I Ate ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Pop-Tarts

An age-old story unfolds within the realms of Marvel: A valiant crew embarks on a space expedition in an innovative rocket, but upon their return, they’ve been altered by cosmic radiation. Driven to utilize these newfound abilities for humanity’s greater good, they take up the title, the Fantastic Four.

But what if instead of explorers … they were toaster pastries?

It seems like you’re asking a question that could be posed to Uatu the Watcher or a character played by Will Ferrell on Saturday Night Live, where he portrayed Harry Caray and asked bizarre questions. For instance, “Even though we know the Fantastic Four aren’t made of green cheese, if they were made from frosted blue raspberry Pop-Tarts instead, would you still eat them?

It’s quite evident that I would consume these new Pop-Tarts, given their connection to Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps and the scarcity of blue raspberry flavor since 2019. Notably, it’s been a while since we’ve seen The Fantastic Four on the big screen (last in 2015), but their comeback is evident in these Pop-Tarts, as they inspired Denny’s tie-in menu back then with Invisible Woman pancakes and Thing Burger. I must admit, I don’t regret consuming anything associated with that Fantastic Four menu at all.

To match the hype surrounding Marvel’s FF reboot, which some consider one of the worst superhero films of the 21st century, it has received special treats such as a four-flavor pizza from Little Caesars and exclusive blue milk. Now, you can find its unique Pop-Tarts in Walmarts nationwide (excluding the store on Yancy Street) for a brief period. If it seems like I’m prolonging this introduction to delay consuming them a little longer… well, that might be true!

Okay True Believers, enough stalling. Let’s try these suckers.

I Ate The Fantastic Four: First Steps Blue Raspberry Pop Tarts

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Frosted Blue Raspberry Pop-Tarts

The blue raspberry Pop-Tarts, much loved by fans, are making a comeback in stores following a six-year absence. The blue color is said to be inspired by cosmic power and aims to deliver the perfect blend of tangy, fruity, and sweet flavors. We’ll see if it lives up to expectations!

Additionally, Kellanova (previously known as Kellogg’s) has launched Pop-Tarts inspired by the Fantastic Four movie, featuring similar designs and a strawberry filling. These can be found in any store that stocks Pop-Tarts. However, the blue raspberry variant is exclusive to Walmart stores. If you don’t have one nearby, I’m sorry to say, you’re out of luck. (I won’t mention the distance I went to buy this box of themed toaster pastries – which, by the way, cost me $2.69 per box.)

“It’s Collectin’ Time!”

Inside the box, all Pop-Tarts share the same blue filling, but each has a different frosting design – eight unique designs in total. One for each team member, one for their robot companion H.E.R.B.I.E., one with the movie’s logo, one with the retro ‘4’ symbol from the new film, and another featuring four colored circles representing each FF member’s distinctive powers. I’m quite curious to see if these designs maintain their quality as they appear on the box. The phrase “It’s Collectin’ Time!” leaves me a bit uncertain. While I understand the nod to the Thing’s well-known catchphrase, I wonder about the idea of perpetually collecting food, especially when it comes to Marvel characters other than Master Mold.

Always Read the Fine Print

While checking out the intricate pastry designs and subtle references to the Fantastic Four on the box, I noticed a fine print statement: “Includes a genetically modified food ingredient.” Frankly, it doesn’t make me more eager to take a bite, but considering Reed Richards’ penchant for tampering with natural laws, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s dabbled in bioengineering some food.

What the Pop-Tarts Are Supposed To Look Like

To align with the nostalgic ambiance of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”, the Fantastic Four Pop-Tarts showcase vintage 60’s style graphics, such as the one for Invisible Woman that echoes the emblems and advertisements from the 1964 New York World’s Fair.
It happens that the last Pop-Tarts movie tie-in was for Jerry Seinfeld’s “Unfrosted” – another film depicting a fantastical 1960s era (in this instance, the movie itself was centered around Pop-Tarts, and a special edition unfrosted strawberry flavor named “Trat-Pops” was launched, featuring Jerry Seinfeld’s likeness on the packaging). Could there be any snack more synonymous with retro futurism than Pop-Tarts?

The Pop-Tart I Got

Just like regular Pop-Tarts, the frosting isn’t as flawless or thickly applied as it looks on the package. However, the Invisible Woman design is clearly visible, albeit slightly smudged. I would argue that this Pop-Tart kept its promise in terms of visual appeal.

