I Ate Every Kind of Butterbeer-Flavored Snack

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, let me share my most passionate perspective on the Harry Potter phenomenon: Among the countless books, movies, amusement park experiences, and video games, the standout element that truly captivates me in this colossal multimedia franchise is undeniably the magical potion I’ve sipped.

Initially, Butterbeer bearing the Harry Potter trademark was exclusively available at Harry Potter-themed areas spread across different Universal Studios parks worldwide. In the books, it is portrayed as a butterscotch drink with a hint of alcohol, and in the movies, characters were seen drinking large quantities of it. In reality, Butterbeer has become one of the key attractions at the debut of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which opened at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in 2010.

The specific ingredients of Universal’s non-alcoholic Butterbeer are kept a secret, yet its flavor is reminiscent of a blend between cream soda and butterscotch, with a whipped cream topping made of butterscotch. Regardless of what it contains, it’s incredibly tasty; it might even be my favorite carbonated drink in the world. And I’m certainly not alone in this opinion, as Universal (and those managing Harry Potter licensing) continue expanding the Butterbeer offerings: There’s not just a regular Butterbeer drink, but also slushes, ice cream, cream puffs, fudge, and more. (I can’t say for sure if you could create Butterbeer as a flamethrower, but at this point, it wouldn’t seem out of the ordinary.)

I haven’t tasted every variety yet, but I’ve given quite a few a try – even the less popular hot Butterbeer – and they’re all delicious. The newest addition to this collection is making Butterbeer available beyond theme parks and official Harry Potter stores, as it’s now being sold in grocery chains alongside popular snack foods.

Since I’m such a fan of Butterbeer, when Warner Bros. contacted me about receiving a box filled with these items they’re advertising as part of their “Butterbeer Season,” I jumped at the chance – it wasn’t just because I feel obligated to try any movie-inspired food, but rather due to my genuine eagerness to explore and taste them.

They ultimately sent me four different Butterbeer-y foods. Here are all of them.

“Butterbeer Season” Snacks That Taste Like Butterbeer

SkinnyPop Butterbeer Flavored Kettle Popcorn

Title Description: “Deliciously Light Popcorn with a Hint of Butterscotch, Brown Butter, and Caramel Flavors” (SRP: $2.99)

Personal Impression: “We’re regular consumers of the classic Sea Salt SkinnyPop in our household, so I have a good understanding of that product. This Butterbeer-coated variant has a relatively light and subtle flavor compared to the original, catering more towards those seeking a lower-calorie snack option. If you’re after an authentic Butterbeer taste, this may not fully deliver for you. However, if other Butterbeer treats feel overly sweet, this could be your ideal choice. I split this bag with my wife, and it was entirely devoured within just two days.”

Keebler Harry Potter Butterbeer Fudge Stripes Cookies

“Experience a joyful twist on the beloved wizarding drink with this Butterbeer-flavored cookie crowned by Butterbeer-infused fudge, replicating the delightful blend of cream soda and butterscotch cherished by wizards and sorcerers.” (Retail Price: $4.80)

My Impressions: These were my least preferred among the selection, not because they were poor quality, but because they didn’t quite capture the authentic Butterbeer taste I expect. The flavor profile was more of a general vanilla texture rather than the distinctive creamy essence associated with Butterbeer. To be clear, these treats weren’t bad by any means, but if given a choice between one Butterbeer Fudge Stripe and a standard Fudge Stripe, I would opt for the traditional version nine times out of ten.

Hershey’s Harry Potter Butterbeer Kisses

“Experience the intense, limited-edition Butterbeer Kisses, a treat that’s as magical as it sounds! These candies pack a potent punch of Butterbeer flavor and aroma. The taste is incredibly sweet, rich, and heavily dominated by butterscotch, although you can catch hints of cream soda too. What sets these apart from regular Hershey’s Kisses is their unique hollow design, filled with a creamy center.” (SRP: $4.79)

My Impression: “If you thought Butterbeer SkinnyPop was subtle with its Butterbeer flavor, think again! Butterbeer Kisses are a whole different story; they hit you like a tankard of Butterbeer the moment you open the bag. The aroma alone is powerful. As for the taste, it’s incredibly sweet and rich, with a dominant butterscotch flavor that makes it hard to discern the promised cream soda notes. However, I was pleasantly surprised by their unique design – hollow Kisses filled with a creamy center, a feature not commonly found in Hershey’s Kisses.”

