I Ate Every Kind of Butterbeer-Flavored Snack

Here’s a fresh perspective on the Harry Potter phenomenon: Among all the books, movies, amusement park experiences, and video games, it’s the beverage element that truly stands out as the most captivating part of this sprawling multimedia empire.

Originally, Butterbeer branded as Harry Potter was exclusively offered at Harry Potter-themed areas situated across different Universal Studios parks worldwide. In the books, this beverage is depicted as a butterscotch-flavored drink with a hint of alcohol, while in movies it was frequently consumed in large quantities. When the first Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in 2010 summer, real Butterbeer quickly became one of its most popular attractions.

The recipe for Universal’s non-alcoholic Butterbeer is kept under wraps, but its flavor is a unique blend that resembles a mix between cream soda and butterscotch, with a dollop of butterscotch whipped cream on top. Regardless of its components, it’s scrumptious; I’d go as far as saying it’s my favorite carbonated beverage available. It seems that I’m not the only one who feels this way, as Universal (alongside the Harry Potter licensing team) continually expands the Butterbeer line: There’s not just a drink called Butterbeer, but also slushes, ice cream, cream puffs, fudge, and more. (Though I’m unsure if it’s possible to create Butterbeer that functions as a flamethrower, at this point, such an addition wouldn’t seem out of the ordinary.)

As a movie enthusiast who’s deeply immersed in the magical world of Harry Potter, I must confess that I haven’t tasted every single varietal yet, but I’ve had my fair share – even the underappreciated hot Butterbeer. They all deliver an unforgettable taste experience. The recent extension to this collection is truly enchanting. It brings the delight of Butterbeer out of theme parks and exclusive Harry Potter stores, and into our local grocery chains! Now, we can savor Butterbeer-infused versions of popular snacks right in our own homes.

Since I have a fondness for Butterbeer, when Warner Bros. contacted me about receiving a package filled with these items they’re advertising as part of the “Butterbeer Season,” I quickly agreed – it wasn’t just because I feel compelled to consume any food connected to movies. Instead, this time I accepted out of genuine eagerness to explore.

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

The enticing Butterbeer Popped Corn delivers a delicate butterscotch flavor with undertones of brown butter and caramel. (Retail Price: $2.99)

My Perspective: Being regular consumers of the standard Sea Salt SkinnyPop, I was acquainted with its characteristics. The Butterbeer coating here is rather subtle and not as intense as one would expect from a Butterbeer treat, possibly due to its lower calorie nature. If you find other Butterbeer snacks too sweet for your taste, this could be an ideal choice for you. I divulged this bag with my spouse, and it’s worth mentioning that it was swiftly devoured within two days.

Keebler Harry Potter Butterbeer Fudge Stripes Cookies

Experience a joyful rendition of the renowned beverage from the magical world, offering Butterbeer-flavored cookies smothered in Butterbeer-infused fudge. This delight aims to recreate the cherished blend of cream soda and butterscotch that enchants wizards and witches. (SRP: $4.80)

Personal Opinion: Among the four options, these were my least preferred, not because they were poor quality, but because their flavor didn’t quite match the classic Butterbeer taste I associate with this unique blend. The flavors felt more like a generic vanilla rather than the specific, creamy notes I expect from Butterbeer. In a direct comparison 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 an extraordinary limited-edition treat, perfect for both witches and wizards – the intense Butterbeer Kisses! Unlike SkinnyPop’s subtle Butterbeer hint, these Kisses pack a powerful punch of Butterbeer flavor that’s almost overpowering in aroma. The taste is incredibly sweet, rich, and heavily flavored with butterscotch, making it slightly challenging to discern the promised undertones of cream soda. Despite this, I was pleasantly surprised by their effort to fill these Kisses hollow, a feature not commonly seen in Hershey’s Kisses. (Check out the following slide for a closer look inside)

A Butterbeer Hershey’s Kisses Cross Section

For any Butterbeer enthusiast, the crowning glory of the drink lies undoubtedly in its creamy layer. Therefore, Hershey’s making an effort to recreate this aspect (while perhaps falling short on taste) deserves some extra credit from me.

