what is popcorn movie review

Growing perfect plants, one answer at a time.

What do tomatoes and popcorn mean on movies?

A red tomato means the movie received positive reviews. A splattered green tomato means the movies has been negatively reviewed. The popcorn images are from Flixster, the full popcorn container means the audience generally liked the movie. The spilled popcorn container means audiences didn’t find the movie More.

What do tomatoes mean in movies?

A red tomato score indicating its fresh status, is designated when at least 60% of the reviews are positive. A green splat indicating rotten status, is displayed when less than 60% of the reviews are positive. If there is no score available, it usually just means the movie or show hasn’t been released or there aren’t enough reviews yet.

You should be asking “What do tomatoes mean in movie ratings?”

This is what I found. when at least 60% of reviews for a movie or TV show are positive, a red tomato is displayed to indicate its Fresh status. When less than 60% of reviews for a movie or TV show are positive, a green splat is displayed to indicate its Rotten status.

What is the meaning of the tomatoes in the movie popcorn?

Percentage of critics and audience members who liked the movie; Red tomato means movie got positive reviews Splattered green tomato means The tomatoes and popcorn are related to the cultural way to represent something that is good or bad.

Some sources claimed a splattered green tomato means the movies has been negatively reviewed. The popcorn images are from Flixster, the full popcorn container means the audience generally liked the movie. The spilled popcorn container means audiences didn’t find the movie appealing.

Tomatoes = critics. Popcorn = audience. This was useful info! Was this comment helpful? Yes | No 87% Helpful What do the tomato and popcorn icons stand for? What do the icons mean next to the movies title , such as the tomato and the bag of popcorn? What are the tomato and popcorn box symbols in info?

Popcorn means the movie got postive response red tomatoes means positive . Source: What do the popcorn and tomatoes symbols mean on direct tv ratings? Was this answer helpful?

A question we ran across in our research was “What is the difference between red tomato and popcorn?”.

You see, red tomato is rotten tomatos review; red tomato=positive, splattered= negative. Popcorn means flixster review; popcorn=positive, tipped over popcorn= negative .

What do the Tomatometer and Rotten Tomatoes mean?

Here’s what they mean. The Tomatometer is a “ Fresh ” critic rating – a high 60% minimum overall rating and reviews from at least 40 critics. Is a “Rotten” critic rating 59% or less positive. (That’s not an asterisk it’s a green tomato that’s gone splat!).

This begs the question “What does the Rotten Tomatoes rating mean?”

I learned as the reviews of a given film accumulate, the Rotten Tomatoes score measures the percentage that are more positive than negative, and assigns an overall fresh or rotten rating to the movie. Scores of over 60 percent are considered fresh, and scores of 59 percent and under are rotten.

You might be thinking “Where did the term Rotten Tomatoes come from?”

One way to consider this is although the name “Rotten Tomatoes” connects to the practice of audiences throwing rotten tomatoes when disapproving of a poor stage performance, the original inspiration comes from a scene featuring tomatoes in the Canadian film Léolo (1992).

What is Rotten Tomatoes used for?

Rotten Tomatoes and the Tomatometer score are the world’s most trusted recommendation resources for quality entertainment . As the leading online aggregator of movie and TV show reviews from critics, we provide fans with a comprehensive guide to what’s Fresh – and what’s Rotten – in theaters and at home.

What is a tomatometer rating?

The Tomatometer is a “ Fresh ” critic rating – a high 60% minimum overall rating and reviews from at least 40 critics. Is a “Rotten” critic rating 59% or less positive. (That’s not an asterisk it’s a green tomato that’s gone splat!) means less than a 59% positive score (less than 3.5 star) from audiences at Flixter and Rotten Tomatoes.

Related Posts

Why do you put lemon juice in canned tomatoes.

For whatever reason USDA still recommends the lemon juice even when pressure canning. So far I haven’t gotten an adequate scientific explanation of why lemon…

Why do tomatoes have black bottoms?

This relatively common garden problem is not a disease, but rather a physiological disorder caused by a calcium imbalance within the plant. A sunken black…

American history x rotten tomatoes?

American History X doesn’t contend with its subject matter as fully as it could, but Edward Norton ‘s performance gives this hard-hitting drama crucial weight.…

Why tomatoes turn brown at bottom?

This time of year we have many calls about brown spots on tomatoes, squash, peppers, watermelons, etc. This is called blossom-end rot (BER), which is…

Rotten Tomatoes Ratings — How Does Rotten Tomatoes Work?

• What is Pathos
• What is Logos
• What is Telos
• What is Kairos
• What is Ethos
• Ethos, Pathos & Logos
• What is an EPK
• What is a Creative Director
• What is Branded Content
• What is a Creative Brief
• How to Pitch a TV Show Like a Pro

How Does Rotten Tomatoes Work?

• How to Make a Movie Poster
• The Filmmaker’s Guide to The Clio Advertising Awards
• A Complete Guide To The Funniest Commercials
• How to Make a Commercial
• How to Develop Your Brand
• Complete Guide to Advertising on Instagram
• How Does Instagram Promotion Work and Is It Worth It?
• How Can You Kickstart Your Social Media Advertising?
• Small Business Advertising Ideas from LeBron James Commercials
• How To Create a Successful Branded Content Campaign
• How and Why To Make Facebook Video Ads That Work
• How to Make a Commercial People Will Actually Share
• Video Branding Strategies to Get More Followers Right Now
• Social Media and Digital Communications for Successful Short Films
• Digital Advertising Trends
• Most Inspiring Ads
• Best Movie Taglines
• Best Marketing and Advertising Campaigns
• Best Creative Brief Template
• Best Explainer Video Trends for Your Brand

T he Rotten Tomatoes ratings system―good or bad? Well, I’d say it’s a bit better than the original way tomatoes were used to judge entertainment. Because even if we want to throw fruit at the screen, 21st century technology reminds us we don’t have to. Rotten Tomatoes will provide us with a fair Critic consensus before we even get to the theatre (saving us a ton of food and money).

So how does Rotten Tomatoes work, exactly? Is it a reliable judge of… characters … Okay, okay, hold your tomatoes please. Let’s get a behind the scenes look at how it all works.

What do the Rotten Tomatoes symbols mean? Read on

Rotten tomatoes ratings system.

Rotten Tomatoes started in 2000 and it quickly became moviegoers go-to for reviews. But ever since Fandango acquired the company, it’s become even more well-known adding something called a “Tomatometer” score next to every movie and ticket listing. 

Critics have suggested that there is much more nuance and complication when it comes to the correlation between a Rotten Tomatoes rating and ticket sales. And while we will not get into that in this article, I think there is something to be said psychologically about seeing a rating right before you make your choice.

But I digress. 

I know for me, the ubiquitous nature of a Rotten Tomatoes score has made me feel like they hold more weight than they once did. But do they really hold more weight? How is the score actually calculated? And how are critics curated? 

Let's break it down.

Tomatometer Breakdown

Rotten tomatoes rating system, how does the tomatometer work.

The Rotten Tomatoes rating system uses a scale better known as the “The Tomatometer.” This represents the percentage of positive reviews for a given film or show. The Tomatometer score is calculated after five reviews.

As the reviews come in, The Tomatometer measures the positive reviews against the negative ones and assigns either an overall score of fresh or rotten rating to the film or television show. 

A red tomato score indicating its fresh status, is designated when at least 60% of the reviews are positive. 

A green splat indicating rotten status, is displayed when less than 60% of the reviews are positive. 

If there is no score available, it usually just means the movie or show hasn’t been released or there aren’t enough reviews yet. So, now that we know how they’re calculated, who’s doing the reviewing? 

Related Posts

• Best Leonardo DiCaprio Movies →
• The Top Gangster Movies of All Time →
• Outstanding Neo-Noir Films, Ranked for Filmmakers →

How Does Rotten Tomatoes Rate Their Movies

How is rotten tomatoes rated .

Rotten Tomatoes is careful in its Critic curation. It won’t include just any critic’s review. It aggregates those who have been regularly putting out movie reviews over the last two years, and those who are considered active by Rotten Tomatoes standards. This just means they’ve published a review within the last year. While there are about 3,000 accepted reviewers (see the Tomatometer-approved critics criteria), usually only several hundred are actively reviewing for any given film. 

Many times, it’s much less. And Top Critics are counted with a separate score. So while the the Rotten Tomatoes rating system is really just general consensus, you can see some of the more renowned critics in a different space.

But it’s not just about the critics! You also get a fully rounded out review because you can also see how the audience feels. 

What is the Tomatometer?

Popcorn rating explained, rotten tomatoes audience score.

This is a great feature of the site because it provides information from everyday moviegoers but also gives you some insight to see how close this score is to the critics’ scores. It can help you gauge if it’s truly a must-see or probably-pass. And it’s calculated similarly to critic reviews.

The Audience Score is designated by a popcorn bucket.

The score is the percentage of users who have rated the movie or show positively. There is also a section for Verified Ratings which includes those that have actually bought tickets. 

To receive a full popcorn bucket , at least 60% of users give a film or show a star rating of 3.5 or higher.

A tipped over popcorn bucket indicates that less than 60% of users have given it a 3.5 or higher. 

The most interesting finds are the ones that have a green splat for critics, and a full bucket of popcorn from the audience. 

While it’s rarely ever vice-versa, it happens, and it’s then when Rotten Tomatoes ratings may seem more subjective, and we wonder if the system works. And while reviews are opinion to some extent, the site boasts something called Certified Fresh, which brings a little more objectivity to the critique. 

Audience Score Breakdown

Certified rotten tomatoes score, what is certified fresh.