That Blue Filling

Some children, even my own daughters, have a fondness for blue raspberry. Personally, I haven’t shared that enthusiasm; instead, I usually opt for foods that resemble what might naturally grow on earth.

The package claimed to contain a light blue filling, which was notably paler than the darker shade seen on the Fantastic Four’s uniforms. This struck me as an unusual decision. If you’re making blue-filled Pop-Tarts inspired by the Fantastic Four, why not take it one step further and make the color match their costumes perfectly?

Yeah, It’s Pretty Darn Blue

Regardless of what thoughts come to mind about this specific shade of blue, I must admit: Either for improved accuracy or perhaps at the expense of my colon, the content within the Pop-Tart closely resembled the color depicted on the box.

Days of Future Past Pop-Tarts

In sampling the “Fantastic Four: First Steps” Pop-tarts, I had hoped they would match my all-time favorite movie tie-in food: The “Frosted Spidey-Berry” Pop-Tarts from the first Sam Raimi Spider-Man film. These were pastry delights with blue frosting and a pattern reminiscent of Spider-Man’s suit. I still can’t fathom where one would find “spidey-berries,” but I adored those treats so much that, upon learning they would be discontinued as the movie left cinemas, I made a trip to my local grocery store and hoarded every box available, enjoying them sparingly over several months. (Believe it or not, I was unattached at the time.)

Upon revisiting these memories, I found that the Spider-Man Pop-Tarts’ fine print revealed “Spidey-Berry” contained “wildberry filling,” a fictional fruit flavor still offered by Pop-Tarts today, albeit without the Spider-Man branding (and web frosting).

The regret I now feel for not eating these Pop-Tarts for 20 years is immense. This sensation must be what it feels like to bear an unsightly visage and dedicate your life to donning a masked armor suit, as portrayed in Avengers: Doomsday, when Robert Downey Jr.’s character transforms into Doctor Doom after complaining about the discontinuation of his favorite Pop-Tarts flavor for two decades, only to discover they had merely rebranded them. (Spoiler alert for Avengers: Doomsday)

The Final Verdict

A Brief History of Movie Tie-In Food

The Early Days of Tie-In Food

As a lover of both movies and food, I’ve discovered an interesting connection between these two realms that stretches back further than most people might think. Way before the 1970s, when the relationship truly blossomed, there were already instances of cross-promotion between food brands and popular culture.

For example, by the 1960s, breakfast cereals like Kellogg’s had started featuring characters from Hanna-Barbera cartoons on their boxes, such as Yogi Bear. This was a prelude to our current world filled with Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles. These cartoon and comic heroes were instrumental in attracting kids towards products, even ones they might have initially turned away from.

One such instance is Allens’ Popeye Spinach. Named after the beloved sailor man from comic strips and short films, this product was inspired by Popeye’s own affinity for the power-packed leafy vegetable. This product, which still graces supermarket shelves today, first made its appearance in the 1960s.

“Presented For Your Enjoyment By Howard Johnson’s”

Movies and food can sometimes create an odd pairing, and this was particularly evident in the early days of movie tie-ins when marketers hadn’t quite mastered the perfect blend (transforming kids’ films into merchandise). For example, in 1968, Howard Johnson’s restaurant chain promoted the release of Stanley Kubrick’s innovative, psychedelic science-fiction film “2001: A Space Odyssey” by offering… a children’s menu that also served as a comic book? Indeed, it took place.

Willy Wonka and the Tie-In Candy Bars

As a movie critic reflecting on the iconic film “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” I can’t help but acknowledge that this cinematic delight didn’t merely inspire merchandise, but rather, it was born from early promotional tie-ins. The Quaker Oats Company, seeking to introduce a new candy bar in the 70s, collaborated with director Mel Stuart and producer David L. Wolper to license Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” adapt it for screen, and subsequently leverage it to launch their Wonka-branded chocolate bars.

True to their word, Quaker renamed the film to “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” to boost sales of their real-world Wonka bars. However, the original Wonka candies faced a formula issue, necessitating a recall. Nonetheless, the Wonka candy line eventually thrived, offering treats like Peanut Butter Oompas, essentially rebranded Reese’s Pieces.

Quaker further capitalized on the film by using their other products for promotion. If you remember, buying Quaker cereal boxes could earn you a “Wonka Candy Factory” toy to create your own Wonka bars at home. I find it intriguing that they encouraged children to melt chocolate on their kitchen stove, a practice I’d advise against today.

After selling the Wonks division, some of its candies continue to be produced, with Everlasting Gobstoppers being one such example—directly inspired by the book and film.

