Paramount Pictures is stepping up its marketing campaign for "Gladiator II' by launching the upcoming film's very own popcorn bucket.
The fearsome "AR-ena Popcorn Bucket," which comes in the shape of the Roman Colosseum, features a QR code that fans can scan to view a miniature virtual gladiator battle.
Fans who want to snag the limited-edition merch offering can rush to their nearest Cinemark, the only major theater chain in the U.S. that will carry the bucket.
Finish the popcorn, scan the code, and let the games begin. Experience your own augmented reality gladiator battle with the #GladiatorII Popcorn AR-ENA Bucket. Get yours at @Cinemark opening weekend and get tickets today. pic.twitter.com/qINBIfJhg2
— Gladiator Movie (@GladiatorMovie) October 22, 2024
Movie-themed snack receptacles seem to be all the rage as of late. After Dune launched a sandworm popcorn bucket that went viral, many other blockbuster films followed suit.
Marvel and Maximum Effort released a Deadpool & Wolverine popcorn bucket that made a hilarious mock-up of Wolverine's face.
Meanwhile, "Alien: Romulus" had two popcorn buckets: one in the shape of a Xenomorph head and another featuring a Facehugger wrapping itself around a bucket.
Gladiatorial Marketing
"Gladiator II" is directed by Ridley Scott and features a cast of A-list actors, including Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, and Fred Hechinger.
A continuation of 2000's "Gladiator," the upcoming sequel generated a significant amount of attention due to how beloved the original film is.
Its first trailer, which came out back in July, has already garnered upwards of 18 million views.
The film's significance in pop culture is also felt in ads.
Last month, Pepsi launched a massive Gladiator-themed campaign starring Megan Thee Stallion and several NFL athletes that referenced both the film and an iconic Pepsi ad that came out 20 years ago.
As movie marketing campaigns go, "Gladiator II" is one of the strongest to come out of Hollywood in recent memory.
The movie is set for a November 22 release in the U.S.
With its masterful brand marketing strategy, Paramount has ensured that "Gladiator II" will be a blockbuster success.
