The movie theater concept remains perfect. Choosing a movie that seems interesting, picking out the perfect seats and then finally getting your theater number. However, one thing stands out among the rest: snacks. The movie might be perfect but your snack selection can make or break the experience. This being said, we tried seven of our favorite movie snacks to help you make your choice next time you’re in the aisle. We individually rated the snacks out of 10, considering taste, convenience and price then combined our scores to create an overall ranking. These snacks can be found at the Cinemark Century Blue Oaks Theaters and XD but most can be found anywhere.

7. Junior Mints – $4.45
Although convenient for a quiet theater, Junior Mints just weren’t tasty enough to compete with the rest of our list. A while into the movie, you’re likely to find that the chocolate coating has melted and bunched the candies together. Additionally, the chocolate to mint filling ratio is off, with not enough coating and an overwhelming amount of filling. All in all, Junior Mints scored a total of 11.8/20 mainly as a result of taste.

6. Cookie Dough Bites – $4.45
As a more obscure pick, Cookie Dough Bites are a decent option if you’re not looking for sour or gummy candy. The first couple of bites are satisfying, but you’re likely to get a stomach ache after too many. They have a slightly chemical aftertaste and are almost too rich to eat in one sitting which is not ideal if you are watching something that is longer than two hours. However, their cheaper price makes them a better choice than others. With a combined score of 12.7/20, Cookie Dough Bites remain a neutral choice in the candy aisle.

5. AirHeads Xtremes – $5.45
A great choice for sour candy lovers. These sour strips are irresistible. Marketed as “rainbow berry” flavored, the gummy squares are coated in sour sugar to pack just the right amount of punch when eating. However, they are very thick and can cause a jawache if you eat too many too quickly. They are perfect for people who enjoy moderately sour candies but their convenience level is quite low. They are a little loud in a quiet theater, as they are served in a plastic bag, and have the already mentioned jaw issue. Together, we scored this a 13/20.

4. M&M’s – $5.85
A classic option, M&M’s has earned its spot on this list as an iconic movie staple. The chocolate circles coated with a colorful shell have nearly perfected the chocolate ratio. However, after too many M&M’s, one may find that their hands have been stained with the outer shell colors. For such a basic candy, they’re a bit overpriced, which resulted in a deduction from the overall score. M&M’s came out with a total score of 13.8/20.

3. Sour Patch Watermelon – $7.00
Another sour gummy choice, Sour Patch Watermelon is iconic. With watermelon shaped gummy pieces coated in sour sugar, these are perfect for those who enjoy more sweet than sour. Unlike the Airheads, the Sour Patch is soft enough to eat a whole bag without any pain. However, the price is its real downfall. With how few there are in a package, it simply should not be that expensive. The bag it comes in is also a fault in what would be a perfect snack as it can be quite loud. They came in with a rating of 14/20.

2. Cherry and Blue Raspberry Icee – $5.60
The only drink option on this list, the classic Icee ranked higher than we thought. The drink was just the right amount of sugary and slush, leading to a good mix while drinking. It doesn’t melt too quickly, but even when it does the drink is not ruined. It can get loud during the end of the drink if you are trying to slurp up the rest of the slush. Despite that, the Icee is a dependable item that you can always count on to be a hit and a nice refresher. We gave it a combined score of 15.3/20.

1. Popcorn – $10
Currently served in a free “Mufasa: The Lion King” tin at Cinemark Century Blue Oaks Theaters and XD, a movie truly wouldn’t be right without popcorn. As you walk in the doors, it’s impossible to miss the irresistible, mouthwatering smell of fresh popcorn. Served hot and crunchy with the option of butter, it’s practically a movie-watching requirement. The addicting snack is also highly convenient, as you can count on it being at any theater. Coming in strong, popcorn got an overall rating of 18/20.
Eating these movie snacks, though they can be expensive, truly does improve the movie experience. They were all decent options and each one of them had their pros and cons. Each one was its own adventure and all were enjoyable in their own way.
by OLIVIA BOYD AND MAIRYN OSECHECK