A Galaxy Far, Far Away…

Following the unexpected success of George Lucas’ film “American Graffiti”, he found himself in a position to renegotiate his contract for his upcoming project, an ambitious science-fiction movie titled “Star Wars”. His agent believed that Lucas could increase his salary from $200,000 to $700,000, with additional profits if any were made.

However, Lucas declined the offer and instead proposed making “Star Wars” for the same amount, provided Fox granted him ownership of all future “Star Wars” sequels and control over the franchise’s merchandising and licensing rights.

Fox agreed to these terms, not realizing they were giving away a potential fortune. This deal would ultimately lead Lucas to almost single-handedly revolutionize the film marketing industry. He stated later that he demanded these rights because he desired control and was so anxious about Fox not promoting “Star Wars” that he thought he could produce merchandise like T-shirts on his own if necessary.

When “Star Wars” became one of the most successful films ever, this concern proved largely irrelevant. However, the agreement transformed “Star Wars” into a merchandising powerhouse and one of the first movies to partner with restaurants for cross-promotional deals. Fast food chains like Burger Chef offered “Star Wars” posters, while Burger King began selling collectible Star Wars glasses, which soon became an industry standard for blockbuster films.

Today, those original “Star Wars” cups are still coveted by collectors, but they should be handled with care as it was discovered a few years ago that they contained lead paint. Oops!

The Happy Meal

The significance of marketing to children in relation to tie-in foods throughout history cannot be understated. Most films transformed into edibles have primarily targeted mass audiences, with a strong focus on using those foods to generate awareness among children. This is because children are more likely to ask their parents to watch the movie or visit restaurants offering the toys or merchandise they’ve seen advertised on TV. Interestingly, adult-oriented films seldom receive tie-in menus, even when they could be thematically appropriate (for instance, consider a “9 1/2 Weeks” menu).

From nearly its inception, McDonald’s innovative Happy Meal has been associated with movies. After years of testing and refinement during the 1970s, McDonald’s officially introduced the concept nationwide in 1979. One of the first themed Happy Meals was for “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” which, if you recall, wasn’t exactly a children’s movie (unless you were a child who enjoyed contemplative sci-fi films about space exploration). However, the “Star Trek” brand was popular in the late 1970s due to syndicated reruns and an animated series. With a big-budget movie in theaters, it provided an ideal subject for the Happy Meal.

The original “Star Trek” Happy Meal consisted of comics, games, and a plastic “communicator” toy. No themed food was included; that came later. Yet, the success of the “Star Trek” Happy Meal paved the way for the long-term association between movies and fast food.

Part a Complete Breakfast

In the era of the “Star Wars” sequels, the franchise had transformed into a money-making machine for every corporation that held its license. This was followed by an influx of merchandise tie-ins, and around the launch of “Return of the Jedi” in 1983, food products inspired by the films began to gain popularity.

However, it’s important to note that the term “inspired” might be a bit misleading here, as many of these food items only shared a name and a box design with the franchise. For instance, C-3PO’s cereal, which boasted of its unique twin rings, was not connected to the Force or the Empire in any way. In essence, it was just two Cheerios fused together. After Kellogg’s lost the “Star Wars” license, they rebranded the same cereal as the sports-themed “Pro-Grain.”

Nowadays, C-3PO’s are primarily remembered for the appealing “Star Wars” masks that were included on the back of the boxes. These masks allowed children to create their own costumes and play as their favorite characters. The masks themselves significantly contributed to sales, marking the beginning of a stronger relationship between “Star Wars” and the food industry.

Cooler Heads Prevail

In the 1980s, most movie tie-in products appeared near a film’s premiere and then vanished over time. However, Ecto Cooler, a neon-colored citrus drink from Hi-C associated with the Ghostbusters movie and its animated series The Real Ghostbusters, was an exception to this rule. Despite the original Ghostbusters movies ending in 1989 and the cartoon show being canceled in 1991, Hi-C continued selling Ecto Cooler throughout the 1990s. Whenever the Ghostbusters film franchise was revived, so was Ecto Cooler, with its bottles often fetching high prices on the secondary market. At this point, Ecto Cooler has become an integral part of the Ghostbusters mythos and a significant part of many ’90s kids’ childhood memories, whether they were fans of Ghostbusters or not.

Fast Food Gets Dino-Sized

In the 1980s, movies influenced various cereals and other edibles like Ecto Coolers, but their appearance at fast food restaurants was mainly confined to promotional items such as toys in Happy Meals or collector cups.

