Top 10 Best Popcorn Machines for Home Theaters In 2023

It’s no secret that the popcorn at the movies is the best part of the movie experience. Melt-in-your-mouth warm, buttery, and always fresh, it is the perfect snack. When you own the best popcorn machines for home theaters, you won’t need to fork out tons of cash on movie tickets to experience this delicacy.

Nevertheless, before you run out and buy a popcorn maker, think carefully about the amount of popcorn you will be making. Most home theaters use a 4-ounce kettle that makes about 4 quarts of popcorn, but if you plan to serve a lot of people it may be a good idea to get a larger kettle that yields more popcorn in one sitting. You should also make sure it includes a popcorn warmer and storage unit so that your popcorn stays fresh between servings.

In the event you choose the countertop option, you will want to ensure that your kitchen has enough space for it. Another suitable option is a portable one. The following list of some of the best popcorn machines for home theaters in 2023 can help you narrow down your choice.

1. Presto Poplite Hot Air Popper

Our list wouldn’t be complete without showing you how to make popcorn in a totally different way. Neither stove-top kernels nor microwave nukes are involved. Air poppers use air instead of heated oil to pop kernels instead of using a hot pot. It gets extremely hot as it does this. The popcorn maker runs on an impressive 1475 Watts of energy, which produces over a gallon of popcorn in just a few minutes.

Poplite poppers are also inexpensive. Its price is about 20% less than the 1-gallon hot oil machines we reviewed. I’m not sure. Poplites and other air poppers are not without their limitations. The first is that they run extremely hot. Burns and plastic melting could be a serious safety hazard in the kitchen, and cheaper machines may burn out quicker as well.

Our observations show that popcorn produced by air poppers is drier, hotter, and tastier. Hot-oil popcorn has a tendency to be slightly denser and less burnt-tasting than conventional popcorn. The majority of people prefer oil-popped popcorn, although it can depend on individual taste.

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2. Great Northern Antique Popcorn Machine

According to what we can tell, there is not a great deal of difference between the Foundation model above and the Antique Style Popcorn Maker. There are roughly the same wattages in both machines, 850 watts, and 860 watts respectively. The second machine, which produces roughly three gallons of popcorn per batch, is an 8-ounce machine.

To make popcorn, they both use hand-tiltable hot-oil popping pots with automatic stirring mechanisms and spotlight warmers to keep it hot. These two units both have serving drawers and single, removable doors (two would be better!) for accessing the popcorn.

There are just two things to consider: the look and the size. This machine (available in red or black) has a premium powder-coated finish that uses gold instead of chrome on the framework. This machine exudes an air of classic cinema. A smaller footprint means this machine will also take up less room on your counter. The small footprint might be a big deal for the same volume of popcorn.

Obviously, to move this model around or to save counter space, you can purchase a matching cart. This popcorn machine is one of the home theater popcorn machines you can buy if you want it to look like an antique movie theater.

3. Great Northern Pop Pup Popcorn Machine

Our final and fourth review from Great Northern Popcorn Company is another smaller machine. Pop Pup is much smaller than other machines we have examined so far. This hot-oil popper produces about a gallon of popcorn from 2.5 ounces of kernels per batch.

It all depends on the dimensions of your home theater and the number of people in your family. The machine can be pre-run before a movie and still make more than enough popcorn to feed a normal-sized family or group of friends while only taking a few minutes per gallon batch.

Pop Pup is about a third as expensive as the previous two machines, but about a third of their capacity. It’s a great choice and an excellent investment for smaller home theaters. It looks cool and retro as well, and with its Art Deco design, it will surely be a talking point in any room you place it.

The negative aspect of this machine is that it has some plastic components. As opposed to the previous models from Great Northern, we are concerned that these plastic parts could result in failures down the road.

4. Elite Gourmet Kettle Popcorn Popper Machine

We now move on to machines developed by other companies. You can find a variety of popcorn machines from Great Northern Popcorn, but it’s not the only option available.

The Pop Pup isn’t the only machine by Elite Gourmet in the same size range. The Kettle Popcorn Machine uses the same footprint as the Kettle Popcorn Machine and makes nearly 1-gallon batches of popcorn with 2.5 ounces of kernels.

Overall, the design is basically the same. Hot-oil pot and spotlight warmer both come with two-button control systems. The popped corn is also dropped into a plastic serving tray, which can be removed from the machine later. Prices are almost the same for both machines.

