AMC Theaters has unveiled an exclusive, wearable popcorn bucket shaped like Guile’s iconic flat-top hairstyle to promote the upcoming Street Fighter movie, adding a new chapter to what industry watchers are calling the ongoing “war of the popcorn buckets.” The bizarre collectible, which doubles as a hat, was revealed alongside a promotional video featuring Guile actor Cody Rhodes modeling the snack container in theaters ahead of the film’s October 16 release.
The announcement positions AMC at the center of an increasingly competitive landscape in which cinema chains and studio marketers race to produce the most coveted theater merchandise. Popcorn buckets have evolved from simple snack holders into highly sought-after collectibles that frequently go viral across social media, transforming them into powerful marketing tools for theatrical releases.
A Wearable Snack Container
In the the announcement video, Rhodes wears the flat-top-shaped bucket while his co-stars enjoy snacks from it. “It’s ergonomic and it’s aerodynamic. And it can be yours,” says Rhodes, who portrays the military-inspired fighter Guile in the film. The scene features Callina Liang (who plays Chun-Li) alongside Noah Centineo, who plays Ken Masters, eating from the distinctive container.
“It’s ergonomic and it’s aerodynamic. And it can be yours.”
Cody Rhodes, actor portraying Guile
The popcorn bucket taps directly into the character’s most recognizable feature. Within Street Fighter lore, Guile earned his signature hairstyle as a result of a military haircut imposed during his time in the Army, making the flat-top an instantly identifiable symbol for fans of the fighting game franchise.
The Broader Popcorn Bucket Trend
Aerodynamic. Ergonomic. Delicious. The AMC Exclusive 🍿for #StreetFighterMovie in theaters Oct. 16! Tickets go on sale Monday!
The Street Fighter release arrives amid an escalating series of ambitious theater merchandise offerings. The The sandworm popcorn bucket from Dune: Part 2 helped launch what many now consider a new era of collectible snack containers, sparking increasing competition between studio marketers and cinema operators alike.
Ryan Reynolds famously dubbed 2024 the year “when the War of the Popcorn Buckets began” during his unveiling of the Deadpool & Wolverine popcorn bucket. That same year also saw Regal Theatres’ Garfield popcorn bucket allow moviegoers to eat from the back of the cartoon cat’s head, alongside a ghost trap-themed one for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
The trend shows no signs of slowing. Last year, AMC Theaters unveiled its enormous and notably expensive “Giant Galactus Popcorn Vessel” for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. More recently, theaters offered enough popcorn buckets for Spider-Man: Brand New Day that outlets felt compelled to ranked them, while two separate containers appeared for The Odyssey—one shaped like an IMAX camera and the other resembling the Trojan horse.
Arcade-Inspired Merchandise Across Chains
The Street Fighter promotion extends beyond AMC alone. Cinemark also revealed their Street Fighter merch that leans into the arcade roots of the game franchise, offering fans additional collectible options as they prepare for the theatrical debut.
Filmgoers visiting theaters this weekend can already acquire other novelty containers, including the the Resident Evil popcorn bucket shaped like an organ transplant bag. Meanwhile, the upcoming theatrical release of Avengers: Endgame Encore offers ticket buyers two different Iron Man popcorn bucket options.
Looking Ahead
The Street Fighter movie opens in theaters on October 16, with tickets going on sale Monday according to the studio’s promotional timeline. As fans weigh whether to line up for the wearable Guile flat-top or one of the many competing containers flooding theaters this season, AMC’s offering represents yet another bold entry in an increasingly creative battle for box office attention.
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