Going to the movie theater has always been one of my favorite things to do throughout my life, especially when the newest movie I’ve been waiting for finally releases. However, one thing that I don’t love about the movie experience is spending a lot of money on movie theater food. With lots of new anticipated movies coming out in the next few months, more people will definitely be heading to the theater with friends and family.
Instead of spending money on popcorn, candy, and drinks, I most of the time would rather bring my own food. I’ve been sneaking food into the theater with my friends and family for many years, and I’ve realized that there are so many more options than the usual movie theater candy and popcorn. I recently came across a TikTok of someone sharing the food they brought into a movie theater, which made me realize just how many people are doing the same thing.
From my mom embarrassing me by sneaking food into the theater before I eventually joined her, to my aunt’s pastelillos, fast food, and snacks, here’s what I’d bring to the theater instead of buying concessions.
Homemade Pastelillos
You don’t always have to buy food from a restaurant for you to bring to the theater. From my own experience, I have always loved the idea of bringing my own homemade meals. My favorite item would have to be pastelillos, a Puerto Rican fried pastry with crispy, golden exterior. When I was younger, my aunt would always make sure to wake up early to make some fresh pastelillos with meat or cheese and pack them up really well to make sure they stayed hot by the time we got to the theater and ate them. I always enjoyed watching her make them because they were delicious and worth waiting for.
What’s so great about a pastelillo is that it’s filling, it’s savory, and you don’t need any utensils to eat it. As long as you find a homemade meal that isn’t messy but still tastes yummy, you are good to go.
Breakfast Sandwich + Dunkin’ Coffee
If you’re going to an early morning showing, who really wants to get popcorn? Personally, I’m getting a deli breakfast sandwich and a Dunkin’ iced coffee. A bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich with an iced coffee is so much better to have than eating popcorn at 10 a.m. Think of it as starting your morning at home, getting cozy to eat breakfast and watch one of your favorite movies, but now you get to do it with a friend while watching something new on a bigger screen. You’ll get to actually enjoy a meal that will fill you up and basically have a breakfast pajama party while enjoying delicious food and a new movie.
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A is definitely going to be my top option when I want to bring an actual meal to the theater. I usually sneak in a regular chicken sandwich and french fries because it is filling enough to get me through the whole movie without buying anything else from the concession stand. The sandwich is also easy to eat if you don’t put any sauce on it, so you won’t make a huge mess, while French fries have always been one of the easiest foods to eat throughout the movie. I overall like the idea of having a junk-food meal that I know I’ll enjoy so I can enjoy my movie experience without me questioning, “Why did I get this meal that’s not good or fun for the movie?”
Auntie Anne’s Pretzel
Most of the time, if it’s not popcorn you want, pretzels are always a classic movie theater snack alternative. Sure, the pretzels at the movie theater are good, but they don’t hit the same compared to Auntie Anne’s. How can you not think the best pretzels out there are from Auntie Anne’s with all of the many different pretzel options they have? While you only have one choice of a pretzel at the concession stand, you can choose between cinnamon pretzels, pepperoni pretzels, regular salted pretzels, and so much more. Their pretzels are buttery and make for an amazing snack that could keep you satisfied until the movie is over without getting hungry again.
Wingstop Chicken & Fries
If you’re really hungry and need more food, Wingstop chicken and French fries are my go-to options to bring to the movie theater, especially when I know it’s going to be a long movie. Even when you get chicken or fries by themselves, you can get full pretty quickly because of how Wingstop seasons its food. Overall, the chicken is filling enough to be a real meal, while the french fries are an easy snack to have while watching the movie. The only downside to bringing this meal is that it can get a little messy depending on what flavor of chicken you choose or whether you have sauce on the side. Since you’ll be eating in the dark, I’d probably go with a chicken flavor that isn’t as messy and skip the sauce on the side. But at the end of the day, it’s your meal, so you should bring whatever you know you’ll enjoy.
Bag of Chips
There will be times when I wouldn’t want to have a whole meal in the theater and just want something to snack on. I am perfectly fine with bringing one of my favorite bags of chips for me to enjoy. It’s an easy choice because it won’t be messy and I could choose any flavor of chips I am in the mood for. My favorite chips to bring would be Takis, Salt & Vinegar chips, lots of different Utz chips, or Nacho Cheese Doritos. They are easy to bring and give me something salty, spicy, tangy, and crunchy to snack on throughout the movie. If I’m craving something simple and don’t want to spend so much money at the concession stand, a bag of chips is always one of my go-to options.