Promotional “bong” popcorn buckets tied to the upcoming “Scary Movie” sequel are drawing major attention online, but major theater operators and the film’s studio say the items won’t be sold in theaters.
The hype started the way movie marketing often does now: a post. a caption. and a comment section that would not let go. On May 21. the official social media account for the upcoming “Scary Movie” sequel shared an Instagram video and a static post teasing a set of unusual popcorn buckets—bong-shaped. butter-filled. and sized for serious “Scary Movie” fans.
The buzz was instant, and so were the arguments. Fans flooded the comments. with some calling it “finally” a “multipurpose popcorn bucket” and others promising they’d have to “fight to get” one. Many people asked whether the item was real. even saying they had called their local theaters to check. without much luck.
The problem for anyone imagining a trip to the concession stand: the studio and theater chains say these buckets are promotional only.
Paramount told the public in an emailed statement on Friday, May 22 that the “popcorn buckets were created for promotional purposes and are not for sale.” AMC Theatres also said on May 22 it has “no plans to release such popcorn buckets.”
Other theater chains involved in screenings of the film—Regal, Alamo Drafthouse, Showcase and Cinemark—did not immediately respond to requests for confirmation.
The bucket designs are tied to a much bigger moment for the franchise. More than two decades after the Wayans brothers released their last installment in the iconic horror-parody series. writer-actor-producers are returning on June 5 with a reunited original cast for a spiritual successor to the first two films.
In that context, the bong bucket lands as a familiar kind of wink. If you’ve seen the films. the joke is hard to miss: the original cast includes characters—most notably one played by Marlon Wayans—who are not shy about references to marijuana. and franchise imagery and merch have often leaned into that theme. The film has also partnered with Pax. a brand that makes vaping devices for use with marijuana products. for an official collaboration promoting the sixth installment.
Still, a full-sized bong—captioned in the promotion with “ya’ll weren’t ready”—stuffed with snacks pushes the prank further into real-world object territory. The Instagram post shared on May 21 depicts a bong with a “bowl” filled with butter.
Director Michael Tiddes tried to calm any confusion on Instagram, commenting that the bong bucket “is real,” and that it comes in four sizes. What he didn’t change is the bottom line for theatergoers: the buckets won’t be sold in-house.
One rumor already circulating was that the items might later appear as part of a limited, online novelty collection, but Paramount did not confirm any plan like that.
The bucket story, for now, ends where movie theater shoppers usually want it to begin. Fans can be excited about the visual spectacle—because it’s real as a promotional item—but the studio and major exhibitors are drawing a clear line: the bong-bucket isn’t part of the in-theater menu.
Scary Movie Paramount AMC Theatres Cinemark Regal popcorn buckets movie marketing Instagram concessions