We love movie night. Finally agreeing on a film everyone wants to watch, getting into our chillaxing outfits, plumping up the couch cousins, turning the lights off, putting our feet up and pressing play. Bliss. The only thing that can make that scenario any better is a big bowl of good, old-fashioned popcorn. Whether you're on Team Sweet or Team Savoury, prefer freshly cooked or pre-made, we've got a tasty option to suit your next screening.
Team buttery
Pop Secret Microwave Bags of Movie Theater Butter Popcorn
Staff Pick
Promising that movie theater-style melt-in-the-mouth buttery flavor we all love, Pop Secret's kernels are jumbo-sized so that you can enjoy a right old munch. This value pack gives you 28 delicious bags, each weighing in at 3.2 ounces.
$12 at Amazon
Team classic
Orville Redenbacher's Original Yellow Gourmet Popcorn Kernels
Keep things simple with Orville Redenbacher's Original Yellow Popcorn Kernels to make classic, wholesome popcorn on your stovetop, or in a popcorn maker. This is an eight-pound tub, so it should see you through a fair few movies.
$12 at Amazon
Team sea salt
Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP Sea Salt Fresh-Pop Bowls
Whole grain, and with no nasties added, Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP Sea Salt popcorn is perfect for anyone who loves a more saline option. This box gives you four "Fresh-Pop" bowls that you nuke, then use to serve the corn.
$31 at Amazon
Team tiny
Baby White Amish Country Popcorn
This is special white popcorn grown from a hulless variety, so it's less likely to get stuck in your teeth. White popcorn is more delicate than the more robust yellow version, and Amish Country's offering is extra small and tender.
$16 at Amazon
Team caramel
G.H. Cretors Just the Caramel Corn Popcorn
If you want to get really indulgent with your movie popcorn, G.H. Cretors' "Just the Caramel" corn is handcrafted in old-fashioned copper kettles one batch at a time, to make for a crunchy caramel treat that will get stuck in your teeth.
$12 at Amazon
Team easy life
Great Northern Popcorn Premium Portion Packs
If you like cooking your popcorn fresh, but want a no-hassle solution, these portion packs from Great Northern Popcorn are fab as they contain a perfectly-sized serving, as well as the correct quantities of oil and butter-flavored salt.
$24 at Amazon
Team old school
Jiffy Pop Butter Popcorn
What better match for a vintage movie than a stovetop Jiffy Pop pack? Promising to be "as much to make as it is to eat," these classic pop-up baskets make the popcorn making as much a part of the movie-watching experience as the film itself.
$10 at Amazon
Team sweet and salty
Jolly Time KettleMania Sweet and Salty Gourmet Microwave Kettle Corn
A divisive issue, but if you're the type that does like their corn "kinda sweet, kinda salty," then Jolly Time has you covered for both. This pack comprises of four boxes, each box contains three regular-size (three ounce) single bags.
$28 at Amazon
Team chocolate
Popcorn Indiana Black & White Drizzlecorn
This is another indulgent option, but this time with the cheeky addition of chocolate. This "Drizzlecorn" is generously draped in dark and white chocolate for an experience that takes popcorn eating to the next level.
$17 at Amazon
Team gourmet
Popcornopolis Gift Cone Snack Packs
If you're having friends round that aren't the shove-a-bucket-of-basic-popcorn-in-your-face types, a) why?, and b) look at these. Three fancy mini cones of zebra popcorn, caramel corn, cheddar cheese popcorn, and kettle corn. Totes sophisticated.
$19 at Amazon
Team healthy
Smartfood Smart50 White Cheddar Popcorn
Basic popcorn is already a pretty healthy snack, but Smartfood has managed to add a white cheddar element to its popcorn and keep the calories below 50 per cup. Described as "a cheesy snack dream come true," welcome to guilt-free scoffing.
$17 at Amazon
Team zebra
Popcornopolis Zebra Popcorn Cone Snack Packs
Finally, one for the kids, these snack packs are one of Popconoplis' best-selling products. They offer up fun "Zebra" Popcorn, luxuriously striped in white and dark confectioner's chocolate. This is for six mini cones, each containing an 11 ounce serving.
$46 at Amazon
There is nothing not to love about popcorn and eating it during a movie-watching sesh at home to emulate that movie theater experience is to be thoroughly recommended. If you are looking for that familiar buttery, golden experience, then consider our overall staff pick, the Pop Secret Microwave Bags of Movie Theater Butter Popcorn.
If you want to hark back to your own childhood or give your kids some serious retro vibes, a Jiffy Pop Butter Popcorn basket could become part of your household's movie night ritual — and after all, it is "the family fun treat."
Finally, anyone with a sweet tooth is well catered for in the popcorn marketplace. Caramel popcorn is another classic. There are some nasty budget versions out there though — treat yourself to a posh product like the G.H. Cretors Just the Caramel Corn Popcorn, As we stated, yes it will deffo stick to your teeth, but as it tastes so good you won't mind so much...
