Top 5 go-to snacks of avid film watchers

Whether you prefer watching movies at the theater or streaming them from home, I’m sure that we can all agree that you can’t watch a movie on an empty stomach. I know I don’t! So I’ve curated a selection of snacks that’ll keep you satisfied, not stuffed, as you enjoy your movie(s).

1. Popcorn

When I think of movie theaters—or movies in general—a large bucket of freshly popped popcorn comes to mind. Society has conditioned us to make that connection. Did you know that the practice of selling popcorn in movie theaters started because of the Great Depression? To cut costs and keep their businesses afloat, theaters opened their own concession stands and popcorn has been a movie-watching staple ever since. However, we’ve come a long way since the 1930s with the creation of several popcorn flavors to snack on. Some of the most popular flavors are white cheddar, caramel corn, sea salt (replacing butter), kettle corn, cheddar cheese, and turtle (containing a mix of pecans, chocolate, and caramel). Despite all these tasty flavors, I think that you can’t go wrong with the original buttered popcorn.

2. Candy

Something that movie-watchers often eat alongside popcorn is candy! Although I’m not much of a candy-eater, it is essential to eat something sweet or sour to balance out the saltiness of popcorn. Peanut, milk chocolate, and almond M&Ms are often a popular chocolate candy offered alongside Snickers, Reese’s Pieces and Peanut Butter Cups, Kit Kats, and Hershey’s Kisses and Milk Chocolate Bars. Movie-watchers also enjoy Twizzlers, Starburst, Nerds, Jolly Ranchers, and Skittles. Some highly-rated gummy candy choices include Haribo’s Goldbears, Sour Patch Kids, Trolli Sour Brite Crawlers, Swedish Fish, AirHeads Xtreme Bites, and World’s Best 12 Flavor Gummi Bears.

3. French Fries

If you’re looking for something more filling than popcorn and candy, French fries will hit the spot. There are all sorts of French fries to choose from: classic fries, sweet potato fries, waffle fries, curly fries, cottage fries, potato wedges, seasoned fries, garlic fries, chili cheese fries, polenta fries, and cheese fries. Once condiment choice is considered, the elements become endless. Some of the obvious choices include ketchup, mustard, vinegar, mayonnaise, and barbecue sauce.

4. Pretzels

Believe it or not, pretzels are actually a go-to snack for some movie watchers. I can see the appeal of wanting an equally salty and crunchy alternative to popcorn. They’re easy to procure at home and customize by covering them in yogurt or melted chocolate. Hey, it’s something light that won’t have you leaving your seat prematurely to use the bathroom.

5. Trail Mix

I was surprised to see this as a popular movie snack, considering that people often bring trail mix with them on hikes, but to each their own. Another alternative to popcorn, it is a healthy snack that is as salty and crunchy as you want it to be. It consists of granola, dried fruit, seeds, nuts, and some optional ingredients: candy, popcorn, cereal, chocolate, chips, pretzels, spices, and seasoning. Mix and match to find the perfect combination for you!