A Butterbeer Hershey’s Kisses Cross Section

Any true fan of Butterbeer will agree that the most delightful aspect is the creamy froth on top. Therefore, when Hershey’s made an effort (equivalent to wizards’ steps or whatever they use) to replicate that, not only in appearance but also in essence (though not quite the taste), they definitely gain some extra praise from me.

Goldfish Butterbeer Flavored Grahams

Title Description: “Savor the delight of Butterbeer in crunchy snack form!” (SRP: $3.69)

Review: These Butterbeer Goldfish were my top pick from the bunch. They truly captured the aroma of Butterbeer upon opening the bag. While they’re not overly sweet, they do an impressive job replicating the unique flavor profile of the Butterbeer beverage. They’re simply delicious! You can’t eat just one; you’ll find yourself reaching for more and more before your kids even get a chance at the bag. (Rest assured, I wouldn’t hog all these to myself and not share with my children, that would be monstrous…) I may not be a fan of traditional Goldfish crackers, but I’d gladly choose Butterbeer Goldfish over their recent sweet variations, including Maple Syrup Elf Goldfish. If you could only try one Butterbeer-themed food, I’d recommend these without hesitation.

It’s worth mentioning that we all sampled various snacks, each of us having a distinct preference. I leaned towards Goldfish, my spouse favored popcorn, our eldest daughter adored Hershey’s Kisses, and the little one enjoyed the cookies most. Maybe this is what makes movie treats special; their appeal depends entirely on personal taste.

A Brief History of Movie Tie-In Food

The Early Days of Tie-In Food

Cross-promotions between movies and food industries gained momentum in the 1970s, but they had already started earlier, as observed by Discontinued Foods. As early as the era of radio serials, food brands and pop culture were eager to capitalize on each other’s trends, with one feeding off the other.

By the 1960s, breakfast cereals like those featuring Yogi Bear from Hanna-Barbera television cartoons had already graced store shelves, marking the beginning of our current world filled with Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles. Cartoon and comic characters proved to be reliable magnets for children’s interest, even towards products they might usually avoid. By this time, Allens were selling Popeye Spinach, a product named after the popular sailor man from comic strips and short films, inspired by his fondness for the power-packed leafy vegetable. This product is still available on supermarket shelves today.

“Presented For Your Enjoyment By Howard Johnson’s”

Movies and food can sometimes be an awkward match, and this was particularly evident in the early days of product tie-ins when marketers hadn’t yet refined the perfect strategy (like transforming children’s films into merchandise). For instance, in 1968, Howard Johnson’s used the launch of Stanley Kubrick’s innovative, psychedelic science fiction film “2001: A Space Odyssey” as a promotional opportunity… by offering a kids menu that served as a comic book! Quite an unusual pairing, wouldn’t you agree?

Willy Wonka and the Tie-In Candy Bars

The iconic film “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” didn’t just spawn merchandise; instead, it was essentially born from early promotional tie-ins. The Quaker Oats company funded the movie as a means to introduce a new candy bar in the 1970s. They were persuaded by director Mel Stuart and producer David L. Wolper to acquire Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” adapt it for screen, and use it to launch a line of Wonka-branded chocolate bars.

True to their word, Quaker changed the movie’s title to “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” to boost sales of their real-world Wonka bars. However, the original Wonka candy bars had issues with their formula, leading to a recall. Nevertheless, the Wonka candy line thrived, offering products like Peanut Butter Oompas, which were essentially Reese’s Pieces under a different name.

Quaker also used other marketing strategies; for instance, they offered a “Wonka Candy Factory” toy if you bought Quaker cereal boxes and mailed them in. (I trust you see no issue with encouraging kids to melt chocolate on their kitchen stove, do you?)

Although Quaker eventually sold the Wonka division, some of its candies are still in production today, including Everlasting Gobstoppers, a direct descendant of the book and film.

A Galaxy Far, Far Away…

After the unexpected success of George Lucas’ film “American Graffiti”, he was given the chance to renegotiate his contract for his next project, a risky science-fiction movie titled “Star Wars”. Initially named “The Star Wars”, but later shortened for simplicity. His agent proposed that Lucas could increase his salary from $200,000 to $700,000, along with a share of the film’s profits if any were made.

