Gladiator II Is Escalating the Popcorn Bucket Arms Race

No fashionable blockbuster is full with its very own popcorn bucket. It’s a pattern that’s been occurring for just a few years however rose to viral ranges when Dune: Part Two released one that, nicely, appeared like a intercourse toy. Since then, the popcorn bucket wars have taken theatergoers on all types of adventures and now the newest one, for Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, is including a complete new factor.

Coming solely to Cinemark theaters, the Gladiator II popcorn bucket isn’t only a popcorn bucket formed just like the Roman Colosseum on the middle of the franchise. It additionally has an AR factor that permits you to watch an precise battle occur contained in the Colosseum itself… simply hopefully not while you’re nonetheless within the theater.

You possibly can watch just a little instance under from the Gladiator II social media account.

End the popcorn, scan the code, and let the video games start. Expertise your individual augmented actuality gladiator battle with the #GladiatorII Popcorn AR-ENA Bucket. Get yours at @Cinemark opening weekend and get tickets in the present day. pic.twitter.com/qINBIfJhg2

— Gladiator Film (@GladiatorMovie) October 22, 2024

So the concept right here is you order the Gladiator II popcorn bucket, end the popcorn, then after the film scan the AR code and watch the battle. Which, we now have to confess, is just not a nasty thought. It does promote telephone use with one thing you may solely purchase by means of a movie show, which isn’t nice, however the thought of extending the story out of the theater is an efficient one. Plus, when it comes to precise popcorn receptacles, the Colosseum is among the better-shaped buckets but. Plus it’s decidedly asexual, which we are able to’t say about every popcorn bucket released this year.

General although, what the 2024 popcorn bucket wars—with such movies as Dune: Half Two and Deadpool & Wolverine, but in addition Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Terrifier 3, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and others—have carried out is given individuals another excuse to go to the flicks. Not solely do you get greater screeners and higher sound, however now you will get collectibles too and that’s a sensible add.

One factor that may stand out within the case of Gladiator II although is the subject material. All the opposite movies talked about under have been sci-fi, fantasy, and blockbuster fare. Gladiator II definitely has blockbuster potential nevertheless it’s rather more of an awards-bait drama than anything. Will audiences who present as much as see Gladiator II care about this popcorn bucket and even its AR evolution? Will they even know what AR is? It simply looks as if an odd pairing of forward-thinking with a secure sequel.

The Gladiator II popcorn bucket shall be out there quickly. Preserve a watch on Cinemark’s social media. Gladiator II is in theaters on November 22.

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