Cinemark and Lowe’s Build Upon Fan-Favorite Bring Your Own Bucket Event With Two-Day National Popcorn Day Celebration in U.S. Theaters

PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 2, 2026--

Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK), one of the largest and most influential theatrical exhibition companies in the world, is building on last year’s viral National Popcorn Day event by teaming up with Lowe’s for a two-day Bring Your Own Bucket celebration on Jan. 18 and 19 (National Popcorn Day), inviting guests to bring in their own container to fill with up to 400 ounces of popcorn for just $5. With social sweepstakes, discounts on gift cards and special beverages, plus $5 all size popcorns for those without their own bucket, this year’s celebration will be the ultimate experience for popcorn lovers across Cinemark’s more than 300 U.S. theaters. Full details are available at Cinemark.com/popcornday.

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“Last year’s Bring Your Own Bucket event for National Popcorn Day reimagined what this holiday could be for all movie-popcorn lovers, as people showed incredible creativity with their vessels and made the celebration truly unforgettable for both guests and our theater teams,” said Wanda Gierhart Fearing, Cinemark Chief Marketing and Content Officer. “This year, we are thrilled to build on that fun by teaming up with Lowe’s to make the experience even bigger and better. With two full days of festivities as well as special sweepstakes and promotions, we cannot wait to see how much this year’s celebration will heat up.”

BYOBucket – The Sequel
After a cinematic meet-cute on social media during the inaugural Bring Your Own Bucket event last year, Cinemark and Lowe’s are teaming up to take this year’s National Popcorn Day to the next level. On Sunday, Jan. 18, and Monday, Jan. 19, guests can bring any type of container – whether it’s a film-themed collectible, or an iconic blue Lowe’s 5-gallon bucket – and it will be filled with up to 400 ounces of craveable popcorn for just $5 plus tax. That is the equivalent of two XL popcorns at the concession stand. Those who bring the beloved Lowe’s buckets, available for purchase at Lowe’s stores and on Lowes.com, are exempt from the 400-ounce rule and are eligible to have their entire 5-gallon bucket filled. Food-grade bucket liners will be available upon request, and guests with the iconic Lowe’s buckets will also receive a special coupon for future popcorn cravings valid Feb. 1 through Feb. 26.

“Helpfulness is at the heart of the Lowe’s brand, and it shows up in the everyday moments customers share with family and friends — even a night at the movies,” said Jen Wilson, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Lowe’s. “Our iconic blue bucket brings utility and delight wherever it goes, including the theater. Teaming up with Cinemark is a fun, simple way to give families even more value from something they already rely on throughout the year.”

Those searching for a cinematic keepsake to commemorate the holiday will find an array of unique, attention-grabbing buckets on shop.cinemark.com. Everyone is encouraged to showcase their bucket style by tagging @Cinemark on social channels. No bucket? No problem! All sizes of Cinemark popcorn will be just $5 plus tax at all U.S. theaters for both days.

“At Cinemark, popcorn is more than just a snack, it is the star of the show,” said David Haywood, Cinemark SVP of Food and Beverage. “Last year, Cinemark theaters sold nearly 5 billion ounces of our craveable popcorn. We start with the highest-quality kernels and pop them to perfection for that irresistible crunch and flavor. On National Popcorn Day, we are celebrating the gold standard that makes every magical movie moment pop.”

While guests do not have to have a movie ticket to participate, nothing pairs better with popcorn than a captivating story unfolding on a larger-than-life screen. Visit Cinemark.com or the Cinemark app for showtimes.

Snack on Sweepstakes and Promotions
Cinemark is extending the celebration of the golden snack beyond just buckets.

From Jan. 2 through Jan. 19, everyone can test their kernel-catching skills with an online popcorn bucket fill up game at Cinemark.com/popcornday, for the chance to win free popcorn for a year. Then on Jan. 19 only, all who follow Cinemark’s official Instagram account (@Cinemark) and tag three friends in the comments of the National Popcorn Day sweepstakes post will be entered to win a free large popcorn.

Cinemark Movie Rewards members can express their love for the cinematic treat by entering a sweepstakes to win 10,000 points, which can be redeemed for golden movie tickets and heaps of delicious snacks. Members should check the rewards center for more information.

All online gift card orders will be 10 percent off on both Jan. 18 and 19, so popcorn lovers can stock up and savor every bucket for the blockbuster moments ahead.