What does Rotten Tomatoes mean by Certified Fresh?

If a film or television show is awarded a Certified Fresh status, it’s being acknowledged that it’s met these requirements:

• It has at least five reviews from Top Critics
• A steady Tomatometer score of at least 75%
• Limited release films must have at least 40 reviews
• Wide release films must have at least 80 reviews
• TV shows are eligible by season and must have at least 20 reviews per season

Of course these stats could fluctuate, especially within the first few days or weeks of a film’s release. If it meets these requirements, it is automatically flagged for review.

When the Rotten Tomatoes staff can determine the movie or show is unlikely to fall below these numbers, it achieves its Certified Fresh status.

Similarly, if the Tomatometer score ever falls below 70%, it will lose this status. Because the Rotten Tomatoes ratings system is so general, RT certified fresh consideration gives the site more objective credibility. 

What does Rotten Tomatoes mean for movies

Is rotten tomatoes good for movies.

So, what's the bottom line? With the movie theater business under constant assault from the rise of streaming services, audiences are less and less likely to venture out to the movies. If they do happen to make it outside the house, they'll likely be extra picky about how they spend their money.

Will they choose an "untested" wildcard movie or one that has general approval from fans and critics? The answer is self-evident. On its surface, the Rotten Tomatoes rating system and Tomatometer seem to be a legitimate resource for the discerning consumer. 

However, there is also a legitimate concern for low-budget indie movies who already have the cards stacked against them in distribution. Since they don't have the marketing budget of the Hollywood tentpoles, curious moviegoers have little else to go on besides the Tomatometer. These "little fish" movies live or die by this system, which is ultimately opinion-based and subjective.

• Best Marvel Movies So Far →
• Jack Nicholson's Best Movies →
• Best Movies of the Decade (2010-2019) →

What is a Cliche? Learn from Examples

If you’re a filmmaker or just love the movies, using cliches are a sure fire way to get awarded a nice big green splat, or a tipped over popcorn bucket.  Next up, are some examples of these tired situations and ways to avoid them.

Up Next: Cliche explained →

Showcase your vision with elegant shot lists and storyboards..

Create robust and customizable shot lists. Upload images to make storyboards and slideshows.

Learn More ➜

• Pricing & Plans
• Product Updates
• Featured On
• StudioBinder Partners
• The Ultimate Guide to Call Sheets (with FREE Call Sheet Template)
• How to Break Down a Script (with FREE Script Breakdown Sheet)
• The Only Shot List Template You Need — with Free Download
• Managing Your Film Budget Cashflow & PO Log (Free Template)
• A Better Film Crew List Template Booking Sheet
• Best Storyboard Softwares (with free Storyboard Templates)
• Movie Magic Scheduling
• Gorilla Software
• Storyboard That

A visual medium requires visual methods. Master the art of visual storytelling with our FREE video series on directing and filmmaking techniques.

We’re in a golden age of TV writing and development. More and more people are flocking to the small screen to find daily entertainment. So how can you break put from the pack and get your idea onto the small screen? We’re here to help.

• Making It: From Pre-Production to Screen
• TV Script Format 101 — Examples of How to Format a TV Script
• Best Free Musical Movie Scripts Online (with PDF Downloads)
• What is Tragedy — Definition, Examples & Types Explained
• What are the 12 Principles of Animation — Ultimate Guide
• What is Pacing in Writing — And Why It’s So Important
• 65 Facebook
• 3 Pinterest
• 32 LinkedIn

Popcornflix Review 2023: Everything To Know About the Free Streaming Service

• Streaming TV

With Popcornflix , the promise is that “no movie is more than two clicks away.”

For an on-demand streaming service that does not charge a subscription fee, that might be enough to get your attention in 2023.

But in a market that has giants like Amazon ( Freevee ), FOX ( Tubi TV ) and Paramount ( Pluto TV ) competing for market space, does the promise of free movies just a couple of clicks away do enough to attract users?

It certainly is worth finding out.

Table of Contents

What is popcornflix, how to watch popcornflix.

• Content Available on Popcornflix

User Experience With Popcornflix

• Final Thoughts

Team Clark loves saving money, and free streaming services are a great way to get your entertainment fix on a budget. But not all free streaming services are created equal. In an effort to help you understand your options in the space, we are reviewing many of the popular options.

For the purposes of this review, I installed the Popcornflix on my Android phone, iOS tablet and Roku streaming player. I also consumed the content through my laptop’s web browser. I’ve tested out each of these means of using Popcornflix with the hope that my experience will help you decide if it’s worth a try for you.

This review is one of many we conducted as a part of our free streaming TV series. You can learn more about our strategies for getting free streaming TV below.

Popcornflix is a free on-demand streaming service that offers movies and TV episodes without the hassle of a monthly subscription. In exchange for the free content, Popcornflix inserts advertisements into the viewing experience.

It’s a subsidiary of Screen Media Ventures , which calls itself one of the “largest independent distributors of motion pictures to the worldwide television market.”

Since there is no charge to watch the content on Popcornflix, the sign-up process is extremely simple. The service is also available on a wide variety of platforms, so you shouldn’t have much trouble finding a way to consume it.

Signing Up Is Optional

You don’t have to sign up for an account with Popcornflix to enjoy the free content. That means there’s no need to share personal information like your home address or a credit card number.

However, Popcornflix does offer the ability to create a personalized account on its platform. On the phone app, you may be prompted to sign up for an account, but the option to skip the process is located in the top right corner of the screen.

Signing up for a free account requires providing an email address, but that’s pretty much it. You aren’t even prompted for your name. Signing up allows you to fine-tune your streaming experience, rate content and do some interactive things like creating GIFs based on what you’re viewing.

Devices and Apps

You can watch films and TV shows directly from the Popcornflix website . There are also phone and tablet apps available in the Google Play Store (Android) and Apple App Store (iOS).

You can stream Popcornflix on the following devices:

• Amazon Fire TV
• Android phones and tablets
• iOS phones and tablets

Content Available To Stream on Popcornflix

If you’re looking for big-name new releases and original content that will be talked about over the water cooler at work, you’re likely to be disappointed by Popcornflix. It is not a realistic Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video or Disney+ alternative or replacement.

On the bright side, there is plenty of recognizable content that comes without a monthly bill.

Popular Movies

There are recognizable names attached to the content available on Popcornflix. From movies created by the likes of Martin Scorsese and Stephen King to films featuring Hollywood stars such as Matt Damon, Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio, there is no shortage of A-list celebrities. However, the options are not necessarily the top performances from some of those stars, and the content is a bit dated. This is a common give-and-take in the free streaming market.

Here’s a look at some of the movies available for free through Popcornflix as of March 2023:

• A Boy and His Dog
• American Conjuring
• Citizen Soldier
• Demon Warriors
• House Shark

Films such as What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Major League, The Bad News Bears and The Rainmaker previously were featured by the service.

Popular TV Series

I found the selection of television series to be a little underwhelming. Some of the top titles available — such as Forensic Files and Bonanza — are also available on competing free streaming services. The catalog is dated and not very deep.

Here’s a sampling of the TV series available for streaming:

• Archie Bunker’s Place
• Detective McLean
• 21 Jump Street
• Forensic Files
• The Legend of Zelda
• Ghosthunters

Shows such as Roseanne, Queer as Folk, Popeye and The Man Show previously were featured on the service.

Original Content

In the past, Popcornflix has featured a content section for “Popcornflix Originals”. That is no longer a featured section on the app, perhaps indicating that it is no longer an emphasis for the platform.

Still, some of the content featured in that section remains. This includes a list of movie titles that star some recognizable names, such as funnyman Keegan-Michael Key, Luke Wilson and Helen Hunt.

Here are some of the original titles:

• The Origins of Alien
• Wonders of the Sea
• Adult Life Skills
• Teacher of the Year

Now that you have a better idea of the type of free content that is available on Popcornflix, I want to go over the user experience.

How Bad Are the Ads?

Since the platform is free, expect Popcornflix to make up for it with frequent commercial breaks to generate advertising revenue.

I watched Major League, which is just shy of two hours long, via the Popcornflix Roku app so that I could better understand the user experience with ads. I found it to be a mixed bag.

After a single advertisement before the movie began, I was able to watch more than 20 minutes of the film without interruption. That was nice. However, as you can see from the screenshot above, I was then fed a steady diet of commercial breaks for the duration of the movie. All told, I sat through 10 ad breaks while watching the movie.

On the Roku device, it took the app several seconds to load a commercial break. I counted roughly 15 seconds of delay in a few instances. While that may seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, it is an added annoyance and time-waster during the mandatory commercial experience.

There were usually five ads per break, with total time away from the show ranging between two and three minutes.

I encountered some interactive ads along the way, including this one from Beats by Dre that included a photo of a Roku-specific remote with options to scroll to view different colors in the company’s headphones collection.

Overall, the advertisement process for Popcornflix felt a little more cumbersome than that of competitors like Tubi TV .

User Interface

Part of Popcornflix’s pitch is that you’re never more than two clicks away from content, and it delivers on that promise. The phone and streaming device apps offer a “straight to the content” approach upon loading the home screen.

The web browser version of Popcornflix is also straightforward.

At the top of the screen, you’re able to toggle between movies and TV shows. From there, content is broken down into categories like “New Arrivals,” “Most Popular,” “Action,” “Drama,” etc. Through it all, there is a search bar in the top right corner of the screen that will allow a quick check to see if your desired content is offered by the service.

