Popcorn, movie theater, with added butter
Common food
Photo: Wikipedia
Movie theater popcorn with added butter is a warm, salty, and indulgent snack with a fluffy yet slightly chewy texture. The kernels are coated in a rich, yellow butter-flavored topping that gives it a savory, oily sheen. It is notably high in fat, with nearly 59 grams per 100g, making it a calorie-dense treat.
Calorie split: 3% protein · 19% carbs · 78% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love movie theater popcorn for its satisfying crunch, savory buttery flavor, and its strong cultural association with entertainment and shared experiences. It's a nostalgic comfort food that enhances the enjoyment of films and social outings.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The extremely high fat and calorie content can be a concern for those managing weight or heart health, and the added butter topping is often high in sodium and saturated fats. To mitigate this, consider sharing a smaller portion, opting for a light butter or no butter option, and pairing it with a protein-rich snack like nuts or a piece of fruit to help balance blood sugar.
Key benefits
- Provides a quick source of energy from carbohydrates and fats
- Contains dietary fiber which can aid in digestion
- Offers a small amount of plant-based protein
- Can be a source of whole-grain content if made from whole kernels
- The act of eating it is often associated with social and leisure activities
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The 'butter' topping used in most movie theaters is actually a mixture of soybean oil, artificial butter flavor, and food coloring, not actual butter from a cow.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 1.6 g |
| Energy | 656 kcal |
| Protein | 5.0 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 58.8 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 31.6 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 5.4 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.29 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 8.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.6 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 59.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 137 mg |
| Potassium, K | 124 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 756 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 1.4 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.12 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 4.0 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.20 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.07 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.08 mg |
| Niacin | 0.84 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.12 mg |
| Folate, total | 9.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 9.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 9.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 13.3 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 174 ug |
| Retinol | 167 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 77.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 25.0 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 592 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 1.9 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 4.2 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 35.5 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.67 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.56 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 2.1 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 1.8 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 10.9 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 6.0 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 9.3 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 3.7 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 11.7 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.48 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 10.9 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 8.5 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 7.7 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.72 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 52.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Snacks, popcorn, oil-popped, white popcorn, salt added — USDA does not publish this profile for Popcorn.
| Tryptophan | 0.06 g |
| Threonine | 0.34 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.32 g |
| Leucine | 1.1 g |
| Lysine | 0.25 g |
| Methionine | 0.19 g |
| Cystine | 0.16 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.44 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.37 g |
| Valine | 0.46 g |
| Arginine | 0.45 g |
| Histidine | 0.28 g |
| Alanine | 0.67 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.63 g |
| Glutamic acid | 1.7 g |
| Glycine | 0.37 g |
| Proline | 0.79 g |
| Serine | 0.43 g |
FAQ
Is movie theater popcorn gluten-free?
While plain popcorn is naturally gluten-free, the butter topping and seasonings used in theaters may contain gluten or be processed in facilities that handle gluten, so it's not always safe for those with celiac disease.
How many calories are in a typical movie theater popcorn?
A medium-sized movie theater popcorn with butter can contain around 770-1,000 calories, depending on the theater and portion size.
Can I make a healthier version at home?
Yes, you can pop kernels at home using a small amount of oil or an air popper, then season with a light sprinkle of salt or nutritional yeast instead of heavy butter toppings.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 6.56 kcal/g · 3% calories from protein · 5.4 g fiber · 0.3 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 6.10 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.