For those that prefer their butter in drinkable form, Butter Chardonnay will be available in close to 190 Cinemark locations throughout the entire month of January.

The Cinemark Experience
Cinemark’s commitment to delivering a preeminent out-of-home entertainment experience comes to fruition through continual investment in its theaters and customer journey.

For full details about the Cinemark moviegoing experience, visit Cinemark.com or download the Cinemark app. Click HERE for general Cinemark images and b-roll.  

About Cinemark Holdings, Inc.
Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK) provides extraordinary out-of-home entertainment experiences as one of the largest and most influential theatrical exhibition companies in the world. Based in Plano, Texas, Cinemark makes every day cinematic for moviegoers across nearly 500 theaters and more than 5,500 screens, operating in 42 states in the U.S. (304 theaters; 4,249 screens) and 13 South and Central American countries (193 theaters; 1,395 screens). Cinemark offers guests superior sight and sound technology, including Barco laser projection and Cinemark XD, the world’s No. 1 exhibitor-branded premium large format; industry-leading penetration of upscale amenities such as expanded food and beverage offerings, Luxury Lounger recliners and D-BOX motion seats; top-notch guest service; and award-winning loyalty programs such as Cinemark Movie Club. All of this creates an immersive environment for a shared, entertaining escape, underscoring that there is no place more cinematic than Cinemark. For more information, visit https://ir.cinemark.com.

About Lowe’s
Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 100 home improvement company serving approximately 16 million customer transactions a week, with total fiscal year 2024 sales of more than $83 billion. Lowe’s employs approximately 300,000 associates and operates over 1,700 home improvement stores, 530 branches and 130 distribution centers. Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing, improving community spaces, helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts and providing disaster relief to communities in need. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

Cinemark expands Bring Your Own Bucket National Popcorn Celebration to two days Jan. 18 & 19.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made her first known visit to a sacred family mausoleum, a step that experts say bolstered her status as her father's potential heir.

The visit, which occurred on New Year’s Day on Thursday, even sparked speculation that the girl, reportedly named Kim Ju Ae and aged about 13, could be named a high-level official at the upcoming ruling Workers’ Party congress.

Images carried by North Korea’s state media on Friday showed Kim Ju Ae standing in the front row with her parents and deeply bowing at Pyongyang's Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang, where the embalmed bodies of her late grandfather and great-grandfather are on display.

The palace is “a place that symbolizes legitimacy of the North Korean regime” and her visit there ahead of the Workers' Party congress is a politically orchestrated move, said Cheong Seong-Chang, deputy head of the private Sejong Institute in South Korea.

Kim Jong Un, 41, is the third generation of his family to rule North Korea since the country's foundation in 1948. He often marks key state anniversaries by visiting the Kumsusan palace and paying respect to his father Kim Jong Il and grandfather Kim Il Sung.

Cheong predicted that Kim Jong Un could give his daughter the first secretary post at the Workers' Party, the party's No. 2 job, at the congress. Other experts say she is too young to accept such a high-profile post and might be provided with lower-level jobs.

The congress, the first of its kind in five years, is meant to establish new priorities in state policies and reshuffle officials. North Korea hasn't said when it will hold it, but the National Intelligence Service, South Korea's spy agency, said it likely will be held either in January or February.

Since first appearing in state media in November 2022, Kim Ju Ae has accompanied her father at a slew of events including military parades and missile launches. In September, Kim Jong Un brought her on his trip to Beijing. During New Years' Day celebrations this week, she kissed her father on the cheek, showing their closeness.

In January 2024, the NIS said it viewed Kim Ju Ae as her father's likely heir. Some outside experts disagree with that assessment, citing Kim Jong Un’s relatively young age and the extremely male-dominated nature of North Korea’s power hierarchy. The NIS told lawmakers in November that Kim appeared to have no major health problems.

Revealing the young Kim Ju Ae was a surprise to foreign experts because neither Kim Jong Un nor Kim Jong Il were mentioned in North Korean state media before they became adults. Some observers say Kim Jong Un likely aimed to shore up public support for his plan to extend the family's rule by repeatedly disclosing Kim Ju Ae in public events.

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, leader Kim Jong Un, center right, his wife Ri Sol Ju, third left, and their daughter, center, believed to be named Kim Ju Ae, visit Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang, North Korea, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)