Goldfish Butterbeer Flavored Grahams

Title Description: “Savor the aroma of your favorite wizarding beverage in a crunchy snack!” (SRP: $3.69)

Personal Review: Out of all the options, these Butterbeer Goldfish truly stole the show for me. The moment you open the bag, it’s like you’re transported straight to Hogsmeade! They have a delightful balance of sweetness compared to the original Butterbeer drink and are incredibly tasty. One becomes two, then a handful before you realize it – they’re simply irresistible! (I assure you, I would never hoard these all for myself, leaving none for my children!) To be honest, I’m not a big fan of regular Goldfish crackers, but the Butterbeer flavor has me reaching for more than any other sweet varieties they’ve recently produced, including the Maple Syrup Elf Goldfish. If you could only choose one Butterbeer food item, this would be my top pick!

It’s worth mentioning that we all sampled these treats together, and each one of us had a distinct preference. I leaned towards Goldfish, my wife favored the popcorn, our elder child was smitten with the Kisses, while our youngest seemed to enjoy the cookies most. Maybe this is what makes movie snacks special – their appeal can only be gauged individually.

A Brief History of Movie Tie-In Food

The Early Days of Tie-In Food

The connection between movies and the food industry truly gained momentum in the 1970s; however, there were some initial examples of cross-promotions dating back even earlier to the era of radio serials. As pointed out by Discontinued Foods, food brands were eager to cash in on pop culture trends, while also influencing them reciprocally.

For instance, breakfast cereals started showcasing popular Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters like Yogi Bear on their packaging as early as the 1960s, marking the beginning of our current world filled with Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles. These cartoon and comic heroes proved effective in drawing children to products, even those they might have initially disliked.

By the 1960s, Allens were selling Popeye Spinach, a product named after the famous sailor man from comic strips and theatrical shorts. The popularity of this character, who was known for his love of spinach, inspired the creation of the product, which can still be found on supermarket shelves today.

“Presented For Your Enjoyment By Howard Johnson’s”

Occasionally, movies and food can be an odd combination, and this was particularly noticeable in the early days of tie-ins when marketers hadn’t quite mastered the perfect strategy (such as converting kids’ films into merchandise). An example of this mismatch occurred in 1968 when Howard Johnson’s, in promoting Stanley Kubrick’s innovative, psychedelic science-fiction film “2001: A Space Odyssey”, introduced… a children’s menu that served as a comic book. Yes, it really happened.

Willy Wonka and the Tie-In Candy Bars

As a passionate fan, I’d rephrase that in my own words like this:

Back in the 1970s, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory wasn’t just a movie; it was a cinematic experience born from promotional tie-ins. The film was actually funded by Quaker Oats, who were eager to introduce a new candy bar and saw this opportunity as the perfect platform. They convinced director Mel Stuart and producer David L. Wolper to adapt Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and voila! Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was born, essentially serving as a launchpad for Quaker’s line of Wonka-branded chocolate bars.

Guess what? They even renamed the movie to align with their real-world Wonka bars to boost sales. Unfortunately, there were issues with the original Wonka candy formula, and they had to be recalled. But don’t worry, the Wonka candy line eventually took off, offering treats like Peanut Butter Oompas, which are essentially known as Reese’s Pieces by another name.

Quaker didn’t stop there. They also used their other products to promote the film. If you remember, buying Quaker cereal boxes and sending them away would get you a “Wonka Candy Factory” toy, allowing you to make your own Wonka bars at home (although I must admit, I found the idea of melting chocolate on a kitchen stove intriguing as a child).

Even after Quaker sold the Wonks division, several of its candies are still around today, with Everlasting Gobstoppers being a direct inspiration from the book and film.

A Galaxy Far, Far Away…

Following the unexpected success of George Lucas’ film “American Graffiti”, he found himself in a position to renegotiate his contract for his next project, an ambitious science-fiction movie titled “Star Wars”. Initially, Lucas’ agent believed that Lucas could secure a raise from $200,000 to $700,000, along with a share of the film’s profits if any were earned.

However, Lucas declined the increased pay and instead proposed making “Star Wars” for the same amount if Fox granted him ownership rights to all future sequels and control over the franchise’s merchandising and licensing.

