Playing theaters October 16-22, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas returns to the big screen in 2026, and Cinemark is using an LED Santa Jack bucket to draw crowds to it.
It’s a licensed 85-ounce Jack Skellington head in his red-and-white Sandy Claws hat. The hat lifts off to get at the popcorn, and a switch lights up his face. At Cinemark the bucket comes with an XL popcorn and a free same-day refill, at select locations while supplies last.
Cinemark hasn’t posted a dollar price yet. The same bucket is already listed at Marcus Theatres for $35.99 and at Swan Drive-In for $35.95. AMC is selling it too, filled with popcorn, alongside an exclusive double-sided “Simply Meant to Be” blanket with Sally’s patchwork on one side and Jack’s pinstripes on the other.
Figural buckets have become real money for theaters. AMC’s novelty vessels grew from almost nothing in 2019 to nearly $80 million globally in 2025, and the hits move fast on the secondary market.
The Dune: Part Two sandworm, about $25 with popcorn, hit eBay listings over $800 within days. An unopened R2-D2 sipper from 2019 turned up on eBay for $2,222.22.
The movie is one piece of Cinemark’s spooky-season slate, which also brings back Night of the Living Dead, Scream, Halloween and more. As of early October, there’s no sell-out notice and no resale market yet for this Santa Jack.
