Movie Theaters’ $23 Popcorn Bucket Experiences Aren’t Going Away

The dual releases of Gladiator II and Wicked are projected to reap a combined $165 million this weekend at the box office. And that’s not even counting the popcorn buckets.

In advance of Ridley Scott’s much-anticipated sequel, Cinemark Holdings Inc., in conjunction with merch maker Golden Link Inc. and studio Paramount, unveiled its exclusive “Gladiator II Popcorn AR-ena Coliseum” bucket, designed to look like the exterior of the Roman Colosseum. Scan a QR code and point your phone inside, and you can watch two augmented reality gladiators fighting each other in a virtual arena. It goes for $23, popcorn ...