Tips for Enjoying Popcornflix

Has some of the available content caught your attention? Here are some tips for enjoying it on Popcornflix:

• Get your Indie on: Popcornflix makes a concerted effort to feature independent films, and that may be the best thing about it. You can take advantage of that and try something you’ve never seen (or heard of) before.
• Download the app:  While you’re able to watch content on your computer or TV with Popcornflix, I found that the watching experience on my phone app was clean, clear and efficient. It definitely can be an on-the-go option for travel entertainment.

Final Thoughts on Popcornflix

Still trying to decide whether or not you should add Popcornflix to your streaming portfolio? Here are some pros and cons to think over.

Popcornflix: Pros and Cons

Bottom line.

Though clearly an on-demand streaming service, Popcornflix is likely to remind you of a more traditional television viewing experience. With frequent commercials and somewhat dated content, it does not stand out against peers like Tubi TV or Vudu . That said, when the price is free and the catalog is extensive, there is really no downside to adding this product to the mix if your goal is to eliminate a cable or streaming bill altogether.

Do you have experience watching the Popcornflix streaming service? We’d love to hear your thoughts in our Clark.com community !

Our Daily Newsletter

Join more than 330,000 people who get our must-have money tips every day

Watch / Listen

Check out our top-rated money podcast.

Need money help? Call us for free advice . You can also email us .

• The Inventory

Popcorn Is a Campy Horror Movie Made for Campy Horror Movie Lovers

The 1991 meta-slasher arrives on shudder today, and it is a delight..

If you consider its plot on a bare-bones level, there’s nothing remarkable about 1991's Popcorn . It’s a slasher film that 100% adheres to the classic structure : a tragedy in the past sparks a vengeful killer in the present, who then proceeds to pick off their victims one by one. But thanks to its clever setting and its own horror-movie worship , Popcorn is so much more than that.

Related Content

Related products.

We’re first introduced to Maggie (minor scream queen Jill Schoelen, who also starred in The Stepfather and When a Stranger Calls Back ), a film student who lives with her mother (horror legend Dee Wallace , star of The Hills Have Eyes , The Howling , Cujo , Critters , and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial ) and is convinced that her eerily vivid dreams will help her write an amazing script. Then we meet Maggie’s classmates—a cornucopia of movie geeks. To raise money for their college’s film department, they decide to host a horror marathon at a long-shuttered nearby theater, featuring a trio of corny flicks that were originally released with promotional gimmicks (major hat-tip to William Castle) they’ll recreate.

Stepping in to help with this task is “the master chef of showmanship,” Dr. Mnesyne (Ray Walston, star of My Favorite Martian , Fast Times at Ridgemont High , and about a million other things), who runs a memorabilia shop and is able to supply the kids with all the rubber monsters and wacky costumes and props they’ll need. But on the big night, a killer lurks among the crowd, creatively murdering members of the group and then assuming their identities using alarmingly lifelike masks to cover up their crimes.

The niftiest aspect of Popcorn —directed by Mark Herrier and written by Alan Ormsby—is that the production actually went the distance and filmed significant portions of the movies-within-the-movie that form the backdrop for most of its action. At times, the main film cedes the entire screen to these cornball pictures , all of which would’ve been fair game for Mystery Science Theater 3000 riffage if they were actually real. There’s creature-feature Mosquito , presented in 3D with the added bonus of a giant bug that’s rigged to fly across the theater at a key moment; monster tale The Attack of the Amazing Electrified Man , for which certain seats are rigged to “shock” audience members; and The Stench , stylistically modeled after a Godzilla movie (the dubbing!) but also featuring the John Waters-esque use of “Odorama” to envelop the audience in whatever disgusting smells are depicted on-screen.

The attention to detail is admirable. And there’s a fourth movie-within-the-movie that also plays a crucial role: Possessor , which the college kids find a copy of while they’re cleaning out the theater. Fifteen years prior, its director—“head guru of this film cult back in the ‘60s”—lost his mind after audiences laughed at his self-serious avant-garde cinematic explorations. His solution to silence the haters? Film his entire script for Possessor save the last scene, which he performed live onstage instead, adding the gruesome final “gimmick” of murdering his family then setting the theater on fire, killing several audience members in the process. He died along with them... or did he? And another thing: why does Maggie’s recurring dream look exactly like Possessor ?

The mystery portion of Popcorn is absolutely not difficult to figure out. Like most slashers of the era, you will not have any trouble discerning who the killer is, and even if you have any confusion as to their motivation (you won’t), they get a big scene at the end where they explain everything . The fun here is the general air of goofballery that envelops the entire movie. The characters are all one-note—the only person who gets anything resembling an arc is Maggie’s boyfriend, played by Derek Rydall (star of another slasher from the same era I also highly, highly recommend : Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge ) — but they’re likable all the same, with Tom Villard (Grease 2) and Kelly Jo Minter (A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child) among them.

And what’s more, you can’t help but love the rowdy audience that settles in for the horror marathon wearing all manner of Halloween-costume finery. They eat up all the movies and the gimmicks with hooting excitement, they enthusiastically take a dance break when the theater loses power, and they even stay through the end to witness the killer get their just desserts. Popcorn ’s by no means a masterpiece—not even among its slasher kin—but it is absolutely an earnest love letter to midnight movie madness.

Popcorn arrives on Shudder today, May 9.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel and Star Wars releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV , and everything you need to know about House of the Dragon and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power .

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy . We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

‘The Fall Guy’ Review: Ryan Gosling Serves Up Another Giddy Example of Popcorn Filmmaking at its Most Cheerful and Enthusiastic

• Share on Facebook
• Share to Flipboard
• Share on LinkedIn
• Show more sharing options
• Submit to Reddit
• Post to Tumblr
• Print This Page
• Share on WhatsApp

At this year’s Academy Awards , “ The Fall Guy ” stars Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt presented a video tribute to stunt performers that included clips ranging from the silent era up through recent action juggernauts like “RRR” and the “Fast & Furious” series. It was a step forward for a group whose contributions are frequently undervalued despite, as Blunt put it, “risk[ing] life and limb” for cinema. And yet, the segment didn’t come with an award attached. 

Although its roots are in the ‘80s, “The Fall Guy” feels very connected to contemporary Hollywood. There’s also a bit where Gosling’s character, washed-up stuntman Colt Seavers, walks onto the set of the movie that’s hopefully about to revive his career and is asked to step into a booth so his face can be scanned and used in perpetuity — a key sticking point in last year’s SAG-AFTRA strike. The technology is used for evil here, of course, in a movie that preaches below-the-line solidarity and the triumph of pluck and talent over money and ego. 

Love is also a powerful force in this film. It’s what drives Colt to return to stunt work after 18 months of painful rehabilitation in the wake of a near-fatal on-set accident depicted in the opening sequence: When producer Gail (Hannah Waddington) calls Colt, now working as a valet, to persuade him to come back to filmmaking, she tells him that the film’s director, Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt), asked for him specifically.

The humor in “The Fall Guy” is silly, which consistently works; Jody’s “big break” is directing a sci-fi epic called “Metalstorm,” and Lietch and company have a lot of fun playing with the film-within-a-film’s alien costumes. And the story is very self-aware, which mostly works. At times, the movie’s nods to its own structure — a bit of self-affirmation from screenwriter Drew Pearce, perhaps? — are charming, like a segment where Colt and Jody discuss the thematic uses of split screen over the phone. They’re in different locations, but share the screen thanks to the use of a classic technique — guess which one. Others, like the meta arc of Colt and Jody discovering the power of love while shooting a film about the power of love, can tip over from clever into cheesy. 

At the film’s world premiere at SXSW , Gosling was very open about not doing his own stunts for “The Fall Guy,” a fact he presented with the self-deprecating charm that’s become his signature. And there are times when the movie coasts on Gosling’s aw-shucks charisma — which is fine, honestly, because he’s got enough of it to power three films like this one. And he’s not the only one with star power in this movie: Blunt rises to the occasion as both a romantic and comedic lead, and Winston Duke, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Stephanie Hsu all shine in supporting roles. 

This is popcorn filmmaking at its most cheerful and enthusiastic, driven by cheeky needle drops (the KISS disco hit “I Was Made for Loving You” serves as an unofficial theme song), rousing action, and movie stars. It might not give Hollywood power players any more respect for the contributions of stunt performers and coordinators, but it does put a romantic spin on their work that will continue the public’s love affair with the profession. It also ensures that we’ll continue to see a lot of Ryan Gosling in the coming months, which is never a bad thing. 

Most Popular

You may also like.

Popcorn (1991)

• User Reviews

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews

• User Ratings
• External Reviews
• Metacritic Reviews
• Full Cast and Crew
• Release Dates
• Official Sites
• Company Credits
• Filming & Production
• Technical Specs
• Plot Summary
• Plot Keywords
• Parents Guide

Did You Know?

• Crazy Credits
• Alternate Versions
• Connections
• Soundtracks

Photo & Video

• Photo Gallery
• Trailers and Videos

Related Items

• External Sites

Related lists from IMDb users

Recently Viewed

Thanks For Rating

Reminder successfully set, select a city.

• Nashik Times
• Aurangabad Times
• Badlapur Times

You can change your city from here. We serve personalized stories based on the selected city

• Edit Profile
• Briefs Movies TV Web Series Lifestyle Trending Medithon Visual Stories Music Events Videos Theatre Photos Gaming

Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover share a cute playtime video with their munchkin Devi - WATCH

Nayanthara to replace Kareena Kapoor Khan in Yash's 'Toxic' - Here's what we know

Suhana Khan reveals she has broken up in a new video; check out Shweta Bachchan Nanda’s reaction

From Shah Rukh Khan to Amitabh Bachchan: Bollywood stars and their first earnings

Janhvi Kapoor offers guests to stay at Sridevi's Chennai home for free, urges fans 'Please don’t steal anything'

Shah Rukh Khan reveals KKR players Andre Russel and Rinku Singh share a ‘strong bond’: ‘It is Jai-Veeru friendship’

• Movie Reviews

Movie Listings

The Sabarmati Report

Desh Ke Gaddar

Auron Mein Kahan Dum T...