However, Lucas declined the offer. He didn’t seek more money; instead, he proposed making “Star Wars” for the same amount, provided Fox gave him ownership rights to all future “Star Wars” sequels and control over merchandising and licensing of the franchise.

Fox agreed, thinking they had saved half a million dollars. Little did they know, they had potentially cost themselves billions and George Lucas single-handedly revolutionized the world of movie marketing. He stated later that he took the deal to gain control and due to his fear that Fox might not advertise “Star Wars”.

When “Star Wars” became one of the most successful films ever made, this concern almost became obsolete. However, the agreement transformed “Star Wars” into a merchandising phenomenon – one of the first films in history to partner with restaurants for cross-promotional deals. While food inspired by “Star Wars” would come later, the original 1977 film had multiple fast food tie-ins. The Burger Chef chain distributed “Star Wars” posters, while Burger King sold collectible Star Wars glasses, a practice that became standard for blockbuster movies within a few years.

People still treasure those original “Star Wars” cups, but they should be cautious about drinking from them – a study revealed a few years ago that they contained lead paint. Oops!

The Happy Meal

The significance of marketing towards children in relation to tie-in foods cannot be underscored enough, as it has played a pivotal role in the history of this phenomenon. The majority of films transformed into edibles have been designed for mass consumption, with a strong emphasis on using those food items to generate interest among children, who then persuade their parents to watch the movie or dine at restaurants offering related toys or merchandise, which they’ve seen advertised on television. Contrastingly, adult-oriented films seldom receive tie-in menus, even when they could theoretically benefit from such a partnership, like in the case of a 9 1/2 Weeks menu.

From nearly its inception, McDonald’s innovative Happy Meal has been closely associated with movies. Following years of experimentation and improvement in the 1970s, McDonald’s officially unveiled this concept nationwide in 1979. One of the earliest themed Happy Meals was for Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

While this movie might not seem like a children’s film (unless you were a child who enjoyed contemplative sci-fi movies about astronauts traversing space clouds), the Star Trek brand was very popular in the late 1970s, thanks to years of syndicated re-runs and an animated series. With a big-budget movie in theaters, it provided an excellent opportunity for a Happy Meal collaboration.

The original Star Trek Happy Meal consisted of comics, games, and a plastic “communicator” toy, but there was no themed food at that time; that would come later. However, the success of the Star Trek Happy Meal set the stage for a lasting connection between movies and fast food.

Part a Complete Breakfast

In the era of the “Star Wars” sequels, the franchise had become a lucrative venture for any company that held its license, leading to an abundance of tie-ins. One such example was C-3PO’s cereal, which was marketed as being connected to the movies, although its resemblance might be a stretch. The cereal itself bore no relation to the Force or the Empire and simply resembled two squashed Cheerios. Interestingly, after Kellogg’s lost the “Star Wars” license, they repackaged the same cereal under the sports-themed name “Pro-Grain.”

Today, C-3PO’s are primarily remembered for the appealing “Star Wars” masks that were included on the back of the boxes. These masks allowed children to dress up as their favorite characters and contributed significantly to sales. This marked the beginning of a strong relationship between “Star Wars” and the food industry.

Cooler Heads Prevail

In the 1980s, most movie tie-in products appeared around a film’s release and faded away afterward. However, there was an unusual exception: Ecto Cooler, a brightly colored citrus drink from Hi-C, themed to the Ghostbusters movie and its cartoon series, The Real Ghostbusters. Even though the original Ghostbusters movies ended in 1989 and the cartoon show was canceled in 1991, Hi-C continued selling Ecto Cooler throughout the 1990s. Whenever the Ghostbusters film franchise was revived, so was Ecto Cooler, with bottles often becoming highly sought after and selling for high prices on the secondary market. Nowadays, Ecto Cooler is an essential part of the Ghostbusters mythos – and for many 90’s kids, it’s an indelible part of their childhood memories, whether they were Ghostbusters fans or not.

Fast Food Gets Dino-Sized

In the 80s, movies sparked a wave of cereals and other food items like Ecto Coolers, but their presence at fast-food joints was primarily limited to promotional gifts such as Happy Meal toys or collector cups.

However, things took a drastic turn in the 90s when fast-food chains started entering into major promotional agreements with studios and introduced more elaborate tie-ins that film enthusiasts could savor instead of just collect.

