# Do cinemas in America really sell those gigantic popcorn buckets? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 2, 2007, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cinemas-in-america-really-sell-those-gigantic-popcorn-buckets/386391 "2007-01-02T06:34:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2007, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cinemas-in-america-really-sell-those-gigantic-popcorn-buckets/386391/21 "2007-01-02T17:59:17Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] Well, if I’m buying the bucket and the popcorn is free, I’ll get them to omit the popcorn, and then I can take the bucket home and keep my Lego collection in it. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Heh, you should do that, just to see if the 16 year old on the other side of the counter can work through that line of logic in the 10-minutes-till-showtime-concession rush 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2007, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cinemas-in-america-really-sell-those-gigantic-popcorn-buckets/386391/22 "2007-01-02T18:17:47Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] Well, if I’m buying the bucket and the popcorn is free, I’ll get them to omit the popcorn, and then I can take the bucket home and keep my Lego collection in it. 🙂 [/QUOTE] I bought an empty popcorn bucket for a Halloween costume once, and they did, indeed, charge me the full regular price for it. At least I didn’t have to dump out the popcorn and deal with the grease - they gladly sold it to me empty for $7. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cinemas-in-america-really-sell-those-gigantic-popcorn-buckets/386391/23 "2007-01-02T18:29:03Z")
You’re supposed to share that Jumbo-liscious bucket? Not me. It’s ALL mine. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2007, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cinemas-in-america-really-sell-those-gigantic-popcorn-buckets/386391/24 "2007-01-02T18:38:40Z")
[QUOTE=Nava] Many US movie theaters don’t even sell “small” popcorn buckets. And their “medium” is bigger than Spain’s “large”! [/QUOTE] **Nava** , how big are the various sizes of popcorn in European theatres? (I may be going to a movie this weekend. If so, I’ll try to find out how big the sizes of popcorn offered there are.) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2007, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cinemas-in-america-really-sell-those-gigantic-popcorn-buckets/386391/25 "2007-01-02T18:52:01Z")
I don’t know if anyone noted this yet, but many theaters in the US give “free refills” for the largest size. Not a bad deal for those with the wherewithall to leave the theater mid-movie to get more popcorn, espeicially if you’re sharing in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2007, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cinemas-in-america-really-sell-those-gigantic-popcorn-buckets/386391/26 "2007-01-02T19:02:42Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] **Nava** , how big are the various sizes of popcorn in European theatres? [/QUOTE] In Italy, the “grande” popcorn consists of ten kernels, served from organically-crown artisanal varieties of Tuscan corn, with butter produced by the milk of locally-raised free-range Chianina cows. The popcorn takes about 60 minutes to serve, as per the tenets of the slow food movement. Of course, it is much better than American popcorn, especially considering that in Italy, it is a long-standing tradition for cinema concession stand workers to be topless women. Europeans are so much more relaxed about nudity than prudish Americans. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2007, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cinemas-in-america-really-sell-those-gigantic-popcorn-buckets/386391/27 "2007-01-02T19:18:38Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] In Italy, the “grande” popcorn consists of ten kernels, served from organically-crown artisanal varieties of Tuscan corn, with butter produced by the milk of locally-raised free-range Chianina cows. The popcorn takes about 60 minutes to serve, as per the tenets of the slow food movement. Of course, it is much better than American popcorn, especially considering that in Italy, it is a long-standing tradition for cinema concession stand workers to be topless women. Europeans are so much more relaxed about nudity than prudish Americans. [/QUOTE] Yeah, but do the movies have lots of car crashes and explosions? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2007, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cinemas-in-america-really-sell-those-gigantic-popcorn-buckets/386391/28 "2007-01-02T19:22:15Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] Better lay off the butter in your popcorn. It’s clogging your arteries! 🙂 [/QUOTE] That’s not butter, it’s [Buttery Delight®](http://www.htmarket.com/onecasofbutw.html) ! ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2007, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cinemas-in-america-really-sell-those-gigantic-popcorn-buckets/386391/29 "2007-01-02T19:33:30Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] I bought an empty popcorn bucket for a Halloween costume once, and they did, indeed, charge me the full regular price for it. At least I didn’t have to dump out the popcorn and deal with the grease - they gladly sold it to me empty for $7. [/QUOTE] I once asked for an empty cup and was told that I could have one, but that I’d have to pay full price for it and got an explanation of why from the concession manager. Since the actual amounts of popcorn and soda the customer receives are variable, the concession manager tracks the number of customers by the container. The number of containers had better match the amount of money in the till or someone’s getting busted for giving away free product or stealing money. