It’s huge, it’s bright and it’ll cost you almost $100. It’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” Galactus LED Popcorn Bucket, which will be available to pre-order this weekend.
The Galactus popcorn bucket was initially released on Friday, July 25, the same day the film hit theaters, Cassie Kennard, an AMC Theatres spokesperson, told USA TODAY in an email.
“It is virtually sold out after one day of sales,” she said, adding that another item, the H.E.R.B.I.E. Concession Vessel, is also selling fast.
According to AMC Theatres, Regal Cinemas, and Cinemark, the Galactus buckets are selling for around $80, and the first batch has already sold out online. The next group will be available on Saturday, July 26.
The limited edition buckets can only be purchased once per customer, the theater chains said online. Meanwhile, the H.E.R.B.I.E. buckets are being sold in theaters only, as of Friday, July 25, according to Kennard.
Here is what to know about the Galactus popcorn bucket, including where to get it and when it’ll arrive at your doorstep.
When will Galactus buckets be available for pre-order?
The buckets will be available for pre-order at 10 a.m. EST on Saturday, July 26, and customers can also get the buckets in person at the theaters. This next round will be fans’ last chance to get their hands on the bucket, according to AMC Theatres, Regal Cinemas, and Cinemark websites.
The upcoming preorder will be the “final production run” of the buckets, which are expected to ship in early December, the theaters said.
Other items the theaters have listed include the “Fantasticar” Popcorn Bucket ($59.95 at Regal Cinemas), which looks like the superhero group’s flying vehicle from the film.
At Cinemark, most Fantastic Four-themed buckets are on sale in theaters nationwide while supplies last, Cinemark Senior Vice President of Food & Beverage David Haywood told USA TODAY on Friday, July 25. He added that the Galactus Popcorn Bucket comes with an XL popcorn on the side for $79.99.
Cinemark is also selling an exclusive Mr. Fantastic Popcorn Bucket for $39.95, and it comes filled with popcorn, as well as a large drink. The theater chain also has traditional popcorn tins featuring the characters for $13.95 (and yes, those come filled with popcorn too), Haywood said.
A full list of “Fantastic Four” merch for each theater chain can be found at:
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AMC Theatres – www.amctheatresshop.com
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Cinemark – www.shop.cinemark.com
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Regal Cinemas – www.store.regmovies.com
How big is the bucket?
The bucket, shaped like the head of Galactus, is “massive” and features glowing, bright LED eyes, according to the theaters’ descriptions. It’s made of plastic and has a metallic finish.
Calling the bucket the “largest popcorn container ever,” the theaters said it is 20 inches wide and nearly 10 inches deep. The bucket holds about nine liters of popcorn, Haywood added.
Due to its size, the bucket will ship in a pretty large box, increasing the cost, according to the theaters.
What is ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ about?
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” made its theatrical release in the U.S. on July 25.
Directed by Matt Shakman, the film is set in a 1960s retro-futuristic world; it follows Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they defend Earth from space god Galactus and Shalla-Bal.
The movie’s budget was around $200 million, and it runs for just under two hours, according to IMDb. As of Friday afternoon, the film’s Rotten Tomatoes ratings are 88% among critics and 92% among everyday moviegoers.
What popcorn buckets are coming in the near future?
When asked about other upcoming releases, Kennard said there will be collectible items sold for films such as “The Naked Gun,” “The Bad Guys 2” and “Freakier Friday”.
“Our themed popcorn buckets have become a popular form of movie merchandise, evolving from basic tins to elaborate, collectible vessels,” Kennard said. “The collectibles gained significant traction in 2019 with the R2-D2 bucket for ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ and have since grown even more in popularity among moviegoers with releases tied to major films.”
Cinemark began seeing interest in movie-specific popcorn buckets years ago with the light-up popcorn tub for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” in November 2022, Haywood said.
“We ordered a relatively small quantity, which quickly flew off shelves,” he added. “This enthusiasm was really cemented – and we knew this trend (had) really taken on a life of its own – with the launch of our extremely popular ‘Scream VI’ Ghostface popcorn tub in March 2023. The program was so successful that theaters sold out instantly.”
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What to know about ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ $80 popcorn bucket