One of the pioneers of this new era of tie-in foods was McDonald’s, who in 1993, offered a “Jurassic Park Meal” to coincide with the blockbuster hit of the year. The novelty here was that you could “dino-size” your drink, fries, or even your burger into a Jurassic Park triple cheeseburger.

The Super Hero Burger

1. The meal served at Jurassic Park was branded movie food, but it was essentially larger versions of ordinary dishes. This concept soon evolved into something entirely new: Food items tied to blockbuster movies.

2. In 1995, McDonald’s collaborated with Warner Bros. for the release of Batman Forever. Alongside promotional etched glasses, they introduced a limited-edition “Super Hero Burger”, which was essentially a triple cheeseburger served on a hero roll instead of a regular bun (hence, a superhero burger).

3. To bridge the gap between advertising and movie trailers even more, Batman Forever featured a scene where Val Kilmer’s Batman joked about getting drive-thru after his night of crime fighting was over. McDonald’s utilized this clip in their Super Hero Burger advertisements and enlisted trailer voice artist Don LaFontaine to narrate the commercials. (The urgency in “The great taste of two cheeses melted over three beef patties” had never been more palpable when LaFontaine said it.)

The Volcano Burrito

In the 1990s, it wasn’t just McDonald’s that made substantial investments in the film industry. Taco Bell aggressively marketed numerous blockbusters, both in their advertisements and on their menu. While McDonald’s was promoting “Batman Forever” during the same summer, Taco Bell supported “Congo,” a movie that aimed to be another box-office sensation similar to “Jurassic Park.” Although “Congo” didn’t meet its box office expectations, the “Volcano Burrito,” which was introduced as part of the cross-promotion for the film (containing seasoned beef, beans, rice, a blend of three cheese, and flowing with fiery red sauce), has been reintroduced by Taco Bell multiple times since. You can find numerous tributes to this spicy dish online if you search “volcano burrito.” Interestingly, the climax of “Congo” involves the characters trying to escape an erupting volcano, which ties in with the theme of the dish (even though it’s lava, not Mexican cuisine, that is spewing from the volcano).

There’s Pineapple Shrimp, Lemon Shrimp, Coconut Shrimp, Pepper Shrimp, Shrimp Soup, Shrimp Stew, Shrimp Salad, Shrimp and Potatoes, Shrimp Burger, Shrimp Sandwich…

In the mid-1990s, film enthusiasts could often purchase foods tied to their favorite movies, such as Batman Forever. However, a restaurant themed around a single movie was yet to be seen. That changed in 1996 with the introduction of a unique eatery: the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. This restaurant was based on the hugely successful 1994 Academy Award winner, Forrest Gump. In the film, Forrest and his war buddy Lieutenant Dan establish a shrimping business under the name “Bubba Gump”; in reality, an entrepreneur aiming to boost his struggling frozen seafood business obtained the rights to the “Bubba Gump” name from Paramount Pictures.

When Bubba Gump frozen food proved popular, a full-fledged restaurant was created – and many more followed suit. Today, 30 years after Forrest Gump first graced movie screens (and marked its last appearance), the Bubba Gump chain continues to thrive, with numerous locations worldwide.

Small Soldiers, Big Burgers

Reflecting on the past, it’s fascinating to note that numerous enduring fast food items were initially conceived as movie tie-ins, often associated with films long forgotten by time. One such instance is the Rodeo Cheeseburger, introduced by Burger King in 1998 during their Small Soldiers promotion. Despite the fact that the film itself, Small Soldiers, was a box office flop and now barely resonates with anyone beyond Joe Dante’s die-hard fans, the Rodeo Cheeseburger – comprised of cheese, onion rings, and Bull’s-Eye Barbecue sauce – is still available on Burger King’s menu. Though the current version lacks the original cheese and uses an unbranded sauce, you can still order one from your local Burger King right now.

Marvelous Fast Food Menus

In the 21st century, as movies became blockbusters with larger scales, so did the associated food items in restaurants. Chains started offering numerous dishes – sometimes entire temporary menus – to coincide with major film releases. If size equates to quality in cinemas, why wouldn’t the same idea work in dining establishments?