However, this changed significantly in the 1990s when fast food chains struck substantial promotional deals with film studios and started offering more intricate tie-ins that movie enthusiasts could consume rather than just collect.

One of the earliest examples of this new wave of tie-in came in 1993, when McDonald’s launched a “Jurassic Park Meal” to align with the year’s biggest blockbuster. The novelty lay in the ability to “dino-size” your drink, fries, or even your burger, transforming them into a Jurassic Park triple cheeseburger.

The Super Hero Burger

The meal at Jurassic Park showcased branded movie foods, yet they were merely enlarged versions of typical menu items. This concept didn’t take long to progress, evolving into something entirely new: Foods associated with hit Hollywood films.

In 1995, McDonald’s collaborated with Warner Bros. for the launch of Batman Forever. Alongside the promotional etched glasses, the chain introduced a limited-edition “Super Hero Burger”. This was essentially a triple cheeseburger served on a hero roll instead of a standard bun, hence dubbed as a superhero burger.

To make the boundary between commercial and trailer even more indistinct, Batman Forever featured a scene where Val Kilmer’s Batman mentioned he’d “get drive thru” after finishing his nightly crime-fighting duties. McDonald’s utilized this clip in their Super Hero Burger advertisements, and enlisted trailer voice artist Don LaFontaine to narrate the commercials. (“The taste of two cheeses melted over three beef patties” never sounded more urgent than when LaFontaine said it.)

The Volcano Burrito

McDonald’s wasn’t the only restaurant chain that heavily invested in Hollywood during the 1990s. Taco Bell frequently advertised various blockbusters in their commercials and sometimes even offered them on their menu. While McDonald’s was marketing Batman Forever, Taco Bell was advocating for Congo, a movie designed to be another Jurassic Park-like megahit based on a book by author Michael Crichton. Although Congo the movie didn’t perform as well as expected at the box office, the Taco Bell item introduced to cross-promote it – the “Volcano Burrito,” featuring seasoned beef, beans, rice, a blend of three cheeses, and a flowing red sauce – has been reintroduced by the restaurant multiple times since. (A quick Google search for “volcano burrito” reveals numerous heartfelt tributes from fans to this spicy dish.) Interestingly, the theming was also consistent with Congo’s storyline, as its climax involves the characters racing to escape an erupting volcano. (To clarify, it’s a volcano spewing lava, not authentic Mexican cuisine. However, the concept still worked within this context.)

There’s Pineapple Shrimp, Lemon Shrimp, Coconut Shrimp, Pepper Shrimp, Shrimp Soup, Shrimp Stew, Shrimp Salad, Shrimp and Potatoes, Shrimp Burger, Shrimp Sandwich…

In the mid-1990s, film enthusiasts could frequently purchase food items based on their favorite movies (even Batman Forever). However, a restaurant themed around a movie itself was uncommon. This unique dining experience made its debut in 1996 as the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, modeled after the critically acclaimed 1994 Academy Award winner Forrest Gump. In the film, Forrest and his military friend Lieutenant Dan start a shrimping business with the name “Bubba Gump”; in reality, a food entrepreneur aiming to revive his struggling frozen seafood business acquired the “Bubba Gump” name from Paramount Pictures.

When Bubba Gump frozen foods proved successful, a restaurant followed suit – and then numerous locations sprang up. Thirty years after the first (and last) Forrest Gump movie premiered in cinemas, the Bubba Gump chain remains robust, with multiple outlets scattered across the globe.

Small Soldiers, Big Burgers

Reflecting on the history of tie-ins, it’s astonishing to find that numerous enduring fast food items we consume today were initially created as movie promotions, many of which have since faded into obscurity.

For instance, the 1998 animated film “Small Soldiers” was a box office failure and is now barely recognized except by Joe Dante’s dedicated fans. However, the Rodeo Cheeseburger, introduced by Burger King during its Small Soldiers campaign, with its unique combination of cheese, onion rings, and Bull’s-Eye Barbecue sauce, still remains on Burger King’s menu (though the current version lacks the cheese and uses an unbranded sauce). Interestingly enough, you could request a Rodeo Cheeseburger from your local Burger King even today.

Marvelous Fast Food Menus

In the 21st century, as blockbuster movies grew more expansive, so did the related food offerings at restaurants. Chains started introducing numerous items, sometimes entire temporary menus, to synchronize with major films. If size equals quality in cinemas, why not the same idea for dining establishments?

