Cinemark Partners with Lowe’s to Amplify Bring Your Own Bucket Day

A popcorn promotion that turns creativity into the main event

Cinemark is challenging movie theater fans to do more than just eat 400 ounces of popcorn. A creative vessel to carry that warm, salty, buttery snack makes every morsel taste better. Bring Your Own Bucket returns this January, and Lowe’s steps up to help create some truly epic containers.

Popcorn buckets are big business. Disney fans line up for coveted limited-edition designs, while Universal Orlando has joined the craze with elaborate themed containers. While those visually complex options captivate fans inside the parks, the concept has steadily expanded beyond the turnstiles.

Many new theatrical releases now feature signature popcorn buckets. Some designs have sparked controversy, while others have become instant collectibles. The downside, however, is capacity. Limited space often means refills. Just like oversized beverages meant to last a full movie, most guests would rather snack well into the second half of a film than run out before the first act ends.

For the second year, Cinemark hosts Bring Your Own Bucket on January 18 and 19. Guests may bring any clean vessel holding up to 400 ounces. The cost to fill it? Just $5.

As Wanda Gierhart Fearing, Cinemark’s Chief Marketing and Content Officer, explained, “Last year’s Bring Your Own Bucket event for National Popcorn Day reimagined what this holiday could be for all movie-popcorn lovers, as people showed incredible creativity with their vessels and made the celebration truly unforgettable for both guests and our theater teams.”

This year’s partnership with Lowe’s takes the promotion a step further. Guests who bring a classic Lowe’s blue bucket can enjoy five gallons of popcorn for $5. While that amount may derail any portion-control resolutions, it is undeniably a fun option for sharing.

In addition, anyone using a Lowe’s blue bucket will receive a Cinemark popcorn coupon, redeemable from February 1 through February 26.

While the return on investment for Bring Your Own Bucket is significant, the event is about more than price value. The promotion encourages creativity. Past participants brought everything from orange traffic cones to fishbowls. The Lowe’s partnership invites guests to think even bigger — building or customizing containers designed to grab attention and dominate social feeds.

Could Cinemark expand the concept to other food holidays or major movie releases? Absolutely. Sometimes, engaging audiences before the opening sequence begins is just as important as the story unfolding on screen.