Fox accepted this proposal, unaware of the financial implications. At that time, movie merchandise and licensing were almost worthless, with Hollywood executives referring to the rights Lucas wanted in the early 1970s as “garbage rights”.

The studio believed they had saved half a million dollars, but they ended up costing themselves billions instead. Lucas single-handedly revolutionized movie marketing with this deal, stating he took it because he desired control and was so anxious about Fox not advertising “Star Wars” that he thought if he controlled merchandising, he could produce items himself.

When “Star Wars” became one of the most successful films ever made, Lucas’ concerns almost became irrelevant. However, the deal did turn “Star Wars” into a merchandising powerhouse and one of the first movies to partner with restaurants for cross-promotions. Although food-themed “Star Wars” items came later, the original 1977 film had multiple fast-food tie-ins. The Burger Chef chain distributed “Star Wars” posters, while Burger King offered collectible Star Wars glasses, a practice that became standard for blockbuster films within a few years.

However, people should be cautious about drinking from those original “Star Wars” cups; a study revealed they contained lead paint several years ago. Oops!

The Happy Meal

The significance of marketing towards children in shaping tie-in foods throughout history cannot be underestimated. Most films transformed into edibles have been geared towards a broad audience, with a significant focus on using these foods to generate interest among kids, who then persuade their parents to take them to the cinema or restaurants showcasing the toys or merchandise they’ve seen advertised on TV. Adult-oriented movies rarely receive tie-in menus, even when they could thematically fit (such as a menu for “9 1/2 Weeks,” for instance).

From almost the very start, McDonald’s innovative Happy Meal has been associated with films. After extensive trials and improvements in the 1970s, McDonald’s introduced this concept nationwide in 1979. One of the first themed Happy Meals was for “Star Trek: The Motion Picture.”

Even though this film is not typically considered a children’s movie (unless you were a child who enjoyed ponderous sci-fi films about astronauts exploring space clouds), the “Star Trek” brand was popular in the late 1970s due to decades of syndicated reruns and an animated series. With a high-budget movie in theaters, it proved to be an excellent choice for a Happy Meal theme.

The original “Star Trek” Happy Meal included comics, games, and a plastic communicator toy. No themed food was provided; that came later. However, the success of the “Star Trek” Happy Meal laid the groundwork for the long-lasting association between films and fast food.

Part a Complete Breakfast

In the era of the Star Wars sequels, the franchise had transformed into a lucrative venture for any business that held its license, leading to an increase in tie-ins. Among these were food products, with merchandise inspired by the movies starting to gain popularity around the release of Return of the Jedi in 1983.

However, it could be argued that the term “inspired” might not accurately describe the connection between some of these products and the Star Wars universe. For instance, C-3PO’s breakfast cereal, despite its name and the image of the droid on the box, bore little resemblance to the Force or the Empire in either flavor or appearance. The cereal was essentially two Cheerios combined, and after Kellogg’s lost the Star Wars license, they rebranded it as the sports-themed “Pro-Grain.”

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

Cooler Heads Prevail

In the 1980s, most merchandise related to movies appeared around the time of the film’s release and then disappeared afterward. However, Ecto Cooler, a brightly colored citrus drink from Hi-C tied to the Ghostbusters movie and cartoon series, was an unusual exception. Despite the original Ghostbusters films ending in 1989 and the cartoon show being canceled in 1991, Hi-C continued selling Ecto Cooler throughout the 1990s. Whenever the Ghostbusters film franchise resurfaced, so did Ecto Cooler, with its bottles becoming highly sought after and sometimes fetching high prices on the secondary market. Nowadays, Ecto Cooler is deeply ingrained in the Ghostbusters mythology, and for many ’90s kids, it’s an essential part of their childhood memories, whether they were fans of Ghostbusters or not.

Fast Food Gets Dino-Sized

In the 1980s, various films influenced the creation of cereals and other food items like Ecto Coolers. At fast-food restaurants, these items were mainly available as promotional freebies to accompany existing menu items such as Happy Meal toys or collector cups.

