Podcast Summary
Movie merchandise revenue boost: Amid decreased box office numbers and labor strikes, movie theaters are generating additional revenue through the sale of collectible popcorn buckets and other novelty merchandise.
The movie industry is facing a significant downturn, with decreased box office numbers and fewer new releases due to labor strikes. In response, movie theaters are turning to novelty merchandise, such as collectible popcorn buckets, to boost revenue. These buckets, which often feature designs based on popular movies, have become a hot commodity, both for consumers and in the resale market. Meanwhile, international tensions continue to escalate, with China targeting critics overseas and raising concerns about freedom of speech. Simultaneously, the significance of the U.S. Constitution and its evolving role in shaping American values is being explored through various podcasts, including NPR's "We the People."
Unique movie theater experiences: Movie theaters are expanding beyond popcorn and candy by offering unique experiences and edible movie props in the form of souvenir popcorn buckets, aiming to attract guests with cool props and increase sales during opening weekends
The Olympics and movie theaters are focusing on providing more than just the traditional experiences. At the Olympics, this means introducing new sports and designing uniforms, while at movie theaters, it's about offering dinner, cocktails, and unique merchandise. Nell, a French chef and vice president of food and beverage strategy for AMC theaters, shares how they've evolved beyond popcorn and candy. Now, movie theaters aim to sell guests more than just a ticket and snacks. They want to offer unique experiences, like edible movie props in the form of souvenir popcorn buckets. These containers are not just for holding popcorn; they're designed to be cool props that attract guests to the theater. In the movie industry, it's all about opening weekend, and the same goes for these popcorn containers.
Movie theater popcorn buckets: Movie theater chains collaborate with movie studios and theme parks to create unique, collectible popcorn buckets that generate hype, maximize revenue, and create memorable experiences for customers
Movie theater chains, like AMC, are leveraging limited-edition popcorn buckets as a strategic tool to generate hype, maximize revenue, and compete with each other. By collaborating with movie studios and drawing inspiration from theme parks, these chains offer unique and collectible containers that sell out quickly and create a memorable movie-going experience. For instance, AMC's Star Wars R2-D2 bucket in 2019 and Regal's Ghostbusters baby carrier bucket are prime examples of this trend. Although merchandise sales only account for a small percentage (around 3%) of the total food and beverage revenues for a theater chain like AMC, these collectible buckets have become an essential part of the competition in the movie theater industry.
Movie theater premium offerings: Post-pandemic, movie theaters focus on maximizing revenue from premium offerings like tickets for big films and high-profit concessions. Collectible popcorn buckets have become a significant trend, with some selling for inflated prices on the secondary market.
The movie theater industry is experiencing a shift post-pandemic. With a smaller pool of customers, theaters are focusing on maximizing revenue from premium offerings. People are spending more on tickets for large tentpole films and concessions, where the profit margin is high. The collectible popcorn buckets have become a significant trend, with some selling for two or three times the retail price on the secondary market. Resellers like Marcus Vasso are capitalizing on this trend, buying up containers in bulk during new releases and selling them for a profit. This secondary market for souvenir popcorn buckets is a testament to the enduring appeal of movie memorabilia for fans.
Movie merchandise trend: Unique and limited-edition movie merchandise can generate significant demand and profit, but sellers must act quickly to capitalize on the trend
Movie merchandise, particularly unique and limited-edition items, can generate significant demand and profit. Marcus, from the podcast, was able to buy 130 dune sandworm buckets for $25 each and resell one for $99. This success came from the viral popularity of the item, which attracted a world audience. However, the selling window for such items is often short, as seen with Marcus' struggle to sell remaining buckets for the flopped Garfield movie. AMC is also capitalizing on this trend by rolling out souvenir kiosks for keychains, posters, and potentially popcorn buckets for theatrical re-releases of classic movies. If given the chance, Adrian from the podcast would turn a movie prop from his favorite movie, Zoolander, into a collectible popcorn bucket, such as a gas station pump or an orange mocha frappuccino cup. Overall, the potential for profit in movie merchandise is substantial, but sellers must capitalize on the trend quickly.