Main Ladega

Rosy Maam I Love You

The Legacy Of Jineshwa...

Luv You Shankar

Mamu Makandaar

​Best saree looks of Genelia​

Aditi Rao Hydari to Malavika, best photos of the week

Captivating elegance: Helly Shah shines in stunning portraits

Get inspired by Samyuktha's fashionable looks!

Nabha Natesh Shows How to Flex in Both Bold and Candid Looks

10 must-watch Mahesh Babu movies now streaming on OTT platforms

Lovely clicks of Aparna Das

Inside Ram Charan's lavish life style; here are some of the most expensive things owned by the 'RRR' actor

​Sherin Shringar dazzles in traditional yet trendy attire​

​Elegant Styles of Surya Sivakumar​

Pyar Ke Do Naam

WOMB: Women Of My Billi...

Do Aur Do Pyaar

Kaam Chalu Hai

LSD 2: Love Sex Aur Dho...

The Idea of You

The Fall Guy

Late Night With The Dev...

Challengers

Ghostbusters: Frozen Em...

The Book Of Clarence

Aranmanai 4

Ninnu Vilaiyadu

Kurangu Pedal

Finder: Project 1

Vallavan Vaguthadhada

Pon Ondru Kanden

Malayalee From India

Pavi Caretaker

Varshangalkku Shesham

The Goat Life

Jananam 1947 Pranayam T...

Manjummel Boys

Avatara Purusha 2

Chow Chow Bath

Hide And Seek

Somu Sound Engineer

Bonbibi: Widows Of The ...

Pariah Volume 1: Every ...

Shri Swapankumarer Bada...

Manush: Child of Destin...

Bogla Mama Jug Jug Jiyo

Sarabha: Cry For Freedo...

Zindagi Zindabaad

Maujaan Hi Maujaan

Chidiyan Da Chamba

White Punjab

Any How Mitti Pao

Gaddi Jaandi Ae Chalaan...

Buhe Bariyan

Swargandharva Sudhir Ph...

Naach Ga Ghuma

Juna Furniture

Alibaba Aani Chalishita...

Aata Vel Zaali

Shivrayancha Chhava

Devra Pe Manva Dole

Dil Ta Pagal Hola

Ittaa Kittaa

Jaishree Krishh

Bushirt T-shirt

Shubh Yatra

Your Rating

Write a review (optional).

• Movie Reviews /

Would you like to review this movie?

Cast & Crew

Popcorn Movie Review : Avika Gor and Sai Ronak impress, but the corn kernel did not pop

• Times Of India

Popcorn - Official Trailer

Popcorn | Song - Madhi Vihangamayye (Lyrical)

Popcorn | Song - Ringu Ringu Mantu

Popcorn | Song - Siri Siri Muvva (Lyrical)

Users' Reviews

Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive . Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.

RakHesh Reddy 408 days ago

time bokka movie

Neeli Hemanth 440 days ago

Visual stories.

Entertainment

​Best saree looks of Srithika Saneesh​

Alaya F exudes charm in tangerine bodycon dress

8 ways to add Pudina to your daily diet

Kaali Mirch Benefits: 10 healthy reasons to sprinkle black pepper on your food

Kareena Kapoor's timeless grace in ivory anarkali suit will leave you spellbound

Neena Gupta's Bihari Lauki Jaabar is perfect for gut health and weight loss

Best style moments from the OTT series Heeramandi

14 baby names that bring luck to the family

News - Popcorn

Deepti Sati’s latest photoshoot is all things drama, bu...

Suniel Shetty showers praise on 'Gadar 2', OMG 2' and '...

Vicky Kaushal reveals Katrina Kaif holds a budget meeti...

Priyanka Chopra calls Nick Jonas 'babu' as they make so...

Beyond popcorn: The evolution of cinema food

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Get reviews of the latest theatrical releases every week, right in your inbox every Friday.

Thanks for subscribing.

Please Click Here to subscribe other newsletters that may interest you, and you'll always find stories you want to read in your inbox.

Popular Movie Reviews

Prasanna Vadanam

Tillu Square

Family Star

Om Bheem Bush

Ooru Peru Bhairavakona

• Web Stories
• Collections
• Prasanna Vadanam Movie Review
• Aa Okkati Adakku Movie Review
• Sabari Movie Review

Popcorn Movie Review & Rating

• March 31, 2023 / 04:56 PM IST

Cast & Crew

• Sai Ronak (Hero)
• Avika Gor (Heroine)
• Murali Gandham (Director)
• Bhogendra Gupta (Producer)
• Shravan Baradwaj (Music)
• MN Bal Reddy (Cinematography)

Popcorn, a limited-budget film starring Avika Gor and Sai Ronak as the lead pair has hit the screens today. Let’s see how it fares.

Story: Sameerana( Avika Gor) a girl who has a dream of becoming a singer accidentally crosses paths with a guitarist named Pawan( Sai Ronak) at a shopping mall. Later, the two begin their journey in a shutdown lift as strangers. Though initially, they see each other as enemies due to miscommunication, later they become good friends and eventually start liking each other. What situations make them struck in the lift? How will they come out of the dangerous situation? What is the backstory behind Sameerana’s passion for becoming a singer? To know that, you have to watch the film in the cinemas near you.

Performances: As usual, Avika Gor is cute in her modern girl look. Her acting and the way she carried the role bring weightage to the proceedings to an extent. Especially, her performance during the climax portion brings emotional depth to the film.

On the other hand, Sai Ronak is fine in his role as a guitarist. His performance as a modern-day boy is good. He perfectly fitted into the role that carries multiple emotions. The chemistry between Avika Gor and Sai Ronak is showcased in a decent manner.

As most of the film runs on the lead pair, the film hardly has scope for other artists. The lady who played Avika’s mother role did her part good. Senior artist Charuhasan is okay in his limited role.

Technicalities: The major asset of the film is the music composed by Shravan Bharadwaja. The film has half a dozen montage songs which are literally a saved grace for the audience. His fresh instrumentation brings a fresh vibe to all the songs.

MN Bal Reddy’s work as the cinematographer is visible on screen as he used good frames in the lift to showcase the lead pair nicely. His lighting setup is also impressive. Editing by KSR is okay.

Production values for this limited-budget film by Madhupalli Bhogendra Gupta of Acharya Creations, Avika Screen Creations, MS Chalapathi Raju, and Seshu Babu Peddinti are alright.

Analysis: Written and directed by Murali Naga Srinivas Gandham, Popcorn has a fresh concept that revolves around a boy and a girl who are stuck in a lift. Utilizing the point, Murali Naga Srinivas Gandham has the scope to explore the film in a decent way but totally dilutes the audience’s interest with an abrupt narrative.

His writing is poor and lacks proper character establishment scenes. The screenplay is dull and lacks effectiveness. To summarize, Popcorn has technical padding and good performances from the lead pair but struggles with the boring and uneven presentation.

Verdict: Execution syndrome!

Rating: 2/5

Click Here To Read in TELUGU

• #Bhogendra Gupta
• #MN Bal Reddy
• #Murali Gandham

Baak Movie Review & Rating!

Sabari Movie Review & Rating!

Aa Okkati Adakku Movie Review & Rating!

Prasanna Vadanam Movie Review & Rating!

Related news.

1920: Horrors of the Heart Movie Review & Rating

Balika Vadhu fame Avika Gor issues Bold Statements on Nepotism in South Industry!

Popcorn OTT Streaming Details

Popcorn Trailer: Interesting Setup Creates Curiosity

10th Class Diaries Movie Review and Rating!

Trending news.

Sukumar’s Advanced Plan for Ram Charan – Here’s the Latest Buzz

Salaar: Disaster Response on TV, What Went Wrong?

latest news

Janhvi Kapoor’s Necklace – A Hint at Relationship Status?

Sai Dharam Tej joins the election campaign trail

Anushka’s Special Day, RCB Joins the Celebration in Style

What did Manchu Vishnu learn from Akshay Kumar?

Sivam Media Banner Presents “Satya,” a Tale of Love and Sacrifice

Ask Smithsonian 2017

A Smithsonian magazine special report

ARTS & CULTURE

Why do we eat popcorn at the movies.

The movie theater’s most popular concession wasn’t always associated with the movies—in fact, it used to be explicitly banned

Natasha Geiling

Movie theater popcorn is a concession stand staple whose scent has spawned  marketing ploys  and  copycat recipes , but movie theaters haven't always been saturated with the tempting smell of salt and butter. The history of popcorn is vast, and it intersects with movies in the relatively recent past–a symbiosis of taste and place created to save the fledgling movie theater industry from near collapse during the Great Depression.

About 8,000 years ago, maize was cultivated from  teosinte , a wild grass that doesn't look much like the modern corn we know today. Popcorn–a name mostly associated with puffed kernels of corn–is actually a strain of corn, characterized by especially starchy kernels with hard kernel walls, which help internal pressure build when placed over heat. It was one of the first variations of maize cultivated in Central America. "Popcorn went north and it went south, but as far as I can see, it really only survived in South America," says Andrew Smith, author of  Popped Culture: A Social History of Popcorn . Eventually, trade and commerce brought the unique kernels northward. "Most likely, North American whalers went to Chile, found varieties of popcorn, picked them up and thought that they were cute, and brought them back to New England in the early 19th century," Smith explains.