For instance, Baskin-Robbins capitalized on the 2003 release of X2 by introducing several ice cream flavors themed around the movie. They offered an “X-Mint” and an “X-Treme Berry Sherbet,” along with sundaes inspired by Storm and Wolverine, such as the “Berry Rampage Sundae” which included “X-Treme Berry Sherbet with strawberry topping, whipped cream, Wild Berry Wonka Nerds, and a Blue Raspberry Sour Punch Straw ‘X.'”

Although it’s difficult to envision Hugh Jackman consuming large amounts of whipped cream and Sour Punch Straws while maintaining his superhero physique, and I highly doubt Wolverine would approve of any food named after him that contained “Nerds,” the candy “X” on top was a thoughtful touch.

Okay, This One Isn’t Really All That Historic, But Just Look at That Picture. How Could I Not Include This?

In 2011, Dunkin’ Donuts released desserts themed around Captain America: The First Avenger, and while they weren’t exactly revolutionary, this picture – showcasing the “First Avenger Tri-Cup,” which contained a mix of three Coolatta flavors (cherry, vanilla bean, and blue raspberry) – caught my eye. It seemed like something everyone should see.

Now, you’ve seen it. Enjoy!

Theme Parks Get Tied Up With Tie-Ins

In the realm of movie-themed food during the 2010s, a significant shift occurred from food merely hinted at in films to edibles directly derived from them. While some might argue this is similar to serving Popeye Spinach decades ago, the distinction lies in the immersive experience provided, particularly at theme parks.

This transformation was most noticeable in theme parks, with Disney’s lands and worlds offering Mickey Mouse-shaped ice cream bars for years. However, it was Universal Studios that spearheaded this change, mainly through their “Wizarding World of Harry Potter.”

Opened in 2010 at their Islands of Adventure theme park in Orlando, the Wizarding World replicated a piece of the Harry Potter movie universe with remarkable precision. One aspect of this immersion involved serving foods and drinks from the films to guests, with butterbeer being the most notable and popular example.

The butterbeer offered at Universal Studios, which is incredibly delicious, became so popular that they expanded their offerings to include various types: not just regular butterbeer but hot butterbeer, frozen butterbeer, butterbeer ice cream, butterbeer fudge, and even butterbeer potted cream. (It’s worth noting that a diet consisting primarily of butterbeer could potentially lead to health issues such as heart disease by the age of 30.)

The Tie-Ins Get Weirder, and the Internet Notices

Over the past decade, movie merchandise has become increasingly extravagant, showcasing colors and flavors that don’t exist in nature. One of the earliest examples that gained significant attention was a “Darth Vader” burger, launched to coincide with the 3D re-release of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace in 2012. This burger was served at the French restaurant Quick, and American chains soon picked up on the buzz it generated online and started introducing their own outrageous movie-themed foods.

The primary motivation behind these tie-ins is attraction. These movies aren’t aiming for James Beard Awards; they’re after viewers. If associating with a burger that resembles the Grim Reaper’s handiwork helps them achieve that, then so be it.

Chain restaurants follow a similar strategy. While you might not want to eat a black burger yourself, you might share an image of it with someone daring enough to try it (like me) and then join them for the photo opportunity when they do.

One Theme Menu to Rule Them All

It appears that a strategy akin to, “if we create food so extraordinary it becomes internet sensation, the consumption doesn’t truly matter,” seemed to drive the succession of colossal themed menus introduced by Denny’s. In 2012, Denny’s launched a menu inspired by Peter Jackson’s first “The Hobbit” film, featuring unique dishes like the “Lonely Mountain Treasure” (a toast service with seed cake and cream cheese icing for dipping), “Lone-Lands Campfire Cookie Milk Shake” (vanilla milkshake with s’mores cookie pieces), and “Radagast’s Red Velvet Pancake Pippies.” This menu was a success, prompting Denny’s to repeat this formula (“Hollywood blockbuster + menu of seemingly dared-up food creations”) throughout the decade.

Another Picture Too Deranged Not to Include

The “Lunar Cheesecake” flavor, a green and white cheesecake-flavored ice cream with cheesecake bits and a graham cracker ribbon, was initially launched in the late 1960s as a topical reference. Baskin-Robbins premiered it in 1969 to capitalize on the Apollo 11 moon landing, drawing inspiration from the ancient belief that the moon was made of green cheese. After the moon-mania subsided and the flavor was discontinued, it reappeared in 2012 as a tie-in with the movie “Men In Black 3”. This film incorporated the Apollo 11 mission into its plot. Since then, the flavor has made occasional returns for special Baskin-Robbins anniversaries. I find the concept delightful, imagining people saying “Yes, I do want to eat the strangely green dessert that the alien is offering me in the movie.

