Kansas City’s AMC Theatres brings its movie theater popcorn to local Walmart stores

AMC Theatres is making a bet that movie fans will want to enjoy its popcorn from home, and it’s kicking things off the day before the Oscars.

Beginning Saturday, the Leawood-based chain will roll out its line of microwave and ready-to-eat popcorn at several Kansas City-area Walmart locations. The products will be featured on end cap displays just in time for Sunday’s Academy Awards.

The world’s largest movie theater chain, AMC in 2021 began selling popcorn for delivery and takeout at some kiosks and stores. But the deal with Walmart will make its popcorn more ubiquitous than ever.

AMC says six-packs of its microwave popcorn will sell for $4.98 before tax at Walmart. Bags of ready to eat popcorn will retail for $3.98. Both are available in classic butter, extra butter and lightly salted varieties.

Adam Aron, the chief executive of AMC who kept the company afloat during the pandemic, said the retail line is just the latest innovation from the chain that has introduced power-recliner seats, enhanced food and beverage choices and new loyalty and subscription programs for customers.

The company also recently announced a plan to base ticket prices on where you sit in the theater, a change criticized by some.

“And with popcorn now hitting shelves, we remain focused on future innovations that will continue to surprise and delight movie lovers and our shareholders,” Aron said in a news release.

AMC officials say the popcorn line will be available in select Walmart stores Saturday. The company’s website shows availability at locations in Overland Park, South Kansas City, Gladstone and Kansas City, Kansas.

In the coming weeks, AMC expects the line to hit the shelves at more than 2,600 Walmart locations and online at walmart.com.