However, this changed significantly in the 1990s when fast-food chains started signing huge promotional deals with film studios, leading to more intricate tie-ins that movie enthusiasts could enjoy rather than just collect.

One of the pioneers of this new trend emerged in 1993 when McDonald’s introduced a “Jurassic Park Meal” to coincide with the year’s biggest blockbuster. The novelty here was that customers could opt for a “dino-sized” drink, fries, or even burger, which took the form of a Jurassic Park triple cheeseburger.

The Super Hero Burger

The meal at Jurassic Park presented branded film foods, but they were simply enlarged versions of common dishes on the menu. It didn’t take long for this concept to develop into its next logical phase: Completely novel foods tied to blockbuster movies.

In 1995, McDonald’s teamed up with Warner Bros. to publicize the release of Batman Forever. Alongside the previously mentioned etched glasses, the chain introduced a special “Super Hero Burger” for a limited time – essentially a triple cheeseburger served on a hero roll instead of a traditional bun (thus dubbed a superhero burger).

To blur the boundaries between advertising and movie trailers even more, Batman Forever featured a scene where Val Kilmer’s Batman joked about getting drive-thru after finishing his crime-fighting duties for the night. McDonald’s used this clip in their Super Hero Burger advertisements, and enlisted trailer voice artist Don LaFontaine to narrate the commercials. (“The great taste of two cheeses melted over three beef patties” never sounded more urgent than when LaFontaine said it.)

The Volcano Burrito

In the 1990s, McDonald’s wasn’t alone in investing substantially into the film industry. Taco Bell was also a significant player, promoting numerous blockbusters and even incorporating them into their menu offerings. For instance, while McDonald’s was marketing Batman Forever, Taco Bell backed Congo, which was intended to be another Jurassic Park-style megahit based on a book by Michael Crichton.

Despite the movie Congo underperforming at the box office, the Taco Bell product launched to cross-promote it, the “Volcano Burrito,” has been repeatedly reintroduced since then. A quick Google search will reveal numerous heartfelt tributes from fans about this spicy dish. Interestingly, the climax of Congo involves a desperate escape from an erupting volcano, which was thematically fitting for the “Volcano Burrito.” (It’s important to note that the lava in Congo is not edible Mexican cuisine, but the concept worked within this context.)

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

By the mid-1990s, film enthusiasts could often purchase food items inspired by their favorite movies (including Batman Forever). However, what about a restaurant entirely themed around a movie? Planet Hollywood emerged in the early 1990s, but these restaurants were influenced by various films, not a single motion picture and its characters.

In 1996, a dining establishment similar to this concept made its appearance – the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. This restaurant was based on the highly successful 1994 Academy Award-winning film Forrest Gump. In the movie, Forrest Gump and his war buddy Lieutenant Dan establish a shrimping business with the same name; in reality, an entrepreneur aiming to revitalize his struggling frozen seafood business obtained the “Bubba Gump” trademark from Paramount Pictures.

When Bubba Gump frozen food proved popular, a full-fledged Bubba Gump restaurant emerged – and then more followed suit. Today, 30 years after the initial (and last) Forrest Gump film premiered in cinemas, the Bubba Gump chain persists remarkably well, with numerous locations scattered across the globe.

Small Soldiers, Big Burgers

Reflecting on the history of product tie-ins, it’s astonishing to find that numerous enduring fast food items we consume today were initially created as movie promotions, often for films long forgotten by time.

For instance, the 1998 animated film “Small Soldiers” was a box office failure and is now mostly forgotten, except perhaps by Joe Dante fans like myself. However, the Rodeo Cheeseburger, introduced by Burger King during their “Small Soldiers” campaign, with its cheese, onion rings, and Bull’s-Eye Barbecue sauce, is still a menu item at Burger King (though it lacks the cheese now and uses an unbranded barbecue sauce). You can even order one from your local Burger King right now!

Marvelous Fast Food Menus

In the 21st century, as blockbuster films grew in size, so did the associated food offerings at restaurants. Chain eateries started introducing not just one item, but entire menus or several dishes to match big movie releases. If larger means better in cinemas, why shouldn’t the same idea work in restaurants?

