Movie merchandise has come a long way since the days of a simple cup with a logo slapped on it. But Cinemark’s new combo popcorn bucket and drink container for Spider-Man: Brand New Day may have crossed a line that even the most creative marketing teams cannot walk back. The internet has had a field day with it, and honestly, it is hard to argue with the reaction. Here is everything you need to know about the bucket, the film, and why this piece of merch has gone viral worldwide.
When Is Spider-Man: Brand New Day Out?
Spider-Man: Brand New Day releases in US theaters on July 31, 2026. However, audiences in the UK, South Korea, France, and Italy will be able to catch the film two days earlier, on July 29, 2026. Tickets are already on sale.
What Is the Spider-Man: Brand New Day Popcorn Bucket?
Cinemark designed a combo popcorn and drink container to coincide with the film’s release. The design features a sculpted Spider-Man arm in mid-web-shoot position, with a large white bowl shaped to represent webbing sitting on top of the hand. A straw runs through the bowl so moviegoers can sip their drink and eat their popcorn from the same container simultaneously.
In theory, the concept makes sense. Spider-Man shoots webs, and popcorn sits in the web. However, the execution is what sent the internet into overdrive, with many pointing out that the white bowl perched on top of the hand looks unmistakably like something else entirely.
How Are People Reacting to the Bucket?
The response across social media has been swift, loud, and almost universally irreverent. Here is a summary of the key reactions circulating online:
- One commenter wrote: “The industry has been intentionally making these popcorn buckets look dirty for publicity ever since the Dune 2 bucket.”
- Another added simply: “We need to chill on the popcorn buckets I think.”
- A more practical concern came from a commenter who noted: “I’m not eating popcorn off of that.”
- Someone else questioned the bucket’s actual capacity: “If that’s actually the size of a hand, enjoy your seven pieces of popcorn for 40 bucks.”
- One person referenced a competitor’s offering: “Think I’ll stick with the one shaped like a building with Spidey crawling on it.”
The reference to “the Dune 2 bucket” is worth noting. That container, shaped like a Sandworm mouth, was widely criticized for its suggestive design when it launched, and many fans online believe theater chains have since been leaning into controversial designs on purpose for the free publicity.
What Are the Other Spider-Man: Brand New Day Popcorn Buckets?
If Cinemark’s combo container is not for you, two other theater chains have their own options that are considerably less divisive.
| Theater Chain | Bucket Design |
|---|---|
| AMC | Spider-Man head sculpt bucket with a large accessible opening |
| Regal | “Wall Crawler Popcorn Tin” shaped like a New York City apartment building with Spider-Man crawling on it |
| Cinemark | Spider-Man hand in web-shooting pose with combo drink straw (the viral one) |
Cinemark also offers a standard popcorn bucket with a lid, though Gizmodo pointed out a practical issue with this one too: the lid is awkward to manage in a theater while eating, cheering, and balancing a drink, and it will likely end up misplaced once you get home.
No pricing has been officially confirmed by Cinemark for the Spider-Man combo container. All three buckets are available at their respective chains while supplies last.
What Is Spider-Man: Brand New Day Actually About?
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the fourth entry in Tom Holland’s run as the web-slinging superhero, arriving five years after Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021. The film follows Peter Parker as he transitions to protecting New York City as Spider-Man full time. However, the relentless demands of the role trigger a dangerous physical transformation that threatens his existence.
Zendaya returns as MJ, and the wider cast includes Sadie Sink, Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman, Liza Colón-Zayas, and Marvin Jones III. The film is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton.
Holland and Zendaya, who first met filming Spider-Man: Homecoming and confirmed their relationship in 2021, secretly married earlier in 2026. Holland addressed the marriage in an interview with Esquire, confirming it with a characteristically understated response when asked about AI-generated wedding photos circulating online: “No, because they were all there.”
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man Timeline
For anyone keeping track, here is every Tom Holland Spider-Man entry to date:
| Film | Year |
|---|---|
| Captain America: Civil War | 2016 |
| Spider-Man: Homecoming | 2017 |
| Spider-Man: Far From Home | 2019 |
| Spider-Man: No Way Home | 2021 |
| Spider-Man: Brand New Day | July 2026 |
Who Could Succeed Tom Holland as Spider-Man?
Holland himself weighed in on this in his Esquire interview, naming Owen Cooper, the 16-year-old star of Netflix’s hit miniseries Adolescence, as a strong candidate. “Owen Cooper would be awesome,” Holland said. “Obviously he’s super-talented and the talk of the town right now.” No successor has been confirmed by Marvel or Sony.
Key Takeaways
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day opens July 31, 2026 in the US, and July 29 in the UK, South Korea, France, and Italy.
- Cinemark’s combo popcorn and drink bucket has gone viral due to its unintentionally suggestive design.
- AMC and Regal both offer less controversial alternatives, including a Spider-Man head sculpt and a New York building-shaped tin.
- No pricing has been confirmed for Cinemark’s Spider-Man merch. All items are available while supplies last.
- Tom Holland and Zendaya both return, alongside new cast members including Sadie Sink and Jon Bernthal.
- The film is the fourth Spider-Man entry starring Tom Holland, arriving five years after No Way Home.
Whether Cinemark’s marketing team misjudged the design or saw exactly what everyone else sees, the bucket has delivered something no conventional ad campaign could: Spider-Man: Brand New Day is already the most talked-about film online, and it does not even open for another six weeks.
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