After popcorn made its way to the eastern part of North America, it spread rapidly. Eaters found the act of popping corn wildly  entertaining , and by 1848, popcorn, the snack food, was prevalent enough to be  included in  the  Dictionary of Americanisms . Popcorn had literally exploded onto the scene and was available everywhere—especially at entertainment sites like circuses and fairs. In fact, there was really only one entertainment site where the snack was absent: the theaters.

One reason for popcorn's increasing popularity was its mobility: in 1885, the first steam-powered popcorn maker hit the streets, invented by  Charles Cretor . The mobile nature of the machine made it the perfect production machine for serving patrons attending outdoor sporting events, or circuses and fairs. Not only was popcorn mobile, but it could be mass-produced without a kitchen, an advantage that another crunchy snack—the potato chip—lacked (the earliest potato chips were made in  small batches  in kitchens, not ideal for mass snack appeal). Another reason for its dominance over other snacks was its appealing aroma when popped, something that street vendors used to their advantage when selling popcorn. Still, movie theaters wouldn’t allow the popular street snack into their auditoriums.

"Movie theaters wanted nothing to do with popcorn," Smith says, "because they were trying to duplicate what was done in real theaters. They had beautiful carpets and rugs and didn't want popcorn being ground into it." Movie theaters were trying to appeal to a highbrow clientele, and didn't want to deal with the distracting trash of concessions—or the distracting noise that snacking during a film would create.

When films added sound in 1927, the movie theater industry opened itself up to a much wider clientele, since literacy was no longer required to attend films (the titles used early silent films restricted their audience). By 1930, attendance to movie theaters had reached  90 million  per week. Such a huge patronage created larger possibilities for profits—especially since the sound pictures now muffled snacks—but movie theater owners were still hesitant to bring snacks inside of their theaters.

The Great Depression presented an excellent opportunity for both movies and popcorn. Looking for a cheap diversion, audiences flocked to the movies. And at 5 to 10 cents a bag, popcorn was a luxury that most people were able to afford. Popcorn kernels themselves were a cheap investment for purveyors, and a $10 bag could last for years. If those inside the theaters couldn't see the financial lure of popcorn, enterprising street vendors didn't miss a beat: they bought their own popping machines and sold popcorn outside the theaters to moviegoers before they entered the theater. As Smith explains, early movie theaters literally had signs hung outside their coatrooms, requesting that patrons check their popcorn with their coats. Popcorn, it seems, was the original clandestine movie snack.

Beyond wanting to maintain appearances, early movie theaters weren't built to accommodate the first popcorn machines; the theaters lacked proper ventilation. But as more and more customers came to the theater with popcorn in hand, owners couldn't ignore the financial appeal of selling the snack. So they leased "lobby privileges" to vendors, allowing them to sell their popcorn in the lobby of their theater (or more likely on a bit of street in front of the theater) for a daily fee. Vendors didn't complain about this arrangement—selling popcorn outside the theater widened their business potential, as they could sell to both moviegoers and people on the street.

Eventually, movie theater owners realized that if they cut out the middleman, their profits would skyrocket.  For many theaters, the transition to selling snacks helped save them from the crippling Depression. In the mid-1930s, the movie theater business started to go under. "But those that began serving popcorn and other snacks," Smith explains, "survived." Take, for example, a Dallas movie theater chain that installed popcorn machines in  80 theaters , but refused to install machines in their five best theaters, which they considered too high class to sell popcorn. In two years, the theaters with popcorn saw their profits soar; the five theaters without popcorn watched their profits go into the red. Eventually, movie theater owners came to understand that concessions were their ticket to higher profits, and installed concession stands in their theaters.

World War II further solidified the marriage between popcorn and the movie theaters. Competing snacks like candy and soda suffered from sugar shortages and in turn, rationing, as traditional sugar exporters like the Philippines were cut off from the United States.

By 1945, popcorn and the movies were inextricably bound:  over half  of the popcorn consumed in America was eaten at the movie theaters. Theaters began pushing advertisements for their concessions harder, debuting commercials that played before (and sometimes in the middle of) movies that enticed audiences to check out the snacks in the lobby. Maybe the most famous of these is " Let’s All Go to the Lobby ," a 40-second advertisement that debuted in 1957.

In 2000, the advertisement was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the  United States National Film Registry  due to its cultural and historical value.

But for all their marketing ploys, movie theaters saw their popcorn sales steadily decrease into the 1960s. The culprit was a new technology, the television, which lessened the need to go out to the movies. "The popcorn industry sags in the '50s as Americans begin to watch more and more television and go less and less to movie theaters," Smith says.

Popcorn wasn't widely eaten in homes, mostly due to how difficult it was to make: consumers needed a popper, oil, butter, salt and other ingredients to replicate their favorite movie theater snack at home. To ease this burden, one commercial product, EZ Pop,  marketed itself  as an all inclusive popcorn maker–simply move the container over a heat source, and the popcorn pops, completely flavored. After EZ Pop came  Jiffy Pop , a famous at-home popcorn product that used the same "all-in-one" philosophy. By making popcorn an easy-to-make snack, commercial popcorn products were able to gain a foothold in the home. In the 1970s, microwave ovens become increasingly common in homes, creating another boom for popcorn: now, families can enjoy popcorn in minutes simply by pressing a button.

As popcorn re-entered the home, traditional associations of popcorn and movies, or popcorn and entertainment, persisted. Nordmende, a German electronics company, even used popcorn to advertise its microwave, purporting it to be a " sponsor of the midweek movie ."

Nowadays, the popcorn industry attaches itself to our home movie nights in a very direct way, through commercials that directly  engage with popular films  or " movie theater " styles of microwave popcorn that market themselves as a direct replica of the beloved theater snack.

But the relationship between popcorn and the movies has changed more than the smell of a theater lobby or the at-home movie night: it's changed the popcorn industry itself. Before the Great Depression, most popcorn sold was a white corn variety–yellow corn wasn't widely commercially grown, and cost twice as much as the white variety. Movie vendors, however,  preferred yellow corn , which expanded more when it popped (creating more volume for less product) and had a yellowish tint that gave the impression of a coating of butter. People became accustomed to the yellow popcorn and would refuse to buy the white variety at markets, requesting the kind that looked like " the popcorn at the movies ." Today, white popcorn accounts for  10 percent  of commercially grown popcorn; yellow popcorn takes up almost the rest of the commercial market (with some color varieties, like blue and black, grown in negligible amounts).

Popcorn is just as economically important to the modern movie theater as it was to movie theaters of old. Patrons often complain about the high prices of movie concessions, but there's an economic basis for this: popcorn, cheap to make and easy to mark-up, is the primary profit maker for movie theaters. Movie theaters make an  estimated 85 percent profit  off of concession sales, and those sales constitute 46 percent of movie theater's overall profits.

And so the history of popcorn and the movies was written in stone—sort of. In recent years, luxury theaters have begun popping up around the country–and they're reinventing the popcorn-snack model. These theaters offer an old school approach to the movies, trying to make the experience of attending a movie theater tantamount to going to a live show (much like the earliest movie theater owners once tried to do). As Hamid Hashemi, the CEO of iPic Theaters, a luxury theater chain with nine locations, says, "Think about going to a live Broadway show—our movie theaters provide that kind of experience. The average time spent in the theater at our theaters is around four hours." iPic Theaters still provide popcorn to patrons, but their focus is on a more gourmet level of movie theater dining, offering a menu of larger, cooked items like sliders and flatbreads.

Even as the demand for luxury theaters increases, Hashemi doesn’t think popcorn will ever be phased out. "Popcorn is the cheapest thing you can make, and to a lot of people it has that ritualistic experience," he says, suggesting that for movie theater owners, a cheap snack never loses its golden appeal.  

Get the latest Travel & Culture stories in your inbox.

Natasha Geiling | | READ MORE

Natasha Geiling is an online reporter for Smithsonian magazine.

• Movie Schedules
• OTT and TV News

Most Viewed Articles

• Review : Prasanna Vadanam – Thrills to an extent
• Review : Aa Okkati Adakku – Only for a few laughs
• Pushpa 2’s first single creates a global sensation
• Review : Sabari – Lacks proper thrills
• Review : Tamannaah & Raashii Khanna’s Baak – Half-baked horror thriller
• Comedy film Madgaon Express makes its OTT debut but there is a catch
• SSMB29: SS Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu’s film to go on floors during this time
• Hari Hara Veera Mallu – Director Krish hands over the reins to Jyothi Krishna
• Buzz: Fahadh Faasil’s Aavesham to make its OTT debut on this date
• Ajay Devgn’s Shaitaan locks its OTT streaming date

Recent Posts

• సమీక్ష : “బాక్” – రొటీన్ హారర్ థ్రిల్లర్ !
• సమీక్ష : “ఆ ఒక్కటీ అడక్కు” – కొన్ని నవ్వుల కోసం మాత్రమే
• సమీక్ష : “ప్రసన్నవదనం” – కొన్నిచోట్ల ఆకట్టుకునే ఎమోషనల్ డ్రామా!

Release Date : February 10, 2023

123telugu.com Rating : 2.25/5

Starring: Avika Gor, Sai Ronak and others

Director: Murali Gandham

Producers: Bhogendra Gupta, Avika Gor, MS Chalapathi Raju, Seshubabu Peddinti

Music Director: Shravan Bharadwaj

Cinematography: MN Bal Reddy

Editor: KSR

Related Links : Trailer

Uyyala Jampala fame Avika Gor and young hero Sai Ronak starrer Popcorn released in theaters today. Avika Gor turns producer for the first time. Let’s see how the film is.