For instance, Baskin-Robbins capitalized on 2003’s X2 with a variety of flavors. They offered an “X-Mint” and an “X-Treme Berry Sherbet,” along with sundaes inspired by characters like Storm and Wolverine. The “Berry Rampage Sundae” included “X-Treme Berry Sherbet, strawberry topping, whipped cream, Wild Berry Wonka Nerds, and a Blue Raspberry Sour Punch Straw ‘X.'”

Although it’s hard to picture Hugh Jackman indulging in piles of whipped cream and Sour Punch Straws while maintaining his superhero physique, and I highly doubt Wolverine would enjoy any food named after him that included “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?

Originally, Dunkin’ Donuts’ desserts themed around the 2011 movie “Captain America: The First Avenger” were not revolutionary in terms of their impact. However, when I came across the “First Avenger Tri-Cup,” which contained a mix of three Coolatta flavors (cherry, vanilla bean, and blue raspberry), I was instantly captivated. It seemed like everyone should be aware of this delightful sight.

Now, you’ve had the opportunity to see it for yourself. Enjoy!

Theme Parks Get Tied Up With Tie-Ins

In the realm of movie-related edibles during the 2010s, a significant leap was made from food only vaguely connected to films, to food directly borrowed from movies. While some may argue this wasn’t much different than serving Popeye Spinach five decades ago, the distinction became clear in theme parks.

Disney parks have always offered Mickey Mouse-shaped ice cream bars, but it was Universal Studios that truly paved the way with their “Wizarding World of Harry Potter.” Opened in 2010 at the Orlando Islands of Adventure park, this area meticulously replicated parts of the Harry Potter movie world. A key aspect of this immersive experience involved serving some of the iconic foods and drinks from the films to visitors – most notably, butterbeer.

Universal’s version of butterbeer, which is incredibly delicious by the way, became incredibly popular. They expanded their offerings beyond just butterbeer to include hot butterbeer, frozen butterbeer, butterbeer ice cream, butterbeer fudge, and even butterbeer potted cream. (Eating nothing but butterbeer products might lead to health problems like heart disease before the age of 30.)

The Tie-Ins Get Weirder, and the Internet Notices

Over the past decade, there has been a significant escalation in the marketing strategy of movie tie-ins, as food items have become increasingly unusual, featuring colors and flavors not typically found in nature. One such example that received widespread attention was the “Darth Vader” burger, launched in conjunction 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 fast food chains were quick to capitalize on its online popularity by introducing their own extravagant movie-themed foods.

The primary motivation behind these tie-ins is to attract attention. These movies are not aiming for James Beard Awards; rather, they seek to capture the public’s interest. If this means associating themselves with a burger that resembles something touched by the Grim Reaper, so be it.

Similarly, chain restaurants use these tie-ins as a marketing tool. Even if you have no intention of consuming a black burger, you might share an image of it with someone who is daring enough to try it (such as myself), and then accompany them to capture photos when they do.

One Theme Menu to Rule Them All

It appears that a strategy reminiscent of this idea – “if we serve dishes so extraordinary they trend online, their actual consumption becomes irrelevant” – was evident in Denny’s series of large-scale themed menus. In 2012, Denny’s rolled out a menu inspired by the first film of Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit”. Unique offerings such as “Lonely Mountain Treasure”, “Lone-Lands Campfire Cookie Milk Shake”, and “Radagast’s Red Velvet Pancake Pippies” were part of this menu. The menu was well-received, leading Denny’s to replicate this approach (“blockbuster movie + menu of seemingly dared-up dishes”) throughout the following years.

Another Picture Too Deranged Not to Include

The “Lunar Cheesecake” ice cream flavor, featuring a green and white cheesecake-flavored base with cheesecake pieces and a graham cracker ribbon, was initially released in the late 1960s as a tie-in to current events. Baskin-Robbins introduced it in 1969 to capitalize on the Apollo 11 moon landing, drawing inspiration from the ancient belief that the moon is made of green cheese.