Neither of these machines can be compared to tempered glass because they are made out of plexiglass (acrylic plastic). Despite being small, they still produce about a gallon of popcorn per batch, and the spotlight warmers keep it warm while you make more.

The handle for tilting the pot was the only difference between the machines. A Pop Pup machine’s handle is placed outside, while the handle on the Elite Gourmet is located inside and within reach of the heating pot. The difference is that on larger machines, this isn’t a big deal, but here, due to the small space, we think this could result in burning.

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5. Great Northern Pop Heaven Popcorn Popper Machine

The machines that will be reviewed today will range from largest to smallest in size. It’s only natural that we start with a giant! A home popcorn machine like the Pop Heaven is a monster. A batch of this beast makes approximately five gallons of popcorn from 12 ounces of kernels.

Some may think this is too large for homes and that it would be better suited for social groups, churches, and the like. Those enormous families out there deserve this kind of attention. They also need popcorn!

A spokesperson for Great Northern Popcorn Company claims that it has the largest, most powerful popcorn machine available on the market right now, and it’s easy to believe it. Hot oil poppers draw power from a powerful 1350 Watts of electricity to enable them to produce gallons of perfectly popped popcorn within minutes. Your popcorn mountains will stay warm and delicious with this spotlight warmer.

An all-metal gearbox and stainless steel parts make up this machine. The serving drawer is large enough to scoop popcorn up easily and its doors are big enough to make loading and unloading easy. We think this beast of a machine is the most expensive on our list, though its price is justified by its size.

6. Cuisinart Classic-Style Popcorn Maker

Our list includes a Classic-Style Popcorn Maker from Cuisinart, the famous kitchen appliance company. Although it is similar to both the Pop Pup and the Elite Gourmet popcorn makers in size and price, this model has a slightly smaller capacity. You can make up to 10 cups of popcorn from a batch of kernels. Our two competitors made about 14-15 cups. The size is smaller for the same cost.

So now let’s take a look at a couple of design features. We’ve seen a lot of machines that tilt the pot and empty out the popcorn using a manual handle, but Cuisinart’s works differently. The popcorn pushes the lid straight up, rather than opening it using hinges. This keeps un-popped kernels in the pot better.

Then the entire pot can be easily removed for pouring out any leftover popcorn or kernels. An extra bonus is the pot’s non-stick surface. This makes it incredibly easy to clean. It remains to be seen how well the coating will hold up to the continual battering of hot popping corn.

7. Olde Midway Bar Style Popcorn Machine

This 10-ounce stainless steel popcorn machine has been designed by Olde Midway with tempered glass for safety. With the over 31-pound machine, you will get a popcorn scoop, tablespoon measure for oil, salt shaker, and measuring cup made of stainless steel. Three switches ensure crisp and warm popcorn every time, including a heater, a warmer, and a stirrer.

By catching unpopped kernels, the kernel tray guarantees customers a kernel-free experience. This machine is simply magnificent, raved one of our customers. Our team uses it every week. I love how easy it is to operate and clean.

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8. Great Northern Perfect Popper Popcorn Machine

A popcorn machine such as this one fits all the criteria if you’re throwing a big party. The 8-ounce kettle is able to make up to 6 gallons of popcorn at a time so that everyone at your house can enjoy popcorn at the same time. With an 850-watt heater, this machine pre-heats in no time so you can start popping right away.

Plus, there’s a heated warming deck that keeps popcorn warm and fresh, and the stainless steel drawer along the bottom can easily store unpopped kernels for easy cleanup later on. Reviewers say that the kettle is easy to clean since it is removable.

The set also includes three serving cups, 25 classic popcorn bags, measuring cups, and a plastic scoop – everything you need for movie night. Choose between a red or black machine. Several popcorn bags were included along with a large serving scoop and some smaller measuring cups and spoons.

9. Paragon Theater Pop Popcorn Machine

In case the price is not an issue, and you want the most powerful popcorn machine on this list, then you should check out the Paragon TP-8 Theater Pop 8-Ounce Popper Popcorn Machine. The 1250-watt element of a kettle will pop popcorn almost as fast as you can put the popcorn into it. You can pop 10 pounds of popcorn in just one hour with this machine.

Despite the fact that this popcorn popper is a commercial grade, it costs almost three times what the top-rated model does. You must decide if you want faster-popped popcorn for the cost. The floor is perforated so un-popped kernels fall through, and there is heating.