Actually, Make That Two Theme Menus…

When Peter Jackson released a follow-up film titled “The Desolation of Smaug“, Denny’s followed suit with an updated version of their “Hobbit” menu. Just like how Hollywood sequels tend to be larger and more extravagant than the originals, this new Denny’s menu was no exception.

The revamped menu introduced a total of eight unique dishes, such as the “Smaug’s Fire Burger” (a beef patty on a grilled Cheddar bun with their special X-sauce, Jalapeno Bottle Caps, melted Pepper Jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onions and pickles), “Bilbo’s Breakfast Feast” (a slice of honey cake French toast drizzled with honey, scrambled eggs mixed with Cheddar cheese, fresh spinach and mushrooms, a hearty breakfast sausage, and crispy hash browns), and the “Hobbit Hole Breakfast” (let’s not revisit that just yet, I’ve had lunch). Additionally, customers could design their own “Hobbit Slam,” which might have been considered illegal in the Shire, but at Denny’s, anything goes.

The lavish excess of the “Smaug” menu quickly became a topic of conversation online, with journalists describing the food and even visiting Denny’s to taste it for themselves. (Can you imagine?) Despite continuing to create themed menus, Denny’s chose not to produce one for the final “Hobbit” film, “The Battle of the Five Armies“. Perhaps they realized that there was no way to surpass the grandeur of the Hobbit Hole Breakfast.

The Galaxy’s (Cutting Culinary) Edge

Universal’s Wizarding World may have pioneered the concept of integrating movies with tourist experiences through food, but Disney elevated theme park immersion to new heights with their Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge sections in Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

These themed lands not only feature iconic items from the Star Wars films, such as the breakfast blue milk served at Luke Skywalker’s childhood home (at Disneyland, it’s dairy-free and has a taste similar to a fruit smoothie), they exclusively offer foods and drinks that align with the Star Wars universe. Unique creations include the “Ronto wrap” (a fusion of a hot dog and a gyro) and “moof juice” (a blend of fruit punch, pineapple-orange juice, and chipotle-pineapple). Even the Coca-Cola products available in Galaxy’s Edge have a Star Wars feel, sold in containers that resemble thermal detonators.

Scrumdiddlyumptious

Over the past few years, Denny’s has relinquished its position as the pioneer in cinema-themed food collaborations to IHOP. This restaurant chain has created extravagant and eccentric menus for films like “The Grinch” (green pancakes!), “The Addams Family” (purple hot chocolate!), and “Wonka” (purple pancakes!). If you can combine a movie with an unusual color on breakfast food, IHOP will do it.

Given that “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” was one of the earliest examples of this type of marketing, it’s quite fitting that IHOP chose to collaborate on a menu for this film. In marketing and popular culture, everything old is made new again.

The Future…?

An unexpected domain that hasn’t seen a vast number of movie-themed food items over the years is the movie theater itself. For quite some time, theaters appeared satisfied with offering the same mix of popcorn and unhealthy snacks with minimal changes or fresh ideas.

However, in recent times, as theaters face stiff competition from streaming platforms and the internet, they too have started to explore tie-ins as a means to boost profits. Cinemas that provide in-theater dining often leverage the hype of new films by introducing special menu items; for instance, the Alamo Drafthouse has attempted to lure customers with the allure of a “Green Goblin” Spider-Man Pizza (topped with a “sour cream web”) and Ninja Turtles popcorn flavored like pizza (which surprisingly tasted good).

Even conventional multiplexes have joined in. AMC, for example, frequently launches unique Icee flavors tied to movies, such as a disturbing black slushie for The Addams Family. They’ve recognized the viral potential of outrageous tie-ins and are now following suit, producing increasingly bizarre popcorn containers. The Dune bucket drew criticism not only online but also on late night television; on eBay, these buckets were sold for upwards of $100.

Tie-ins are here to stay. As long as people continue going to the movies, film enthusiasts will crave food inspired by their favorite films, and those selling the films will be more than willing to oblige.

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2025-04-14 20:57