Sameerana (Avika Gor) wants to become a singer but her health condition becomes a hurdle to achieving her dream. Meanwhile, Pavan (Sai Ronak) is an enthusiastic young lad who wants to become a musician. Unfortunately, they both, who are strangers to each other, get stuck in a lift in a mall. They realise that no one is there to rescue them. What happened between them in the lift? How did the strangers get closer? Did they face any problems in the closed space? Did they come out of the lift? The main film has all the answers.

Plus Points:

Though the narrative is nothing new to movie buffs, it has an okay storyline. Some of the scenes between the lead pair Avika Gor and Sai Ronak are lovely to watch.

Actress Avika Gor, who is well known to Telugu audiences as Chinnari Pellikuthuru, looks so energetic and bubbly in this film. Besides acting, she also co-produced this film. Her acting as Sameerana is okay to watch.

Budding actor Sai Ronak chooses a different concept again. In this movie, he looks charming and also has a satisfactory screen presence. His comedy timing and energetic performance will make him get good offers in TFI.

Minus Points:

When the director wants to make a film, the story needs to be flawless and the actors, technicians and other aspects are secondary. The point of the film, two strangers getting stuck in a lift, is okay but what would make the point more interesting is the proceedings. The film falls flat at this point. The director who also penned the script failed to narrate the story engagingly.

There would have been a lot of space for comedy, emotions, romance and even a message in Popcorn if it had an engaging story and proper narration. But, many scenes, especially in the second half give one boredom as they felt repetitive.

In general, when one gets stuck in a closed space, he would panic and find ways to come out of it as soon as possible. But, the male lead in the film is super cool and doesn’t think about getting out of the lift, at least for the girl. This is one of the loopholes in the story. Also, if a lift hits the ground strongly, the things obviously scatter here and there. But, in a scene, the hero celebrates the heroine’s birthday with an undamaged cake. How is this even possible? The film has many such illogical and silly scenes.

If the writer could have concentrated more on the story, Popcorn would have become a perfect entertainer. The performances from the lead pair have gone in vain because of the shoddy story and screenplay. This kind of movie needs to have fewer songs, but Popcorn has songs which became a hurdle to the flow of the film. The runtime is a major disappointment and it could have been crisper to make the film at least an okay fare.

Technical Aspects:

Writer and director Murali Gandham also penned the dialogues for the film. Some dialogues are okay to listen to. Though his concept is fine, he failed to execute it well on screen. The cinematography by MN Bal Reddy is the only technical aspect that needs appreciation.

Shravan Bharadwaj is one of the noted music directors in the industry. But, his music for the film is unimpressive just like the story. Editor KSR could have chopped off many unnecessary scenes in both halves. Production values are just fine.

On the whole, Popcorn remains a silly and boring fare even though it has decent performances from the lead pair. The story and screenplay are the major drawbacks of the film and they made the film a below-par film. You can skip the flick this weekend.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.25/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

Click Here For Telugu Review

Articles that might interest you:

• Tillu Cube – This star heroine approached to play the lead
• Bollywood biggie to be wrapped up in record time
• Pushpa 2 to face delays in post-production
• Bold Telugu film Siddharth Roy is now streaming on this OTT platform

Ad : Teluguruchi - Learn.. Cook.. Enjoy the Tasty food

Get your popcorn, 'The Fall Guy' is reckless, bombastic fun

by RYAN PAINTER | KUTV

The Fall Guy 3.5 out of 5 Stars Director: David Leitch Writers: Drew Pearce, Glen A. Larson Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson Genre: Action, Comedy Rated: PG-13 for action and violence, drug content and some strong language

Synopsis: He’s a stuntman, and like everyone in the stunt community, he gets blown up, shot, crashed, thrown through windows and dropped from the highest of heights, all for our entertainment. And now, fresh off an almost career-ending accident, this working-class hero has to track down a missing movie star, solve a conspiracy and try to win back the love of his life while still doing his day job. What could possibly go right?

Review: Yesterday, I heard a colleague expressing her disappointment in “The Fall Guy” because it was supposed to be a romantic comedy. Expectations can be the undoing of even the best films. Yes, there is romance and comedy throughout the film, but it is fundamentally an action film that celebrates the work of stunt doubles. I’m not going to say that the story doesn’t matter. It just doesn’t matter as much as it might in a film like “Mad Max: Fury Road” where the story is paramount and the stunt work (which is some of the best you’ll ever see) is part of the world-building atmosphere that surrounds the narrative.

Ryan Gosling stars as stuntman Colt Seavers. Colt has ideas of hooking up with Emily Blunt’s camera operator Jody Moreno. When a stunt goes wrong, Colt is faced with an extended recovery time. Jody tries to be supportive. Colt just pushes her away. It is a decision he learns to regret. So, when a chance at redemption presents itself in the shape of Colt returning to stunt work on Jody’s directorial debut, he talks himself into taking another chance on love.

What follows is an outrageous amount of stunts, a lampooning of Hollywood culture and its action stars who constantly claim that they do their own stunts when they clearly do not, and a little romance on the end of a string to keep Colt chasing the carrot.

It’s almost all spectacle. Unapologetically so. Director David Leitch, who used to be a stuntman, has made what is essentially a love letter to his old profession. There’s something gleeful in all the chaos.

I love the cast. Ryan Gosling’s career trajectory has been a strange, rewarding journey. It’s hard not to be charmed by Emily Blunt. Even when I hate Aaron Taylor-Johnson, I love him. If they want him to be the next Bond, I’d be completely invested and excited to see what he could bring to the character. Great to see Teresa Palmer chew up some scenery.

Is “The Fall Guy” a great time out at the theater? Yes, it absolutely is. Sometimes making a big-dumb movie is actually a smart decision.

Advertisement

Supported by

Critic’s Pick

‘Unfrosted’ Review: What’s the Deal With Pop-Tarts?

Starring Jerry Seinfeld in his feature directing debut, “Unfrosted: The Pop-Tarts Story” is the only corporate saga whose main ingredient is high-fructose sarcasm.

• Share full article

By Amy Nicholson

Pop-Tarts were invented over four hectic months in 1964. Jerry Seinfeld has been developing jokes about them for over 10 years , first in his stand-up act, and now as a full-fledged, fully ridiculous feature comedy targeted to the audience’s sweet-and-salty dopamine receptors. “Unfrosted,” directed by Seinfeld with a script by him and longtime collaborators Spike Feresten, Andy Robin and Barry Marder, gives the comic his first-ever live action leading film role as Bob Cabana, a fictional cereal flack who revolutionizes the breakfast industry. (William Post, the real-life person who helped create Pop-Tarts, died in February at the age of 96.) Cinema has endured branded biopics on everything from Air Jordans to the BlackBerry to Flamin’ Hot Cheetos . This is the only corporate saga whose main ingredient is high-fructose sarcasm.

Should we care about the history of the Pop-Tart? Seinfeld postures that the Kellogg’s launch of a mylar-wrapped, shelf-stable, heatable pastry is a technological innovation on the scale of the space race and the Manhattan Project. One pivotal move comes when Cabana hires Donna Stankowski (Melissa McCarthy) away from NASA’s beakers of Tang. As the launch date nears, the cinematographer William Pope shoots close-ups of scorching toaster springs with the drama of a roiling booster rocket.

The film is as estranged from the facts as Pop-Tarts are from genuine fruit. Still, it’s true that Battle Creek, Mich. — “cereal’s Silicon Valley,” Seinfeld once cracked — was ground zero of a Cold War rivalry between Kellogg’s and General Foods to sell a breakfast that broke free from the need for a bowl and spoon. Here, the General Foods’ owner Marjorie Post (Amy Schumer), once the richest woman in America, swans about in jewel-toned turbans and jets off to Moscow to enlist Nikita Khrushchev (Dean Norris) in her cause. At the same time, the dimwitted head of Kellogg’s (Jim Gaffigan) allows his company to align with President John F. Kennedy (Bill Burr), Chef Boy Ardee (Bobby Moynihan), the celebrity fitness guru Jack LaLanne (James Marsden), and the early computer Univac who acts up in ways that recall Bing’s sexually charged A.I. chatbot . Things take an even darker turn with the entrance of a vengeful milkman (Christian Slater) and a threatening figure named El Sucre (Felix Solis) who’s aware that millions of dollars hinge on access to his addictive white powder.

As junk food goes, “Unfrosted” is delightful with a sprinkle of morbidity. Building on last December’s publicity stunt where an anthropomorphic Pop-Tart cooked and served itself to the Kansas State Wildcats, we’re here treated to a funeral where the deceased is given Full Cereal Honors. I will spoil nothing except to say Snap, Crackle and Pop have a ceremonial duty.

The jokes spill forth so fast that there’s no time for the shtick to get soggy. Yet, the film also crams its running time with goofy detours, like a subplot where the voice of Tony the Tiger (Hugh Grant, once again seizing any opportunity to wear a fatuous cravat) leads his fellow mascots in a rebellion. Despite all these famous faces splashing into the frame, the scene stealer is the child actor Eleanor Sweeney making her debut as an opinionated taste tester. She’s g-r-r-reat.

Unfrosted Rated PG-13 for some suggestive references and language. Running time: 1 hour 33 minutes. Watch on Netflix.

Explore More in TV and Movies

Not sure what to watch next we can help..

The Netflix stalker series “ Baby Reindeer ” combines the appeal of a twisty thriller with a deep sense of empathy. The ending illustrates why it’s become such a hit .

We have entered the golden age of Mid TV, where we have a profusion of well-cast, sleekly produced competence, our critic writes .

