AMC Unveils Two-Headed Sandworm Bucket for 'Dune: Part Three'

By Tom Whitfield

AMC Theatres has released two collectible popcorn buckets for "Dune: Part Three," including a Double Sandworm design with two worm heads — and the chain's chief expects themed buckets to gross more than $100 million this year.

The second design, the "Sandworm Thumper" bucket, features a "working Thumper design." In the franchise's lore, Fremen warriors plant Thumpers in the desert sand to summon sandworms from beneath the surface. AMC has also announced a light-up cup. The company has not disclosed pricing; comparable buckets have typically sold for around $25.

Why the designs are drawing attention

Both buckets resemble adult toys, a resemblance widely noticed when the first sandworm bucket appeared. "Saturday Night Live" parodied the earlier design in a sketch in which a teenage moviegoer, looking at the sandworm's gaping mouth, thought about something other than popcorn.

AMC appears to have leaned in rather than retreated. The company said the Double Sandworm bucket suits couples because it is "easier to share popcorn."

What does this change for AMC?

The collectibles have become a genuine revenue line, not a gimmick. CEO Adam Aron projects more than $100 million in themed-bucket sales this year — real money for a chain still working its way back from pandemic-era losses. AMC has released collectible buckets timed to "The Devil Wears Prada 2" and "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," but executives concede the stakes are highest with "Dune."

"The AMC Sandworm popcorn bucket for 'Dune: Part Two' became a viral phenomenon, and we knew that 'Dune' fans would have high expectations for what came next," said Hank Green, AMC's senior VP of food and beverage. "From the moment we started planning the 'Dune: Part Three' collectibles, our goal was to exceed those fan expectations. The Sandworm Thumper and Double Sandworm collectibles take the experience to the next level with designs straight from the movie."

Note what that statement does not include: any price, release date for the buckets themselves, or sales target for the new designs specifically. The $100 million figure covers themed buckets across the year, not this pair alone.

The film behind the merchandise

"Dune: Part Three" opens December 18, 2026. Director Denis Villeneuve returns, along with franchise stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya and Rebecca Ferguson.

The original bucket went viral partly through mockery; the sequel designs seem built to invite more of it. Whether that translates into sales at the $25 price point — or simply another round of memes — will become clear when the buckets reach concession stands ahead of the December 2026 release.