Gladiator II Is Escalating the Popcorn Bucket Arms Race

No fashionable blockbuster is full with its very personal popcorn bucket. It’s a pattern that’s been taking place 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 varieties of adventures and now the most recent one, for Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, is including a complete 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 if you are nonetheless within the theater.

You possibly can watch slightly instance beneath from the Gladiator II social media account.

End the popcorn, scan the code, and let the video games start. Expertise your personal 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 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’ve got to confess, just isn’t a foul concept. It does promote cellphone use with one thing you may solely purchase by way of a movie show, which isn’t nice, however the concept of extending the story out of the theater is an effective 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 will’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 additionally Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Terrifier 3, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and others—have finished is given folks one more reason 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 that 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 as if an odd pairing of forward-thinking with a secure sequel.

The Gladiator II popcorn bucket can be out there quickly. Regulate Cinemark’s social media. Gladiator II is in theaters on November 22.

Need extra io9 information? Try when to anticipate the most recent Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on movie and TV, and every little thing you should learn about the way forward for Physician Who.