The writer-director Alex Garland has made it clear that “Civil War” should be a warning. Instead, the ugliness of war comes across as comforting thrills .

Studios obsessively focused on PG-13 franchises and animation in recent years, but movies like “Challengers” and “Saltburn” show that Hollywood is embracing sex again .

If you are overwhelmed by the endless options, don’t despair — we put together the best offerings   on Netflix , Max , Disney+ , Amazon Prime  and Hulu  to make choosing your next binge a little easier.

Sign up for our Watching newsletter  to get recommendations on the best films and TV shows to stream and watch, delivered to your inbox.

‘Unfrosted’: Seinfeld and friends remake the Pop-Tarts origin story

The stand-up comic directs and stars in a brand biopic spoof that includes Jim Gaffigan, Amy Schumer, Melissa McCarthy and Hugh Grant

“Unfrosted” may be the Platonic ideal of the Netflix movie: ephemeral, edible, enjoyable, forgettable.

It’s essentially Jerry Seinfeld inviting everyone in his Rolodex to come on over for an extended hang to parody the current craze for trademark biopics — you know, those corporate biographies of beloved/nostalgic brands: “Air,” “BlackBerry,” “Tetris,” “Flamin’ Hot,” et al. “Unfrosted” gives them the Mad magazine treatment — lightly roasted with a lot of nuts.

While this is hardly the real story of how Pop-Tarts were birthed upon the world by the Kellogg’s breakfast cereal company in 1964, it’s also not not the story. There was a rivalry between Kellogg’s and Post Cereals, both of Battle Creek, Mich., and there was a Marjorie Merriweather Post, a visionary business executive and one of the few female CEOs of her day. But she almost certainly did not look or act like Amy Schumer, who plays her in “Unfrosted.”

Nor was there an Edsel Kellogg (Jim Gaffigan), the hapless heir to the cornflakes empire, or a go-getter Kellogg’s product development VP named Bob Cabana (Seinfeld). And Thurl Ravenscroft, who voiced Tony the Tiger, was not a pretentious British thespian — but that hardly matters when it’s Hugh Grant in the striped suit.

Directed by Seinfeld and written by him with Barry Marder (“Bee Movie”) and “Seinfeld” scribes Spike Feresten and Andy Robin, “Unfrosted” is breezily silly stuff, very much in the star’s treehouse of early ’60s TV and pop culture references. An early scene takes place at the (fictional) Bowl and Spoon Awards — “the night that cereal salutes itself” — where Kellogg’s cleans up in such categories as “Easiest to Open Wax Bag” and “Best Use of Niacin.” But the Post CEO and her chief minion (Max Greenfield) have a breakthrough product in R&D: a jam-filled pastry called Country Squares. (That part is true, actually.) Desperate to beat Post to market, Edsel and Bob launch an effort to come up with a “breakfast dingus” of their own. (Also true, more or less.)

Melissa McCarthy is on hand as a loose-cannon breakfast scientist (not true), who brings in a crack team of celebrity “taste pilots” (didn’t happen) to help develop the rival treat; they include exercise maven Jack LaLanne (James Marsden), ice cream purveyor Tom Carvel (Adrian Martinez), bike manufacturer Steve Schwinn (Jack McBrayer) and Chef Boyardee (Bobby Moynihan). Not true x 4, but you’re getting the sense of the cheerfully crowded stateroom that is this movie. “Unfrosted” treats its cameo appearances as a game of whack-a-mole, and while there are some that are just too good to spoil, I can let on that Christian Slater is quite scary as the chief milkman enforcer for the Organized Milk cartel — this movie’s version of the Teamsters — and comedian Bill Burr as President John F. Kennedy wears his Boston accent and fraudulent toupee with civic pride.

The hit-to-miss joke ratio is decent — about three gags land for every one that gets stuck in the toaster — and the writers don’t throw away a single idea, so if the bit with the escaped sea-monkey ravioli doesn’t make you laugh, the throwaway reference to a non-sugar sweetener called Carcin-O-Sweet or the suggested cereals for the Russian market (Borscht Loops, Count Vodkula) probably will.

In their enthusiasm to skewer everyone and everything, the filmmakers sometimes push the envelope. One scene features Grant’s Thurl Ravenscroft dressed as the QAnon Shaman leading rioting cereal mascots past police barricades to stop the (FDA) certification of Pop-Tarts. Too soon? With a grimly effective Jan. 6 documentary (“The Sixth”) coming to video on demand the same day as “Unfrosted,” just maybe.

But that’s taking Jerry’s little backyard barbecue more seriously than it warrants. (That he can make a comedy this edge-free while publicly complaining that Wokeism is ruining everything is a sign we’re in worse shape than he thinks.)

Kellogg’s did eventually get Pop-Tarts to grocery stores first, where they sold out in two weeks. “Unfrosted” suggests that Nikita Khrushchev and the Cuban sugar crisis (a real thing) may have played a part. And this antic comedy confection — made with “double the sugar and triple the gluten,” to quote one of the characters — tastes g-r-r-r-reat! (Well, more like pretty good.)

PG-13. Available May 3 on Netflix. Contains some suggestive references and language. Caution: Fruit filling may be hot. 93 minutes.

Ty Burr is the author of the movie recommendation newsletter Ty Burr’s Watch List at tyburrswatchlist.com .

• From Ken Loach, master of the mundane, a portrait of hope amid despair Earlier today From Ken Loach, master of the mundane, a portrait of hope amid despair Earlier today
• ‘Unfrosted’: Seinfeld and friends remake the Pop-Tarts origin story Earlier today ‘Unfrosted’: Seinfeld and friends remake the Pop-Tarts origin story Earlier today
• A searing replay of insurrection, ‘The Sixth’ should be seen by all Earlier today A searing replay of insurrection, ‘The Sixth’ should be seen by all Earlier today

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• The Fall Guy Link to The Fall Guy
• I Saw the TV Glow Link to I Saw the TV Glow
• The Idea of You Link to The Idea of You

New TV Tonight

• Hacks: Season 3
• Star Wars: Tales of the Empire: Season 1
• Shardlake: Season 1
• The Tattooist of Auschwitz: Season 1
• A Man in Full: Season 1
• The Veil: Season 1
• Acapulco: Season 3
• Welcome to Wrexham: Season 3
• John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in LA: Season 1
• My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman: Season 4.2

Most Popular TV on RT

• Baby Reindeer: Season 1
• Fallout: Season 1
• Dead Boy Detectives: Season 1
• We Were the Lucky Ones: Season 1
• Shōgun: Season 1
• Them: Season 2
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Hacks: Season 3 Link to Hacks: Season 3
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

Star Wars TV Ranked

Netflix’s 100 Best Movies Right Now (May 2024)

Asian-American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

TV Premiere Dates 2024

6 TV and Streaming Shows You Should Binge-Watch in May

• Trending on RT
• The Fall Guy
• The Idea of You
• Best Movies of All Time
• Play Movie Trivia

Popcorn Reviews

Popcorn’s by no means a masterpiece—not even among its slasher kin—but it is absolutely an earnest love letter to midnight movie madness.

Full Review | Sep 14, 2022

The offbeat angle eventually gives way to standard slasher-film tropes. Fortunately, the movies-within-the-movie are imaginatively realized.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Sep 22, 2021

The film's metafiction and sense of intertextuality with other horror movies, as well as the genre itself, really sells the entire horrific deal.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | May 1, 2019

Popcorn has a lot going for it. There are some solid performances, the films-within-the-film are witty pastiches of sci-fi and horror of previous years, and it's all done with a good-natured sense of fun.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Oct 15, 2018

An ingenious and spoofy little shocker that with knowing affection pays tribute to irresistibly schlocky vintage exploitation pix.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 20, 2013

It is the recreation of these old horror movies that provide Popcorn with its few inspired moments... Unhappily, the real movie proceeds in the interim.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | Jun 20, 2013

Popcorn seems to be a case of too many ideas; the basic story could probably have made a very effective short.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jun 20, 2013

While it's not campy or spoofy enough to be worth its salt, this campy, spoofy horror movie shows some ingenuity and generates an occasional controllable chuckle.

Full Review | Jun 20, 2013

The plot becomes repetitive and tiresome, though the movies-within-the-movie (created by the filmmakers, rather than pulled from the film vaults) are funny.

The festival structure gives director Mark Herrier a chance to parody the delirious contrivances of '50s black and white horror to some effect, but the mock scenes are never as funny as the real thing.

It's just sad that it's not an iconic or even memorable slasher title in the sub-genre.

Full Review | Oct 12, 2012

Though it isn't even trying to scare you, this is a very nifty black-comic horror movie, one of the rare entries in the genre with some genuine wit and affection.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Sep 7, 2011

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Oct 28, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 11, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Feb 8, 2004

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jan 24, 2004

[Popcorn] is the best spoof of its kind since Alligator. It's especially funny when it allows the audience to see sequences from the movies-within-the-movie, each of which recalls some piece of cherished junk out of the 1950's or 60's.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | May 20, 2003

An underrated little horror gem. If you think you've seen all the scary movies and need a fix, give this one a try.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 8, 2002

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 25, 2002

On the whole, Popcorn is so amateurish in its development, with pseudo-hip dialogue that drops movie references every few lines, it winds up being neither scary nor funny.

Full Review | Jan 1, 2000

Advertisement

The fall guy is the perfect movie to launch the summer season, share this article.

With The Fall Guy releasing on Friday, May 3, it’s officially summer movie season. The Ryan Gosling-Emily Blunt led action rom-com isn’t just a long-overdue homage to the stunt community, it’s an homage to the film industry as a whole.