FAQs
Why do Americans eat popcorn at the movies? Americans enjoy popcorn at movies because its affordable price, easy availability, and delicious flavor that originated during the Great Depression. Today, cinema tradition has ingrained it, offering a satisfying crunch that enhances the movie-watching experience.
Why is the movie theater popcorn so delicious? ›
However, many don't know that the main reason for the taste of that movie popcorn is a topping called Flavacol.
Why was popcorn banned in 1920? ›
Early movie theaters had gaudy interiors and lavish accommodations to mimic classical theatre. Because of this interior design, movie theaters discouraged viewers from bringing in messy snacks. During the 1920s, America's favorite snack, popcorn, had grown immensely in popularity at the circus and on the street.
Why is movie theater popcorn so addictive? ›
According to research, the sound and feeling of crunching food can have a significant impact on our enjoyment and overall perception of flavour. When we bite into a perfectly popped kernel, the crunch sends signals to our brain, triggering a release of dopamine, the "feel-good" neurotransmitter.
What makes movie popcorn not so healthy? ›
It's not butter. It is partially hydrogenated oil, anti-scum agents, and yellow color preservative, to which “buttery flavor”, which nobody knows the ingredients of, is added. A medium, with the yellow syrup added, is often north of 1000 calories. The quantity of trans-fat is appalling.
Why is popcorn a good bedtime snack? ›
Popcorn is a whole grain packed with fiber and carbs. Carbohydrates make tryptophan, an amino acid important for sleep, more available to the brain. A study found that food such as popcorn and nuts provided a longer sleep duration than food such as burgers and pizza.
Is movie theater popcorn junk food? ›
It is literally just a corn kernel that expands with heat. Enjoyed with a dash of sea salt and you have a tasty, fiber-rich snack. The problem is most movie theater popcorn is LOADED with butter and artery-clogging saturated fat.
What's the secret to movie theater popcorn? ›
The flavor all comes down to one ingredient: Flavacol. You've likely never heard of Flavacol because, really, only movie theaters use it. Essentially, it's butter-flavored salt. It's a really fine, bright orange powder that adds that buttery flavor you crave and the signature yellow color.
What popcorn do most movie theaters use? ›
Yellow Popcorn
It is the least expensive type of popcorn available, making it a popular choice for businesses looking to offer a cost-effective snack option without compromising quality or flavor. Because of its appealing appearance and taste, yellow popcorn is commonly used for making movie theater popcorn.
What was popcorn originally called? ›
Kernels were sold on the East Coast of the United States under names such as Pearls or Nonpareil. The term popped corn first appeared in John Russell Bartlett's 1848 Dictionary of Americanisms. Popcorn is an ingredient in Cracker Jack and, in the early years of the product, it was popped by hand.
People in what is now Peru were eating popcorn as early as 6,700 years ago, according to researchers. Telltale traces of their snacking habits—ancient cobs, husks, stalks and tassels—were recently unearthed at Paredones and Huaca Prieta, two coastal sites that were once home to prehistoric settlements.
Is popcorn an American thing? ›
Popcorn is a fascinating food that has its origin in the Americas. An ear of popcorn that was dated to be more than 5,600 years old was discovered in a bat cave in New Mexico more than sixty years ago. Popcorn was an important food of the Aztecs.
Why do I feel sick after eating movie theater popcorn? ›
Why does movie popcorn cause stomach problems? Corn, which is in popcorn, can cause inflammation and gut issues. It could be the culprit for upset belly after having popcorn. Movie popcorn can become super high in calories and can have lots of salt.
Is it OK to eat cinema popcorn? ›
In addition, preparing popcorn in a bag or in a machine used in movie theaters can also negate any health benefits. For example, a tub of movie theater popcorn can contain up to 1,090 calories and 2,650 milligrams of sodium, according to heart.org.
Why is theater popcorn so expensive? ›
One of the most apparent is competition. Once you're in the movie theater, your only option for food and drinks is the concessions or an on-site kitchen. Without anyone to compete with (besides smuggled snacks), the concession stand can charge whatever they'd like. There's also inflation.
Why is popcorn considered an ideal snack? ›
When it's air-popped and lightly seasoned, popcorn is an efficiently healthy snack. That's because it is a whole grain, and high-fiber whole grains have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers and other health problems.
Why do we love popcorn so much? ›
One of the primary reasons for popcorn's popularity is its sensory appeal. Popcorn tantalises multiple senses simultaneously, creating a multi-faceted sensory experience. The distinctive sound of kernels popping can trigger excitement and anticipation, much like the opening bars of a favourite song.
Why do people watch movies with popcorn? ›
At the time, popcorn was a cheap snack that theaters could offer patrons. It was also a way to keep people in their seats as the smell of popcorn wafting through the theater was enticing. Over time, the combination of popcorn and movies became a tradition and is now seen as a classic part of the movie-going experience.