AMC Theatres is giving its next Dune popcorn bucket an unusual upgrade: two holes instead of one. The new collectible arrives ahead of Dune: Part Three, which hits theaters on December 18, and builds on the viral success of the chain’s previous sandworm-inspired design.
The original Dune: Part Two popcorn bucket became an internet sensation in 2024 because of its suggestive, sandworm-shaped opening. The design sparked countless jokes, memes, and online discussions, eventually inspiring a sketch on Saturday Night Live featuring Marcello Hernández singing about the bucket.
AMC is now trying to recapture that attention with a simple change. The new design features two openings, allowing two people to share popcorn. For moviegoers who would rather keep their snacks to themselves, the theater chain is also offering a longer, single-worm design featuring a sandworm thumper, a device used to attract the creatures in the films.
AMC has yet to announce prices for either collectible. Specialty movie-theater popcorn buckets commonly cost between $25 and $50, although particularly elaborate designs can command higher prices.
Movie-Theater Popcorn Buckets Are Becoming Viral Merchandise
AMC’s latest design reflects how theater chains are turning concession items into collectible merchandise. An unusual popcorn bucket can generate attention online long before a movie arrives, reaching audiences who might not otherwise follow its promotional campaign.
The original Dune: Part Two bucket was a particularly striking example. Its suggestive shape became the punchline of countless social media posts, helping it reach audiences well beyond the science-fiction franchise’s fan base. That attention gave AMC a marketing opportunity that a conventional souvenir container might not have generated.
The upcoming Avengers: Doomsday release offers another example of the trend. AMC, Regal, Cinemark and Vue have unveiled collectibles inspired by the Marvel film, including Doctor Doom-themed containers, Sentinel designs and character drinkware.
These elaborate products give fans another reason to spend money at theaters while creating merchandise that can be displayed, collected, and shared online.
Whether the two-hole Dune bucket matches its predecessor’s viral success remains to be seen. However, AMC is building on a design that already captured the internet’s attention, giving fans another talking point ahead of the film’s December release.
