Irish audiences crown salty popcorn as the nation’s favourite flavour
ODEON Cinemas has revealed that Irish cinema-goers consumed an extraordinary 694,721 bags of popcorn across its cinemas nationwide in 2025, equating to 111 tonnes of the iconic movie snack. The total amount is enough to fill almost half of an Olympic-sized swimming pool, reinforcing popcorn’s place as the ultimate big-screen companion.
The figures also show that Irish customers poured a staggering 9,708 litres of butter over their popcorn last year — roughly the equivalent of 65 bathtubs — highlighting the nation’s love of indulgent cinema treats.
Salty Popcorn Takes the Crown
To mark National Popcorn Day, ODEON surveyed Irish movie fans to determine the country’s favourite popcorn flavour. The results revealed that salty popcorn reigns supreme, with 48% of respondents choosing it as their top pick. Buttery popcorn followed closely at 39%, while sweet popcorn accounted for 14% of preferences.
Ireland’s appetite for popcorn also outpaces that of the UK. New research from ODEON shows that 39% of Irish cinema guests purchase popcorn, compared to just 19% of UK customers, underlining Ireland’s strong snacking culture at the movies.
Ireland’s Love of Cheese and Cinema Snacks
The research further highlights Ireland’s fondness for cheesy cinema treats. In 2025, ODEON sold just 5 tonnes of cheese sauce across more than 100 cinemas in the UK, compared to a remarkable 29 tonnes of nacho cheese sauce sold across just 12 cinemas in Ireland.
Irish audiences are also leading the way when it comes to home delivery cinema snacks. The top three ODEON cinemas for snack delivery across the entire ODEON network are all located in Ireland. Available through Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat, popcorn remains the most popular delivery item, ahead of nachos and other cinema favourites.
50% Off Popcorn to Celebrate National Popcorn Day
To celebrate National Popcorn Day on 19 January, ODEON Cinemas is offering 50% off all popcorn sizes for one day only at participating cinemas across Ireland, giving film fans the perfect excuse to enjoy their favourite films with the nation’s favourite snack.
“Popcorn is a huge part of the cinema experience and we love seeing just how passionate Irish audiences are about it,” said Javier Perez, Marketing Coordinator at ODEON Cinemas ROI & NI. “Selling 694,721 bags of popcorn in one year is an incredible milestone, and National Popcorn Day is the perfect opportunity to say thank you to our guests with a great-value treat.”
With an exciting slate of blockbuster releases arriving on the big screen, ODEON Cinemas is inviting audiences nationwide to celebrate National Popcorn Day by grabbing a box of freshly popped popcorn and enjoying the magic of cinema.
