The ‘Rocky’ Steps Are Now a Popcorn Bucket, and It Might Be the Ultimate Anniversary Collectible
Some movie images never fade. A boxer in a gray sweatsuit with his arms thrust skyward at the top of the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps is one of them. With the ‘Rocky’ anniversary celebration in full swing this year, the party is now heading to the concession stand.
Sylvester Stallone’s 1976 sports drama earned 10 Academy Award nominations and won 3, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Film Editing. In 2006, the Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry, calling it culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.
That legacy is now getting a very tangible souvenir. On Monday, a first look at the ‘Rocky’ Staircase popcorn bucket has been shared.
First look at the ‘ROCKY’ 50th anniversary popcorn bucket. pic.twitter.com/rXQEip0SvV
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 28, 2026
The bucket recreates the top of the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps, with a small Rocky figure in his gray sweatsuit standing at the edge with his arms raised. Popcorn fills the landing below him. It comes in a stone tan finish with a red ROCKY logo on the front and a set of steps climbing one corner, and the photos show what appears to be embossed artwork along the side.
It is not the only collectible in the lineup. Fathom Entertainment, Amazon MGM Studios and Park Circus announced 3 theatrical exclusives: the Staircase bucket, a 130 oz. round popcorn tin and a 44 oz. beverage cup.
The tin is black with a ring of stars, and giant ROCKY letters wrap around it, each filled with a blue-tinted image of Rocky celebrating on the steps. The cup has not been shown yet.
All 3 items are limited to select participating theaters nationwide. Fathom advises fans to check with their local theater for availability and possible purchase limits, and prices have not been announced. Anyone eyeing the Staircase bucket may want to call ahead, since the event only runs a few days.
The collectibles arrive alongside ‘Rocky 50’, a 4K remaster of the original film playing in theaters from Nov. 7 to 11. Tickets are on sale now. According to Fathom Entertainment, CEO Ray Nutt described the run as “a special 50-year celebration.”
The screenings also include an exclusive look at ‘I Play Rocky’, with an introduction from the cast. Directed by Peter Farrelly, the film stars Anthony Ippolito as a young Stallone and tells the story of his unshakable belief that he was meant to write the movie and play Rocky Balboa himself.
‘I Play Rocky’ premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month and held an 82% Tomatometer score as of Sept. 22. It opens in limited release on Nov. 13 and nationwide on Nov. 20. The pairing works neatly, since audiences will see the underdog story behind the film before watching the result on the big screen.
The city that made the film famous is not sitting out the celebration. The Philadelphia Visitor Center is running ‘Rocky Season’, a lineup of events that kicks off Tuesday and wraps up Dec. 3. It includes a run up the Art Museum steps, a Rocky-themed bus tour and a meat market challenge outside Reading Terminal Market.
From Sept. 30 to Oct. 3, the steps will also feature a nightly light projection honoring the anniversary from 7 to 10. There is even a challenge where participants try to beat Rocky’s 72-step climb in under 12 seconds.
Between the theatrical event, the biopic and the city-wide festivities, it is clear why a collectible built around that famous staircase is drawing attention. The DiscussingFilm post has collected 2.8K likes and 186 reposts, which suggests fans are already picturing it on a shelf.
Which Rocky 50th anniversary collectible would you want?
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