‘The Odyssey’ Popcorn Bucket Already Sold Out More Than A Month Before Release
If you’re a fan of Christopher Nolan, then you know how much he loves subverting expectations. The same can be said for the new popcorn bucket tied to his latest film, The Odyssey. Instead of drawing inspiration from ancient Greece, the collectible resembles an IMAX camera, complete with a functioning viewfinder.
The choice actually makes perfect sense. Not only is The Odyssey Nolan’s first feature shot entirely on IMAX 70mm, it’s also the first film in history to do so. According to reports, the production team had to develop new IMAX cameras specifically to make it happen.
In a promotional video, the film’s star, Matt Damon, offered a simplified explanation of what makes IMAX 70mm so significant:
“Each film frame has 15 perforations, runs horizontally through the projector, making it the largest format available. Every frame was shot in IMAX, and when you’re in the theater, you’ll feel the full impact of how it was shot.”
Whether the film ultimately succeeds or stumbles, it’s still a notable milestone in movie history. Nolan designed The Odyssey for the biggest screens possible and the highest level of detail available to audiences. Viewed through that lens, an IMAX camera-shaped popcorn bucket feels like a fitting tribute.
What doesn’t make as much sense is the timing.
For reasons unknown, theaters released the bucket more than a month before the film’s July 17 debut, and it has already sold out.
As fun as the popcorn bucket craze has become, availability continues to be a growing frustration among moviegoers. Regal Cinemas recently announced a hazmat suit-themed popcorn bucket, but instead of selling it in theaters, the chain created a single giveaway version and released the 3D printing files for fans who wanted to make their own.
Being someone who enjoys technology, I actually think that’s a cool idea. As consumer-grade 3D printing becomes more accessible, I can see theaters experimenting with concepts like this more often.
Still, we’re not quite there yet.
Releasing a collectible tied to one of 2026’s biggest films and limiting access to people who own 3D printers pushes popcorn buckets deeper into niche collector territory. And when official buckets sell out more than a month before a movie even hits theaters, it starts to feel like the people most excited to see the film never had much of a chance.
If the goal of popcorn buckets is to get moviegoers excited about going to the theater, then those collectibles should be reasonably accessible. They probably shouldn’t disappear weeks before opening weekend, especially when they cost $50.
All that said, the bucket itself is undeniably cool. And if Nolan’s track record is any indication, The Odyssey could give fans something worth bringing it to.
