As cinemas worldwide continue to recover from the box office struggles triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, major theater chains are turning to unique merchandise to draw audiences back to the big screen. A primary strategy has been the production of elaborate, collectible popcorn buckets designed to encourage additional spending and create buzz among moviegoers.
Following the success of items such as a Yoshi-themed bucket for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Paramount Pictures has introduced what is being called the most playful offering yet: a popcorn container shaped like the iconic, gravity-defying flattop hairstyle of Guile from the Street Fighter franchise.
The novelty item is available at AMC theaters and features a design that doubles as a wearable skull cap. WWE superstar Cody Rhodes, who portrays Guile in the film, showcased the accessory in a social media post, highlighting its dual function as both a snack vessel and a headpiece.
The design captures the lighthearted tone expected of the upcoming adaptation. In related trivia regarding the character’s origins, it has been noted that Guile’s original video game appearance and signature hairstyle were inspired by characters from the manga series JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.
Street Fighter is scheduled for theatrical release on October 16.
Honestly, if this keeps me off my phone at the theater, I will buy three of them.
Wait, JoJo inspired Guile? That completely explains the wild hair choices in the fighting game canon.
I cannot stop laughing at this. Guile wearing a bucket shaped like his own head is peak movie merch.