An early illustration of this trend is Baskin-Robbins, who launched various ice cream flavors tied to the 2003 film “X2.” They presented an “X-Mint” and an “X-Treme Berry Sherbet,” along with sundaes inspired by Storm and Wolverine. The Berry Rampage Sundae featured “X-Treme Berry Sherbet with strawberry topping, whipped cream, Wild Berry Wonka Nerds, and a Blue Raspberry Sour Punch Straw ‘X’.”

Although it’s difficult to envision Hugh Jackman consuming large quantities of whipped cream and Sour Punch Straws while maintaining his superhero physique, and I doubt Wolverine would approve of any food named after him that included “Nerds,” the candy “X” on top is a thoughtful touch.

Okay, This One Isn’t Really All That Historic, But Just Look at That Picture. How Could I Not Include This?

In 2011, Dunkin’ Donuts introduced desserts themed around Captain America: The First Avenger that weren’t particularly revolutionary overall. However, the sight of the “First Avenger Tri-Cup,” containing three flavors of Coolatta (cherry, vanilla bean, and blue raspberry being my favorites), really caught my attention. It was so striking that I felt compelled to share it with everyone. Now, you’ve seen it for yourself – enjoy!

Theme Parks Get Tied Up With Tie-Ins

In the realm of movie-themed food during the 2010s, a significant shift occurred: instead of food that only vaguely resembled films, edibles straight from the movies became the norm. Although some may argue this is similar to offering Popeye Spinach decades ago, the distinction lies in the level of detail and immersion.

This change was most noticeable at theme parks, with Disney maintaining its traditional ice cream bars shaped like Mickey Mouse, while Universal Studios took the lead, particularly with their “Wizarding World of Harry Potter.” Opened in 2010 at Orlando’s Islands of Adventure park, this area meticulously recreated parts of the Harry Potter movie world. A crucial aspect of this immersion was offering signature foods and drinks from the movies to visitors, with butterbeer being the most prominent and popular choice.

Universal’s butterbeer, a delightful carbonated beverage served in taverns in the books and films, gained such popularity that they expanded their offerings beyond just butterbeer to include hot butterbeer, frozen butterbeer, butterbeer ice cream, butterbeer fudge, and even butterbeer potted cream. (Be cautious though, subsisting on this kind of diet might lead to health issues at a young age.)

The Tie-Ins Get Weirder, and the Internet Notices

Over the past decade, movie tie-ins have become progressively extravagant, featuring colors and flavors that are unnatural. One of the earliest examples to generate significant buzz was a “Darth Vader” burger linked to the 3D re-release of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace in 2012.

This burger was served at the French restaurant Quick, but American chains were quick to capitalize on the enormous online attention it received and started introducing their own over-the-top movie-related food items.

The primary motivation behind these tie-ins is attracting attention. These movies aren’t aiming for James Beard Awards; they’re after viewers. If associating with a burger that resembles the Grim Reaper’s handiwork is necessary to achieve that goal, so be it.

Similarly, chain restaurants are driven by the same desire for attention. Even if you have no interest in eating a black burger, you might share an image of it with someone daring enough to give it a try (like myself), and then accompany them to snap pictures when they do.

One Theme Menu to Rule Them All

It appears that a strategy reminiscent of “if we serve foods so extraordinary they trend online, their edibility becomes irrelevant” seemed to underpin Denny’s succession of extensive themed menus in the 2010s. This approach catapulted Denny’s to the pinnacle of movie tie-in food in America.

In 2012, Denny’s launched a menu influenced by Peter Jackson’s first “The Hobbit” film. This menu showcased unusual items such as “Lonely Mountain Treasure” (a toast service with cream cheese icing for dipping and seed cake), “Lone-Lands Campfire Cookie Milk Shake” (vanilla milkshake with s’mores cookie pieces), and “Radagast’s Red Velvet Pancake Pippies” (no comment on that one).

This menu was undoubtedly popular, as Denny’s continued to employ this strategy (“Big Hollywood movie + Big menu of foods that seem like they were dared into existence”) throughout the decade.

Another Picture Too Deranged Not to Include

As a movie enthusiast and ice cream aficionado, let me share my thoughts on the “Lunar Cheesecake” flavor. First introduced in the late 1960s as a clever marketing strategy, this unique green and white cheesecake-flavored ice cream with cheesecake bits and graham cracker ribbons was Baskin-Robbins’ response to the Apollo 11 moon landing, inspired by the old belief that the moon was made of green cheese.