Gosling is undeniably and utterly charming as Colt Seavers, a top-of-his-game stuntman until a terrible accident turns his life upside down. Seavers gets back into the stunt world when he thinks his former love, Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt) needs him to help finish her first film as a director.

MORE:  The 10 best action movies of the 2020s so far ahead of The Fall Guy

From there, it’s just chaos as Seavers is enlisted by producer Gail (Hannah Waddingham) to help track down the movie’s star, Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), after he finds himself in some trouble.

Where The Fall Guy succeeds is in it’s cast and the action. Gosling and Blunt have incredible charisma and chemistry together, and (unsurprisingly) the film has never-ending stunt sequences that are just flat out fun to watch. Director David Leitch, who used to be a stuntman and stunt coordinator himself, took such obvious care to show the physical and emotional toll taken on the unsung heroes of the movie world.

Supporting performances from Winston Duke and Stephanie Hsu are expertly deployed, as is the introduction of Jean-Claude, the trained stunt dog that only responds to commands in French (Allons-y, Jean-Claude!).

There’s so much to like about The Fall Guy , and it’s the kind of movie that reminds you just how much fun it is to go sit in a theater, relax, eat some popcorn and let the magic flow over you.

Movie:  The Fall Guy Release Date: May 3  Director: David Leitch Stars: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Hannah Waddingham, Aaron Taylor-Johnson Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Most Popular

Every 2024 kentucky derby horse name, ranked, a brilliant video broke down what was said during the bench-clearing brawl from the rays-brewers game, the umpires incorrectly allowed the cubs' pete crow-armstrong to use his helmet to stay on the bag and mets fans were livid, tracking the top names entering the 2023-2024 women's college basketball transfer portal as march madness begins, the 11 most ridiculous horse names to ever win the kentucky derby, game wardens descend on popular bass tourney, make huge haul, 10 undrafted free agents with the best chance to catch on with their new nfl teams.

Please enter an email address.

Thanks for signing up.

Please check your email for a confirmation.

Something went wrong.

• Newsletter Email Address There was an error. Please try again. You are subscribed!
• One Simply Terrific Thing

I’ve Been Making Popcorn for Over 20 Years—THIS Is the Best Popcorn Maker

How my imaginary popcorn-popping holy grail became reality.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Wanda Abraham / Getty Images

Ever since middle school, when I discovered that bags of steamy, salty, fake-butter-infused microwave popcorn made an excellent afternoon snack, I've been hooked on popcorn. At this point in my life (several decades removed from middle school, ahem), I am fairly certain that my body is at least 73% made of popcorn.

Over the years, I’ve moved away from those bags of pre-packaged microwave popcorn and steadily worked my way through every conceivable method for popping my own, from our Simply Recipes stovetop method to all sorts of countertop gadgets that promised perfect bowls of movie theater popcorn. All of them worked fine (I stand by our stovetop method!), but I still felt like I was chasing after some imaginary popcorn-popping holy grail.

I am delighted to say that I’ve now come full circle on my popcorn journey and am back to making popcorn in the microwave—no, not the pre-packaged stuff! The best popcorn popper that I’ve ever found is the W&P Microwave Silicone Popper .

What I’m Looking For in Popcorn (And a Popcorn Popper)

My platonic ideal for popcorn is big, dry, crunchy puffs. I want those kernels fully popped and looking like exploded cotton balls. No shy, undersized, barely-popped kernels in my bowl, please.

Some of this has to do with the kind of popcorn kernels you buy, but a lot still has to do with the method of popping.

I don’t particularly like popcorn popped in oil or butter; for me, this makes a chewier, smaller puff than I prefer. I’ve had the best luck with air-popped methods, particularly popping the kernels in a brown paper lunch bag in the microwave...though this method makes less popcorn than I like, sometimes leads to scorched popcorn or singed bags, and results in a fair number of unpopped kernels.

Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Wanda Abraham / Simply Recipes

Why I Love the W&P Popper

This leads me to the discovery of the W&P Microwave Silicone Popper. I wanted something that was reusable , that made at least eight cups of popcorn , and that didn’t require oil . I also didn’t want yet another gadget taking up a ton of space in my cupboard or that I’d have to haul out every time I craved my favorite snack.

The W&P Popper is all these things.

The bowl doesn’t look that big out of the box so I was initially skeptical of its promised 9.3 cups capacity, but it did not let me down! I generally like to pop between 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup of kernels in one go, and with the W&P Popper, it’s only toward the very end that the popped popcorn starts pushing on the lid of the bowl. By that point, only a few unpopped kernels remain, so I’m never worried about making a popcorn blizzard in my microwave.

And that’s another thing: Every other method and gadget I’ve tried tends to leave a fair number of unpopped kernels. But not the W&P Popper! There are certainly a few duds at the bottom of the bowl, but overall, this popper has an enviable completion rate.

The popcorn is also exactly the way I like it. The individual pieces are fully exploded, extremely light, and supremely crunchy. I pour it into a large bowl with my favorite toppings and I’m ready to sit down to a movie.

Last but not least, this silicone kit cleans up easily and collapses down to the size of small Tupperware for easy storage. Since I’m not using oil, I usually get away with a quick rinse to remove any popcorn debris between uses and then give it a deeper clean in the dishwasher once a week.

Simply Recipes / Photo Illustrations by Wanda Abraham / Amazon

My Few Quibbles With This Popper

The W&P Popper is nearly perfect, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention a few downsides. For one thing, the silicone material is fairly floppy, which can make fitting the lid over top, removing the bowl from the microwave, and pouring (or eating) from the popper a bit of a challenge.

Second, the silicone material of the bowl gets very hot in the microwave. I use oven mitts to remove it and also when pouring, but I would not recommend younger children handling the popper without supervision .

If you want to add any toppings, you need to pour the popcorn into a separate bowl. This isn’t a deal breaker for me, but I mention it in case it is one for you!

My Perfect Bowl of Popcorn

I’ll conclude this love note to the W&P Popper with how I make my perfect bowl of popcorn. My go-to toppings are coconut oil (I use a spray), fine sea salt, and either nutritional yeast if I’m in a savory mood or this maple butter seasoning from The Spice House if I’m in a sweet mood.

I pour about a third of the popcorn from the popper into a larger bowl, spritz it with coconut oil, and sprinkle it with the salt and seasonings. Then I layer on another third and repeat, finishing with the final layer. This gives me the perfect ratio of toppings to popcorn in every bite without having to bother with tossing or drizzling.

BUY IT NOW : W&P Microwave Silicone Popper

• Most Recent

Solo Stove Launches Outdoor ‘Movie Night’: Screen Chairs, Popcorn Maker, and More

Solo Stove taps into a whole new backyard outdoor recreation experience with a suite of outdoor entertainment gear.

Share this:

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Fire pits were just the beginning. While Solo Stove first wowed us in the 20-teens with its hallmark smokeless campfire magic, it has since expanded again and again into new, loosely fire-related territory (think patio heaters , outdoor tables , and “ indoor fire bowls “).

This week, the Austin firebrand makes perhaps its most ambitious expansion yet — into the world of cinema. Solo Stove’s “ Movie Night ” bundles have fire pits as their centerpiece, but the real stars are the outdoor lounge chairs, popcorn maker, and backyard movie projector screen.

Solo Stove Movie Night Bundles

The new category comprises three different gear bundles: Feature, Premiere, and Blockbuster. The brand’s lowest-tier “starter kit” is for folks who already own a Solo Stove fire pit, or just want the basic backyard movie setup. It includes a 100-inch projector screen, popcorn maker, and two lounge chairs. The Feature Bundle costs $500.

The brand’s custom-made popcorn maker includes a long hand extension and vented lid to cook over an open flame.

Solo Stove’s Lounge Chairs are weather-resistant, padded yard chairs. They measure 83.25 inches long and have a prop-up back that will stand 23.5 inches high. The chairs can also lie flat. Meanwhile, the Projector Screen stands 76.25 inches high and spans 90.15 inches across. It weighs about 15.5 pounds.

For those who need to build a full Solo Stove-based experience, the Premiere and Blockbuster bundles build on the Feature kit with the inclusion of a fire pit. The Premiere bundle includes everything in the Feature Bundle and adds the choice of a Ranger, Bonfire 2.0, or Yukon fire pit (with lid and stand). It retails between $800 and $1,100 depending on the fire pit.

And the big daddy, the Blockbuster Bundle, includes everything the Premiere does, along with a three-pack of Mesa Tiki Torches. The Blockbuster Bundle sells for $990-1,290. Adding to the pizazz, both the Premiere and Feature Bundle fire pits come in eight different color options.

The projector (and movie selection) are up to you. But if you’ve got a great yard for family and friend hangouts, head over and check out Solo Stove’s Movie Night Bundles to learn more.

Adam Ruggiero is the Editor in Chief of GearJunkie and host of the GearJunkie Podcast. He cut his teeth as a freelancer, and then news reporter for the site in 2015.

Along with founder Stephen Regenold and Editorial Director Sean McCoy, Ruggiero graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Journalism. He was the recipient of the 2022 Outdoor Media Summit “Editor of the Year” award, and regularly co-hosts the industry’s “Gear Guide” at both summer and winter Outdoor Retailer trade shows.

In addition to accurate and impartial news reporting, and compelling, original storytelling, his interests include camping in all climates and conditions, track cycling and bikepacking, all forms of fitness, the resplendent majesty of coffee, and sports of every kind.

Follow Us On

Subscribe Now

Get adventure news and gear reviews in your inbox!

Join Our GearJunkie Newsletter

Gear Top Stories Deals