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2007, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cinemas-in-america-really-sell-those-gigantic-popcorn-buckets/386391/30 "2007-01-02T19:47:32Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] That’s not butter, it’s [Buttery Delight®](http://www.htmarket.com/onecasofbutw.html) ! [/QUOTE] That’s Buttery _Wonder_ Delight to you, buster! ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2007, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cinemas-in-america-really-sell-those-gigantic-popcorn-buckets/386391/31 "2007-01-02T20:58:06Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] Yeah, but do the movies have lots of car crashes and explosions? [/QUOTE] No. They are all cerebral, thoughtfully produced works of art, some extending for as long as six and seven hours. Lots of nudity, too, which Italians have absolutely no hangups about. Remind me to tell you about the 50ml organic artisanal soft drinks served in Italian movie theaters, ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2007, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cinemas-in-america-really-sell-those-gigantic-popcorn-buckets/386391/32 "2007-01-02T21:27:51Z")
[QUOTE=Mr Bus Guy] You’re supposed to share that Jumbo-liscious bucket? Not me. It’s ALL mine. [/QUOTE] Yeah, baby, yeah. Especially since our theater has real melted butter. Large popcorn, large Diet\*, Milk Duds. $10. Movie ticket $6. Double quarter pounder with cheese on the way home. $3 and change. No better $20 spent. \*No cracks about that! It quenches my thirst and sugared soda doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Will\_Repair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2007, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cinemas-in-america-really-sell-those-gigantic-popcorn-buckets/386391/33 "2007-01-02T22:05:10Z")
Don’t know about Europe but in America the movie theaters make their profit not from the ticket price, which mostly goes to the distributor, but from the concession stand. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2007, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cinemas-in-america-really-sell-those-gigantic-popcorn-buckets/386391/34 "2007-01-02T22:05:35Z")
I usually just sneak a round of Rolos in my coat pocket. I guess I’m anti-free-enterprise. StG ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2007, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cinemas-in-america-really-sell-those-gigantic-popcorn-buckets/386391/35 "2007-01-02T22:14:01Z")
The buckets and popcorn provide shelter and food for the homeless following the show. America is such a great country! ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2007, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cinemas-in-america-really-sell-those-gigantic-popcorn-buckets/386391/36 "2007-01-02T22:15:34Z")
[QUOTE=Mehitabel] Well, it’s better than in the UK, where you got those giant transvetites selling albatrosses. \ And you don’t get wafers with it, either. [/QUOTE] “Wot the hell?” said Archy to Mehitabel. (Boss, I don’t know what she’s talking about!) ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2007, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cinemas-in-america-really-sell-those-gigantic-popcorn-buckets/386391/37 "2007-01-02T23:05:15Z")
[QUOTE=Muffin] “Wot the hell?” said Archy to Mehitabel. (Boss, I don’t know what she’s talking about!) [/QUOTE] [Albatross!](http://orangecow.org/pythonet/sketches/albatros.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2007, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cinemas-in-america-really-sell-those-gigantic-popcorn-buckets/386391/38 "2007-01-02T23:26:44Z")
[QUOTE=Nava] Many US movie theaters don’t even sell “small” popcorn buckets. And their “medium” is bigger than Spain’s “large”! [/QUOTE] This is one of my pet peeves. How can ‘medium’ possibly be the smallest size? ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cinemas-in-america-really-sell-those-gigantic-popcorn-buckets/386391/39 "2007-01-03T00:13:26Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] This is one of my pet peeves. How can ‘medium’ possibly be the smallest size? [/QUOTE] Burger King. Bothers the hell out of me. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cinemas-in-america-really-sell-those-gigantic-popcorn-buckets/386391/40 "2007-01-03T00:42:19Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] I don’t know if anyone noted this yet, but many theaters in the US give “free refills” for the largest size. Not a bad deal for those with the wherewithall to leave the theater mid-movie to get more popcorn, espeicially if you’re sharing in the first place. [/QUOTE] Or those with the cunning guile to sneak in a jumbo-size bucket from the last visit in a baby stroller. Booya! The Man has been beaten once again. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cinemas-in-america-really-sell-those-gigantic-popcorn-buckets/386391.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cinemas-in-america-really-sell-those-gigantic-popcorn-buckets/386391.md?page=3)