No modern blockbuster movie is complete without its own bucket of popcorn. It’s a trend that has been happening for a few years but has reached viral levels when the Sand Dunes: Part Two released one that looks like a sex toy. Since then, the popcorn wars have taken theatergoers on all sorts of adventures and now the latest addition, to Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, adds a whole new element.
Exclusively coming to Cinemark theaters, Gladiator II popcorn bucket is not just a bucket shaped like the Roman Colosseum in the middle of privilege. It also has an AR element that allows you to watch an actual battle taking place inside the Colosseum itself… hopefully not while you’re in the theater.
You can watch a small example below of Gladiator II on social media.
Finish the popcorn, scan the QR code, and let the games begin. Enjoy your AR-enhanced gladiator battle with #GladiatorII Popcorn AR-ENA. Get yours at @Cinemark opening weekend and grab your tickets today. pic.twitter.com/qINBIfJhg2
– Gladiator Movie (@GladiatorMovie) October 22, 2024
So the idea here is to order Gladiator II popcorn, finish the popcorn, then after the movie scan the AR code and watch the battle. We have to admit it’s not a bad idea. It encourages using your phone for something you can’t buy outside the cinema lobby, which is not great, but expanding the story outside the theater is a good idea. Plus, in terms of actual popcorn vessels, the Colosseum is one of the best-shaped buckets so far. Also, it’s not sexual, which we can’t say about every popcorn bucket released this year.
Overall, what the popcorn wars of 2024 with films like Sand Dunes: Part Two and Deadpool and Wolverine, as well as Ghostbusters: The Frozen Empire, The Horror 3, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and others have done is give people another reason to go to the movies. Not only do you get bigger screens and better sound, but now you can also get collectibles and that’s a smart addition.
The only thing that might stand out in Gladiator II though is the subject matter. All the other films mentioned below were sci-fi, fantasy, and blockbuster movies. Gladiator II is sure to have massive potential, but it’s closer to an award-winning drama than anything else. Will the audiences showing up to see Gladiator II care about this popcorn bucket or even the AR enhancement? Will they even know what AR is? It seems like a strange pairing of futuristic thinking and safe sequel.
Gladiator II popcorn bucket will be available soon. Keep an eye on Cinemark’s social media. Gladiator II in theaters on November 22.
Want more io9 news? Learn about the expected release dates of the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe in cinemas and on TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
