National Popcorn Day 2026: Buckets, Butter, and Big Profits

From five-gallon hardware buckets to luxury markups, National Popcorn Day proves popcorn is the real star of the movie theatre experience.

When movie theatres say “bring your own bucket” for popcorn, they usually mean a novelty tub or a goofy souvenir container, not the industrial-strength bucket you last used to mix cement in your garage. And yet, National Popcorn Day 2026 has fully popped off and spilled straight into chaos.

This year’s most kernel-cracking promotion belongs to Cinemark’s legendary Bring Your Own Bucket deal. For just $5 plus tax, moviegoers can march in with a clean five-gallon bucket and have it filled to the rim with movie theatre popcorn. Yes, the contractor-sized kind. No, they probably will not butter an eyelid. To sweeten the deal, Cinemark is also tossing in future popcorn coupons valid from February 1 to 26, making this one snack choice that really pops as an investment.

In Canada, Cineplex is not just nibbling around the edges. It is turning National Popcorn Day into a full-blown popcorn-palooza. Scene+ members can grab a free small popcorn with a valid movie ticket for four straight days, from January 16 to January 19, 2026. What started as a one-day celebration has ballooned into a four-day binge where the popcorn never stops flowing.

Across the United States, movie theatres nationwide will celebrate National Popcorn Day on Monday, January 19, as part of a one-day-only event organized by Cinema United and The Cinema Foundation. Participating theatres will roll out special promotions, discounts, and limited-time offers on fresh, hot movie theatre popcorn. Fandango, the nation’s leading online ticketing service, returns as presenting sponsor, helping fans track down participating theatres and deals before the kernels cool.

“National Popcorn Day is one of those moments that reminds us why people love going to the movies,” said Michael O’Leary, President and CEO of Cinema United. “It’s about sharing the big screen experience and enjoying movies and popcorn together in a way you simply cannot replicate anywhere else.”

Fandango EVP Jerramy Hainline echoed the sentiment, pointing out that popcorn is a core ingredient of the theatrical experience. According to a Fandango study of more than 6,000 moviegoers, 96 percent of general ticket buyers purchase concessions, with popcorn ranking among the most popular items. Sixty-one percent also admit they like to order a variety of snacks, proving that when it comes to candy versus popcorn, people prefer to hedge their bets.

Other theatre chains are getting in on the buttery madness as well. Marcus Theatres is offering a free large popcorn with any ticket on January 19, along with games and in-theatre fun. Cinema United and Fandango are coordinating nationwide participation, so popcorn perks may vary by location.

Getting in on the action is easy. Check your local theatre’s website or app, including Cinemark, Cineplex, and Marcus Theatres, for exact offers and showtimes. Join loyalty programs like Scene+ for bonus perks. And if you live in the United States, consider dusting off that five-gallon bucket. National Popcorn Day 2026 proves that movie theatre popcorn has officially outgrown the tub and wandered into the hardware aisle.

Ironically, popcorn was not always welcome in movie theatres. In the early days of cinema, theatre owners wanted a polished, high-class atmosphere similar to live theatre or opera. Popcorn was seen as loud, messy, and far too common for such refined spaces.

The ban made sense at the time. Early cinemas were filled with plush carpets and expensive rugs that owners did not want ruined by stray kernels or greasy butter stains. During the silent film era, the crunch of popcorn and the rustle of bags could shatter the quiet experience. Early movies also catered to wealthier, educated audiences who could read silent film title cards, and popcorn was viewed as cheap street food better suited to fairs and carnivals.

That all changed in the late 1920s with the arrival of sound films and the financial squeeze of the Great Depression. Talkies drew a broader audience, and popcorn became an affordable luxury that filled stomachs without emptying wallets. Theatre owners quickly realized that popcorn was not just a snack, it was a gold mine, and popcorn machines began popping up inside cinemas everywhere.

Today, movie theatre popcorn is one of the most profitable items in entertainment. Profit margins often hover around 85 percent, with markups that can exceed 900 percent. Concessions may only account for 20 to 30 percent of total revenue, but they generate as much as 40 to 50 percent of a cinema’s profits. Major chains like Cinemark and AMC consistently report food and beverage margins in the 80 percent range.

Ticket sales tell a different story. Theatres typically hand over 60 to 70 percent of ticket revenue to film distributors, especially for new releases. Concessions are where cinemas keep every buttery dollar, helping cover rent, wages, utilities, and constant equipment upgrades.

High popcorn prices also serve as a clever economic strategy. Lower ticket prices pull audiences in, while premium concessions allow theatres to earn more from customers willing to pay extra for the full movie-going experience.

In the end, popcorn has come full circle. Once banned from cinemas, it is now the snack that keeps the lights on and the projectors running. Those overpriced tubs of buttery kernels are not just popcorn. They are popping profits.