worth a fortune, and I’m freely sharing it.

8. Goobers

For years, doctors told me to stay away from nuts and seeds because I have digestive issues. But a recent doctor explained that advice was outdated and no longer considered correct – I could eat whatever I wanted! That same night, I went out and bought a box of Goobers, a candy I loved as a kid. They weren’t quite as amazing as I remembered, but that chocolate and peanut combination is still surprisingly delicious.

7. Life Savers Gummies

It seems like all the new candies these days are just freeze-dried or gummy versions of old favorites, which makes me skeptical. However, Life Savers Gummies are genuinely good. They’ve been around since the early 90s – unlike many of these newer gummy candies. They have the ideal gummy texture: they’re so soft you hardly need to chew! And if you haven’t tried the Wild Berries flavor, you’re missing out – it might be the most underrated candy out there.

6. Twizzlers

Most people call them “The Good Red Vines.” I honestly don’t think there’s a limit to how many Twizzlers one person could eat at once!

5. Junior Mints

Come on — who doesn’t love a Junior Mint? It’s chocolate, it’s peppermint. It’s delicious!

4. Nerds (Juicy) Gummy Clusters

Gummy Clusters are surprisingly good – but you need to choose the right kind! The original version is okay, but a bit too sweet and simple in flavor. The newer ‘Juicy’ Gummy Clusters, released in late 2025, are bigger, gooier, and much tastier, especially the Strawberry Punch flavor, which has a perfect balance of tartness and tang. They’re so good, you’ll find yourself eating handful after handful – and maybe even experiencing a sugar rush strong enough to glimpse the future (for free!).

3. Skittles

Skittles are a timeless movie snack – a $12 bag can easily last through a whole film! They used to rank lower on my list because Skittles went through a rough patch when the company replaced the lime flavor – the best one, in my opinion – with green apple. It was a terrible mistake, similar to when Coca-Cola tried to change their classic formula with New Coke. For a while, every time I bought a bag, I’d be disappointed to find green apple instead of lime and want to spit them out! Thankfully, like New Coke, Skittles eventually brought lime back, and they’ve jumped up in my rankings ever since.

2. Sour Patch Kids

Sour Patch Kids are similar to Swedish Fish, but they come in more flavors and have a unique sour coating. What’s great is that every flavor in the bag is good – you’re not stuck with any duds! A large bag lasts a surprisingly long time, though it’s tempting to make them last even longer by savoring each one… (who hasn’t tried to do that at the movies?)

1. Starburst

Starburst is a classic movie theater candy for a reason. It offers a nice mix of flavors, lasts a long time, and has a satisfying chew without sticking to your teeth. While the original flavors are great, the Mini Starburst—and particularly the Mini Starburst “FaveReds” (which swaps lemon and orange for watermelon and fruit punch)—are truly exceptional.

Movie Theater Chains That No Longer Exist

ArcLight Cinemas

For movie fans in Southern California during the 2000s and early 2010s, ArcLight Cinemas was a special place – and many miss it dearly. While most theaters were content with a basic experience, ArcLight led the way with upgrades like comfortable recliners and the option to enjoy a drink during the movie. They even had staff introduce every film and politely ask the audience to stay quiet. Starting with a single location in Los Angeles, ArcLight grew to around a dozen theaters, but sadly, none reopened after the initial COVID-19 shutdowns. The original Hollywood location, which includes the iconic Cinerama Dome, is expected to reopen, but it won’t be under the ArcLight name.

Carmike Cinemas

Carmike Cinemas was named after the sons of its founder, Carl L. Patrick – Carl Jr. and Michael. At its peak, it was the fourth-largest movie theater chain in the US, operating in 41 states. While successful for many years, Carmike faced financial difficulties starting around 2000, went through bankruptcy once, and was eventually bought by AMC in the mid-2010s. This purchase propelled AMC to become the leading movie theater chain in the country. Before being acquired, Carmike was known for innovative concepts like “The Hollywood Connection,” which combined movies with family entertainment options like mini golf (“Caddy Shack”) and skating (“Xanadu”). Many also remember Carmike’s iconic “C” filmstrip logo fondly.

Clearview Cinemas

From the 1990s to the 2010s, Clearview Cinemas ran many movie theaters in the New York City area, including the iconic Ziegfeld Theater – one of the last grand, single-screen cinemas remaining in the city. In 2013, Clearview sold its theaters to Bow Tie Cinemas, which later closed most of them. Sadly, this included the Ziegfeld, which shut down in 2016 and was eventually converted into an event space.

General Cinema

Though the name ‘General Cinema Corporation’ was fairly plain, their logo – a classic film projector – was truly iconic. For years, General was a major movie theater chain, operating over 1,000 screens nationwide. The company faced financial difficulties at the end of the 1990s and ultimately filed for bankruptcy in the early 2000s. Still, I’d happily wear a t-shirt featuring that memorable logo.

Kerasotes Theatres

After 115 years, Kerasotes Theatres, a family-owned movie theater business, permanently closed in the summer of 2024. While it had shrunk to just a few locations in recent years, the company boasted a remarkable history, with the Kerasotes family running it for generations. It all began in 1909 when Gus Kerasotes, a Greek immigrant, opened a small nickelodeon in Illinois. Over the years, they grew throughout the Midwest, but in 2010, they sold many of their theaters to AMC.

Loews Theatres

I grew up in the suburbs of New Jersey and only knew Loews as the main movie theater chain. Founded by Marcus Loew, it once had theaters all over the country. In the 1990s, Sony bought Loews (and briefly called it Sony Theatres), but the company went through several changes, including a bankruptcy in 2001. Eventually, Loews merged with AMC in 2005, and for a while, many of the theaters still used the Loews name. Personally, I think the Loews pre-show intro from the 80s and 90s – with its cheerful jingle, “Thank you for coming to Loews, sit back and relax, enjoy the show!” – was the best there ever was.

Mann Theatres

For over twenty years, from 1973 to the early 2000s, the famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre was called Mann’s Chinese Theatre after being bought by the Mann Theatres chain. Though the original owner, Ted Mann, sold it to Gulf+Western in 1986, it eventually ended up with private equity investors who gradually closed or sold off its theaters. Thankfully, the iconic Chinese Theatre still operates today as the TCL Chinese Theatre.

Pacific Theatres

As a movie lover, I was really bummed when ArcLight Cinemas closed. It was actually part of a bigger company called Pacific Theatres, which has been around since 1946 and ran theaters all over the West Coast, including drive-ins. Sadly, the pandemic forced them to shut down, though AMC did end up buying a few of their locations.

Plitt Theatres

Following a Supreme Court ruling in the late 1940s, movie studios were forced to sell off their theater chains. Paramount Pictures’ theaters became an independent company and eventually joined ABC. Henry Plitt, a former executive for both Paramount and ABC, later bought the theaters from ABC and rebranded them with his own name. For a time, Plitt’s company owned and operated hundreds of movie theaters across the United States. That company was known as Plitt!

Starplex Cinemas

Starplex Cinemas had a distinctly futuristic look and feel – its name and logo were reminiscent of Star Trek: The Next Generation. It’s a shame it didn’t last long enough to actually reach the 24th century, where moviegoers might have been wearing jumpsuits and enjoying replicated popcorn! Unfortunately, AMC bought the company in 2015, proving the future isn’t as exciting as we hoped.

2026-03-25 22:33