The craze surrounding the moon landing eventually subsided, and the flavor was put on hiatus. However, it made a comeback in 2012 as a movie tie-in for Men In Black 3, where the Apollo 11 mission played a significant role in the film’s plot. Since then, it has resurfaced sporadically during special Baskin-Robbins anniversaries. The appeal of this flavor, I must admit, is irresistible, much like the moment when you see an alien offering you something unnaturally green and think, “Yes, I do want to eat that.

Actually, Make That Two Theme Menus…

When Peter Jackson produced a follow-up to “The Hobbit” movie, Denny’s followed suit with a new menu inspired by it. Just like many sequels in Hollywood, this expanded and amplified version of their original “Hobbit” menu was bigger and more extravagant than its predecessor.

The “The Desolation of Smaug” menu at Denny’s introduced an impressive eight new dishes, such as the “Smaug’s Fire Burger,” a beef patty on a grilled Cheddar bun with their special X-sauce, Jalapeno Bottle Caps, melted Pepper Jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onions, and pickles. Other offerings included “Bilbo’s Breakfast Feast,” a slice of honey cake French toast drizzled with honey, scrambled eggs with Cheddar cheese, fresh spinach, mushrooms, a breakfast sausage, and crispy hash browns, and the “Hobbit Hole Breakfast” (which I won’t elaborate on because I just ate lunch). Diners were also given the option to customize their own “Hobbit Slam,” although it might have been considered illicit if done in Middle Earth. At Denny’s, anything goes.

The lavish extravagance of the “Smaug” menu caused a stir online, with journalists raving about the food and even visiting Denny’s to try it themselves (who would do such a thing?). Interestingly, despite continuing to create themed menus, Denny’s did not produce one for the final “Hobbit” film, “The Battle of the Five Armies.” Perhaps they realized there was no surpassing the Hobbit Hole Breakfast.

The Galaxy’s (Cutting Culinary) Edge

In a remarkable evolution of themed attractions, Universal’s Wizarding World pioneered the concept of integrating tourists into films through food experiences. However, Disney elevated this immersive theme to unprecedented heights with their Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge areas in Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

These Star Wars-themed land expansions don’t just serve iconic Star Wars movie items; they meticulously recreate a galaxy far, far away through food and drink selections that fit the Star Wars universe perfectly. For instance, at breakfast, you can savor blue milk, which may remind you more of a fruit smoothie than dairy, as it’s served in Luke Skywalker’s boyhood home (at Disneyland). The menu offers unique creations such as the “Ronto wrap,” a fusion between a hot dog and a gyro, and “moof juice,” a blend of fruit punch, pineapple-orange juice, and chipotle-pineapple. Even Coca-Cola products in Galaxy’s Edge are given a Star Wars twist, sold in containers resembling thermal detonators.

Scrumdiddlyumptious

In recent times, Denny’s has lost its crown as the pioneer in movie-themed food collaborations to IHOP. This chain restaurant has created extravagant and peculiar menus for various films, such as “The Grinch” with green pancakes, “The Addams Family” featuring purple hot chocolate, and “Wonka” with its purple pancakes. If you can associate a film with an unusual color on a breakfast dish, IHOP will undoubtedly make it. Given the significant impact of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” in this marketing strategy, “Wonka” is indeed a fitting choice for such promotions. As we can see, what’s old becomes new again, both in advertising and pop culture.

The Future…?

As a devoted movie enthusiast, I’ve noticed an interesting gap in the cinematic landscape: tie-in foods at theaters haven’t been as prevalent as one might expect over the years. For decades, theaters seemed content with offering the same popcorn and snacks, with limited variations or novel ideas.

However, in recent times, with fierce competition from streaming platforms and the internet, theaters have started to adapt. Chains that offer dine-in services are leveraging the hype around new films by introducing special menu items. The Alamo Drafthouse, for instance, has attempted to lure customers with the allure of a “Green Goblin” Spider-Man Pizza (complete with a sour cream web on top) and Ninja Turtles flavored popcorn (which was surprisingly tasty).

Even conventional multiplexes are joining the trend. AMC, for example, frequently releases unique Icee flavors to match movies, such as a chilling black slushie for The Addams Family. They’ve clearly recognized the viral potential of outlandish tie-ins and are now following suit, creating increasingly bizarre popcorn buckets. The Dune bucket, in particular, received criticism not only online but also on late night TV shows; on eBay, these buckets even fetched over $100.

The future looks bright for tie-in foods at theaters. As long as people continue to flock to movies, film fans will crave edible memorabilia inspired by their favorite films. And the folks selling those films will be more than happy to oblige!

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2025-07-14 19:31