I don’t know about you, but this week has felt like a proper shift in the wind. After months—maybe even years—of Marvel movies struggling to hit the right notes, something has clicked. Fantastic Four: First Steps has blasted into cinemas with a cosmic boom, pulling in an eye-watering $118 million at the US box office on its opening weekend. The buzz? Unmissable. The energy? Electric.
It’s more than just a film—it’s a full-blown cultural moment. Wherever I’ve walked in San Diego this weekend, Fantastic Four has been everywhere. Billboards, shop windows, food court chatter—hell, I even overheard an elderly couple debating which actor best nailed Reed Richards.
But nothing—nothing—has ignited fan frenzy quite like the merch, and in particular, the popcorn buckets.
Cinema chains like AMC and Regal have rolled out an impressive line-up of collectibles to celebrate the film, and they’re flying off shelves faster than the Human Torch. There’s the classic-style tubs, topped with character figurines, and the super sleek Fantasticar popcorn container, which honestly looks more like a display model than a snack holder.
Then there’s the H.E.R.B.I.E. popcorn bucket/tumbler combo—a true marvel (pun intended). It’s got a compartment for everything: popcorn, drink, snack. It lights up. It plays the theme song. It’s easily one of the most fun, functional bits of merch we’ve seen in ages.
But towering above them all—both literally and figuratively—is the Galactus head popcorn bucket. This thing is an event. Huge. Bold. Ridiculous in the best way. It’s not just a bucket—it’s a statement piece. And right now, it’s the holy grail of the First Steps merch scene. I’ve seen people queueing for hours and checking multiple cinema chains just to get their hands on one. The buzz around it is massive. And once you’ve seen one in person, you get why.
The real magic here isn’t just in the collectibles. It’s in the atmosphere. After a string of forgettable Marvel misfires, Fantastic Four: First Steps has reignited something—a sense of fun, anticipation, and optimism. It feels like the beginning of a new era. Or maybe a return to what made us fall in love with these films in the first place.
Whatever it is, it’s working. And if this is Marvel’s first step toward the future, they’ve made it a giant one.
– Tony, surrounded by popcorn buckets and cosmic joy.