The popularity of moon-mania dwindled, and the flavor was discontinued. However, Baskin-Robbins reintroduced it in 2012 as a tie-in to the movie “Men In Black 3.” Interestingly, the film incorporated the Apollo 11 mission into its plot. Since then, the flavor has been periodically brought back for special Baskin-Robbins anniversaries. I find it amusing to imagine people thinking, “Yes, I really do want to eat the strangely green dessert that the alien is holding up in the movie.

Actually, Make That Two Theme Menus…

When Peter Jackson produced a follow-up to “The Hobbit” movie, Denny’s followed suit with a new menu inspired by it. Just like how many Hollywood sequels exceed their original counterparts in scale and extravagance, this Denny’s menu was no exception.

The “The Desolation of Smaug” menu boasted eight entirely novel 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. Other options included “Bilbo’s Breakfast Feast,” which was a slice of honey cake French toast drizzled with honey, scrambled eggs with Cheddar cheese, spinach, mushrooms, a breakfast sausage, and crispy hash browns, and the “Hobbit Hole Breakfast” (I won’t elaborate, as I just ate lunch). Diners could also customize their own “Hobbit Slam,” which could potentially be considered an illicit act in the Shire. At Denny’s, anything goes!

The outrageous indulgence of the “Smaug” menu became a topic of online discussion, with journalists raving about the food and even visiting Denny’s to try it themselves (quite an unusual choice). Interestingly enough, despite continuing to create themed menus, Denny’s did not produce one for the final “Hobbit” film, “The Battle of the Five Armies.” Perhaps they knew there was no matching the extravagance of the Hobbit Hole Breakfast.

The Galaxy’s (Cutting Culinary) Edge

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I’ve got to admit that Universal made a splash with their Wizarding World, blending tourists into the movies through food. But Disney took immersion to new heights with their Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge areas at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

These theme park lands didn’t just serve famous Star Wars movie goodies, like the breakfast blue milk from Luke Skywalker’s boyhood home (at Disneyland, it’s dairy-free and tastes more like a tropical fruit smoothie). They crafted foods and drinks that truly feel like they belong in a galaxy far, far away. Take the “Ronto wrap,” for instance – it’s a unique blend of a hot dog and a gyro, or how about the “moof juice”? It’s a refreshing mix of fruit punch, pineapple-orange juice, and chipotle-pineapple.

Even the Coca-Cola products in Galaxy’s Edge are Star Wars themed, sold in containers that look like thermal detonators. Now that’s what I call immersion!

Scrumdiddlyumptious

Over the past few years, Denny’s has surrendered its position as the foremost restaurant in movie-themed food collaborations to IHOP. IHOP has created extravagant and eccentric menus for a wide range of films, including The Grinch (green pancakes!), The Addams Family (purple hot chocolate!), and Wonka (purple pancakes!). If you can attach a movie and an unusual color to a breakfast item, IHOP will certainly do it.

Given that Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was a pioneering example of this type of marketing, it’s quite fitting that they chose Wonka for such a promotion. In both publicity and pop culture, everything eventually comes back around to what was once old but is now new again.

The Future…?

An unexpected domain lacking a significant number of food tie-ins over the years is the movie theater itself. For many decades, theaters seemed content to provide the same range of popcorn and unhealthy snacks with minimal changes or inventions.

However, in recent times, as theaters face stiff competition from streaming platforms and the internet, they too have ventured into the realm of tie-ins. Cinemas offering in-theater dining often cater to the latest films by introducing special items; for instance, the Alamo Drafthouse has attempted to attract customers with the allure of a “Spider-Man” Green Goblin Pizza” (complete with a “sour cream web” topping) and “Ninja Turtles” popcorn flavored like pizza (which was surprisingly delicious).

Traditional multiplexes are also joining the trend. AMC frequently introduces movie-themed Icee flavors, such as a dreadful black slushie in honor of “The Addams Family.” They’ve recognized the virality of outrageous tie-ins and have since followed suit, offering increasingly bizarre popcorn containers. The one tied to “Dune” even drew criticism not only online but on late-night television; on eBay, these buckets sold for over $100.

Tie-ins are here to stay. As long as people continue to watch movies, cinema enthusiasts will crave food inspired by them. And those selling the films will be more than willing to cater to this demand.

2025-04-17 22:08