The popper weighs 65 pounds, which isn’t exactly the most portable unit around, but once it is set up, it doesn’t shift. With a three-year warranty, this popper has a safety glass interior, a motor of industrial quality, and a motor constructed with safety glass.

10. Benchmark Metropolitan Popcorn Machine

The Metropolitan Popper by Benchmark is a smaller, but equally effective product. You can choose between a 4-ounce and 6-ounce version, which are more suited for home use or small parties.

In addition to offering a 3-year product warranty, the Metropolitan Popper is more affordable. With the help of this popcorn maker, you and your family will be able to enjoy countless movie nights.

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Buying Guide: Best Popcorn Machine for Home Theater

Make your own movie theater-style popcorn at home when you buy one of these leading popcorn makers that produce high-quality kernels in a few minutes. Here are some features you can look for when purchasing a theater popcorn machine from great northern popcorn company maker machines for home theatres.

Size of the Kettle

The size of the kettle is one of the key factors affecting how much popcorn will be produced by the machine. To measure out the kernels per batch, a measuring cup can be handy, but the kettle should be clearly marked with the batch number.

Each batch of measuring cup is usually labeled in quartz. Figure out what size popcorn you and your loved ones like based on the number of cups you enjoy. Sadly, space-saving designs make less popcorn because they take up less space. If you have a large space to spare, go for a large option as you may have to switch between batches during the movie. 

Materials

Make sure your popcorn maker is made of food-grade, BPA-free materials such as stainless steel and glass to ensure longevity and avoid releasing toxic chemicals. The most common type of kettle popper uses glass and stainless steel and is found in old-school cinema-like models.

 The nonstick stainless steel kettle bowls in these models are easy to clean in the kitchen and easy to wash. Since they are safe materials, you can throw them into the dishwasher after movie night and give them a good rinse.

Design

Is there a particular kind of machine that you want? For those who are only looking for a large saving of space, the kettle popcorn makers are the best choice since they have the smallest profile. 

You can get the same cinema experience at home with an affordable home theater projector under 500 if you choose a popcorn maker that has an old school design such as the West Bend, or you can go with something even more like what you might see in a movie theatre with Great Northern popcorn. Likewise, consider how the popcorn maker machine in the movie theatre operates. 

Great northern popcorn should be popped correctly and you won’t have to wait a long time for delicious and high-quality great northern popcorn. Choose air kettle poppers or those with stir rod technology to ensure even popping. In addition, these technologies also work within a short period of time, and making multiple cups of popcorn requires only a few minutes. 

Power

In addition to different power voltages, kettle popper makers have different power settings so if you want to make sure you won’t strain your machine or get the most out of it, look for machines that are adjustable. Some kettle options do not provide you with this flexibility, but one such example is the Great Northern popcorn maker.

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Price

Due to style, size, and design, popcorn maker machines can have a wide price range. You will spend more money if you choose features such as air swirling or stir rod popping. However, the convenience and efficiency are well worth the extra cost.

An efficient movie theater popcorn machine will allow you to make fresh batches of popcorn quickly in the middle of the movie. The best popcorn maker will be able to make fresh and delicious popcorn without burning any kernels. However, their price will also reflect this.

For this reason, we recommend that you do not sacrifice the quality of the construction and the materials used in order to save money. Products made from low-quality materials are more likely to catch fire, explode, or release harmful chemicals into the popcorn.

FAQs

Is movie theater popcorn the best?

West Bend Hots Oil Theaters Style Popcorn Maker takes the lead as the top popcorn maker. Popcorn can be made in large batches in a short amount of time, and the popcorn can be stored fresh in the machine itself for a short period of time. This design integrates stir-rod technology to ensure that the kernels are all popped uniformly.

What is the process for making popcorn in a movie theatre?

The heater, fan, and enclosed air path convey air into an open, sealed container in an air popcorn maker. Air flows over the heating element, through the vent, and out the vent when the unit is powered on. Popcorn kernels are placed on top of the vent.

Which popcorn machine brand does AMC use?

Pieces that offer as much room in a bag as possible and that have a heavy weight are sought after by AMC. Video can not be played in this browser. A 35-pound bag of popcorn is delivered to theaters by the logistics company Vistar, which is owned by Weaver Popcorn.

How should I choose a popcorn machine?

Buying a popcorn maker machine takes into account durability, efficiency, and safety. These three qualities will help you make an informed choice.