Brian Nagele
A trip to the movies is more than just watching a screen; it’s a sensory experience that takes in the unique crunch, sizzle, and aroma of the delicious snacks that are served. The ideal movie snack elevates a typical outing into a delectable adventure, perfectly balancing the film. We invite you to delve into the delicious world of movie snacking in this article. The options are as varied as the movie genres themselves, ranging from the traditional buttery popcorn that fills the air with its irresistible scent to the classic candy favorites that give you a sweet kick. We’ll walk you through the snack bar selection, which includes both classic snacks and creative treats to suit a variety of tastes.
Popcorn
No discussion about the best movie theater snacks is complete without mentioning popcorn. Some people will argue that a movie experience isn’t whole without it. Almost every movie theater around has popcorn as an option. They’ll usually put a bit of a buttery, salty flavoring on it and offer to put on more melted butter if you want it.
Nachos
This item might not be the first food that comes to mind when thinking of the best movie theater snacks. But the fact is that movie theater nachos can hit the spot if you want something salty. They’re usually a basic take on the classic dish with a platter of corn tortilla chips accompanied by a cup of liquid cheese. Some places will offer up jalapenos or other toppings to give it an extra kick.
Pizza
If there is one food sure to please most people, it’s probably pizza. There’s something special about the combination of flour crust, tomato-based sauce, cheese, and toppings. At movie theaters that offer pizza, you can usually get it by the slice. This method makes it easy to grab a quick bite that can fill your belly.
Hot Dogs
If you have a growling belly and need a solid bite, a movie theater hot dog does a great job of satisfying hunger. They’re usually prewarmed and ready to pop into a bun and get covered in your favorite condiments like ketchup, mustard, and pickle relish.
Junior Mints
Combining chocolate and peppermint flavors, Junior Mints are a special sweet treat made by the same company that produces Tootsie Rolls. The dark chocolate exterior hides a semi-soft peppermint center. They’re sweet and refreshing. If you want a sweet treat to snack on the entire movie, Junior Mints are a great choice.
Milk Duds
A dud usually isn’t something that people crave. But if you’re talking about Milk Duds, that changes dramatically. The name comes from the fact that the shape of this candy is never perfectly round. The center caramel is coated in a layer of chocolate, providing an enjoyable snack great for munching on during long movies.
Skittles
One of the best movie theater snacks is a big bag of Skittles. The hard candy shell surrounds a soft fruit-flavored interior, creating a unique mouthfeel that satisfies your deepest sugar cravings. There are multiple flavors of Skittles, along with gummy versions. Skittles are one of the most popular candies for good reason!
Sour Patch Kids
The dark setting of a movie theater might hide your face, but if you reach for a bag of Sour Patch Kids, you’ll probably be making all types of goofy looks. These sweet soft gummies are covered in a sour powder. I love when the first sour flavor hits your tongue, followed by a sweet finish.
Twizzlers
Not all licorice is the same. And for many people, myself included, there is no substitute for the Twizzlers flavor and consistency. This red licorice is an excellent treat for the movies. If you want to take your Twizzler experience to the next level, bite off each end and use it as a straw.
Peanut M&M’s
Somewhere between sweet and savory, the flavor of Peanut M&M’s hits the spot for nearly any craving. A center peanut is surrounded by milk chocolate, then covered in a hard candy shell. These are one of the best movie theater snacks that are easy to share.
Cookie Dough Bites
My mom loved making cookies when I was growing up. But she would always get upset when I wanted to eat the cookies before they went into the oven. Cookie Dough Bites came to my rescue. They are soft cookie dough pieces made to be eaten raw, straight out of the box. And they’re available in many flavors, such as chocolate chip and peanut butter.
Sno-Caps
As an avid snowboarder, I usually think of frosted mountain tops when I hear snow caps. But as soon as I step into a movie theater, that all changes. Sno-Caps are chocolate morsels covered in small white sugar pellets. They can melt away quickly, so don’t pour too many in your hand before tossing them down the hatch.
Ice Cream
If boxed candies aren’t your thing, but you still want to satisfy your sweet tooth, then ice cream can be a great way to fill the void. Unlike the beachfront shops, most movie theater ice cream is individually-packaged in a small cup or cone. That makes eating in a low-light environment easy without making a mess.
Pretzels
Another one of the best movie theater snacks is a pretzel. The soft dough is baked and often coated with large salt granules. Some people think it’s strange, but I love dipping pretzels in mustard. Another great dipping sauce is the cheese that’s usually served with nachos. You can’t go wrong either way.
Reese’s Pieces
I’m not sure if there is a better combination than peanut butter and chocolate. But Reese’s Pieces takes it to the next level by putting those two special ingredients inside a candy-coated shell. These are great for sharing and an excellent option for slow snacking during the film.
Slushies
The best movie theater treats aren’t limited to candy and savory snacks. They also include unique drinks, such as the semi-frozen slushie. Slushies are a sugary, partially-frozen treat, usually served with an oversized straw for maximum drinkability. They come in a variety of flavors such as cherry and blue raspberry.
Sweet Tarts
Sweet Tarts are made by the Ferrara Candy Company which creates some of the best candies on the market. They are a fairly hard piece of sugary candy, packing a sweet and tangy flavor profile. One thing that’s great about sweet tarts is that they don’t melt easily. Perfect for sharing big handfuls with the whole movie group.
M&M’s
If you like to stick with the classics, then M&M’s might be the best movie theater snack. They keep things simple with a soft chocolate center surrounded by a hard candy shell. Pop them in your mouth one at a time or go big with a giant handful.
Raisinets
While it might not be the perfect way to get nutrition, Raisinets are a movie theater snack that does have real fruit. The center raisin is covered in a chocolate coating. I love Raisinets when I’m craving a chewy snack but still want to get that cocoa flavor.
Chips
I’ll admit it. I have a problem. I love chips so much that when I open a bag to enjoy during a movie, I almost always empty the entire thing no matter the size. It’s hard to beat the salty goodness that potato chips have. Stick with the original for a purist take with just a bit of salt, or turn up the flavor by opting for one of the powder-coated options like salt and vinegar or barbeque.
Gummy Bears
Another one of the best movie theater snacks is gummy bears. They’re squishy candies that can take on a lot of different flavors, quite often fruit-based. And if you want a soft candy that can be easily shared, it’s hard to find a better solution than gummy bears.
Gummy Worms
Some say the difference between gummy bears and gummy worms is just a change in shape. But I like to think of it as a completely different entity. One that can keep other grubby hands off your snack if you can get them to see how gross the idea of eating worms is. The perfect defense to have when you need to protect your movie stash. Check out other gummy snacks we love!
Mike and Ike
No matter how hard I’ll try, describing Mike and Ike candy just doesn’t do justice. They are pill-shaped soft candies with a fruity flavor. The unique texture hits a middle area somewhere between gummy and hard candy. They’re an excellent movie snack for the whole family.
Trail Mix
Another snack that’s great for sharing in a movie theater is trail mix. There are many different varieties, but most of the time, trail mix includes some type of nut, dried fruit, and candy pieces. The sweet candy is offset by savory nut flavors. Trail mix provides an ideal balance that can be quite filling.
Buncha Crunch
Rice likely isn’t something that comes to mind when discussing the best movie theater snacks. But Buncha Crunch changes that. This tasty candy is made by covering pieces of crisped rice in milk chocolate. And they will disappear fast.
