No trendy blockbuster is full with its very personal popcorn bucket. It’s a development that’s been occurring for a number of years however rose to viral ranges when Dune: Half Two launched one which, nicely, appeared like a intercourse toy. Since then, the popcorn bucket wars have taken theatergoers on all kinds of adventures and now the newest one, for Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, is including an entire new component. Coming completely 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 component that lets you watch an precise battle occur contained in the Colosseum itself… simply hopefully not when you are nonetheless within the theater. You’ll be able to watch a bit of instance beneath 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 at present. pic.twitter.com/qINBIfJhg2 — Gladiator Film (@GladiatorMovie) October 22, 2024 So the thought 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 have now to confess, isn’t a nasty thought. It does promote telephone use with one thing you possibly can solely purchase via a movie show, which isn’t nice, however the thought of extending the story out of the theater is an efficient one. Plus, by way of precise popcorn receptacles, the Colosseum is without doubt one of the better-shaped buckets but. Plus it’s decidedly asexual, which we are able to’t say about each popcorn bucket launched this 12 months.
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 finished is given individuals another excuse to go to the flicks. Not solely do you get greater screeners and higher sound, however now you may get collectibles too and that’s a sensible add. One factor which may stand out within the case of Gladiator II although is the subject material. All the opposite movies talked about beneath have been sci-fi, fantasy, and blockbuster fare. Gladiator II actually has blockbuster potential nevertheless it’s way 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 like an odd pairing of forward-thinking with a protected sequel.
The Gladiator II popcorn bucket will likely be accessible quickly. Keep watch over Cinemark’s social media. Gladiator II is in theaters on November 22. Need extra io9 information? Try when to anticipate the newest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on movie and TV, and all the pieces you’ll want to learn about the way forward for Physician Who.