14 Most Buttery Microwave Popcorn in the World, Ranked 2024

What are the best microwave popcorn brands for a movie theater-quality snack at home?

Whether you're looking for a fun way to spruce up your next movie night or you just need a quick, tasty snack in the middle of your day, it's always worth knowing your options for microwave popcorn.

While you may not be able to perfectly replicate a batch of your favorite movie theater popcorn, the best microwave popcorn brands will get you pretty close to the cinematic popcorn experience we all know and love.

Example: Orville Redenbacher's and ACT II brands offer a wide variety of products to suit consumers' tastes, and both are the only leading brands to include both zero grams of trans fats per serving and no added diacetyl. 

So, the top sellers at your local supermarket and online store are likely to be brands like：

• Orville Redenbacher's 

• Pop Secret 

• Jolly Time 

• Pop Weaver

• Act II

• Market Pantry

• Quinn

• Great Value

Which microwave butter popcorn is the butteriest?

We tried 20+ popular brands of microwave popcorn to see which ones they offered tasted the best. Or take it a step further and see which microwave popcorn is more buttery.

Flavor: 

Extreme butter lovers know there's no such thing as too much butter, so purchase a Butter Popcorn for a warm, savoury treat. So this article will score and rank the butteriest popcorn!

Texture：

To judge the popcorn brands, we like to look for a texture that is airy, fluffy, and crunchy. If it does, we will score it up to a maximum of 5.

Value: 

Microwave popcorn is the perfect savory snack to make every night a movie night, and it's also a wise choice for school, work, or on the go. 

I'd love to treat myself and my family to the great value buttery microwave popcorn, so the value for money can be rated appropriately!

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Best Microwave Popcorn: Top 14 Butter Popcorn Worth Trying

I ranked 20+ popular microwave popcorn brands and what they offer by taste, texture, and value! 

Based on my own experience and feedback from netizens, I also compared these popcorns! Finally, I highly recommend you to choose the following 14 kinds of the most delicious and satisfying microwave popcorn!

#1.                                                                                         

Orville Redenbacher's Ultimate Butter Microwave Popcorn

($6.36 FROM Walmart - Get Up To 3% Cash Back)

Best for butter lovers

• Flavor: 5

• Texture: 5

• Value: 4.8

Editor's review:

This is the best popcorn on our list—especially if you’re all about the butter.

First off, Orville Redenbacher's is one of the best microwave popcorns on the market, and it's also our favorite brand!

Of all the brands we tried, Orville Redenbacher’s tasted the most like homemade.

This microwave popcorn is a classic brand, available in most grocery stores across the country, and it really does its job in simulating the movie theater experience at home.

Secondly, it has a variety of butter flavors, such as Butter, Movie Theater Butter and Ultimate Butter. If you want to taste luxury, reach for this ultra-buttery brand. 

Its smooth butter flavor coated the popcorn evenly, and it has just the right amount of saltiness to keep us coming back for more.

Thirdly, it is comparable to generic varieties in terms of price. Value packs are around $0.70 a bag—not bad for a name brand.

What's so special about Orville Redenbacher's Ultimate Butter Microwave Popcorn?

It's packed with flavor and loads of real butter. Orville Redenbacher's popcorn looks very bright and yellow.

It’s not just the appetizing smell and rich buttery flavor that make the Orville Redenbacher's our #1 choice, but the kernels themselves, which pop up nice and big — offering a fluffy bite with a great texture and mouthfeel that tastes akin to stove-top popcorn.

There is enough buttery flavor here to satisfy even the biggest butter lovers.

#2.                                                                                         

Orville Redenbacher’s Movie Theater Butter Popcorn

($6.36 FROM Walmart - Get Up To 3% Cash Back)

• Flavor: 5

• Texture: 5

• Value: 4.8

Editor's review:

Orville Redenbacher's Movie Theater Butter Popcorn seems to be the most popular microwave popcorn. It currently ranks number 1 on the best sellers list.

And that's not an exaggeration, because in addition to the great buttery flavor, the fluffy texture and consistent pop make your first handful of popcorn as delicious as the one at the bottom of the bag.

The Orville Redenbacher's has just the right amount of butter. You can taste it, but the popcorn aren't drowning in it. 

This popcorn is a bit salty, but we think each kernel is the perfect mix of salty and sweet. 

The pieces are crunchy but still maintain some airiness to them. The texture of each kernel is fluffy and crunchy, and the butter is flavorful without being overpowering.

The bag also holds up well in the microwave during popcorn prep, with no residual grease leaking out. There are minimal leftover kernels.

If you’re looking for the best popcorn to stock on your movie nights, Orville Redenbacher's is the way to go. 

#3.                                                                                         

Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn, Movie Theater Butter Flavor

($6.18 FROM Walmart - Get Up To 3% Cash Back)

• Flavor: 4.7

• Texture: 5

• Value: 4.2

Editor's review:

Compared to Orville Redenbacher's, Pop Secret is less salty. Is it as good as movie theater popcorn? No, but it's damn close.

Even though Pop Secret is lower in sodium than some of the other brands we tried, many agree that Pop Secret has the best taste of butter and salt—it's perfectly balanced.

It's butterier than most brands and doesn't taste natural. There is a hint of margarine, but the flavor somehow makes the snack more satisfying. 

Sure, we ended up with a little oil on our fingers.

It's not as luxurious as a Jolly Time or as smooth as Orville, but the Pop Secret delivers a near-perfect snacking experience that doesn't taste overly processed or underflavored, and some people think this popcorn tastes a lot like movie theater popcorn (a gold standard for some).

Meanwhile, this microwave popcorn gives us big, fluffy kernels with a satisfying crunch.

While these bags of popcorn are a little more expensive than some of our picks, we definitely think they're worth the splurge.

#4.                                                                                         

Orville Redenbacher's Butter

($6.36 FROM Walmart - Get Up To 3% Cash Back)

• Flavor: 4.5

• Texture: 5

• Value: 4.8

Editor's review:

Orville Redenbacher's Microwave Popcorn made with Only Real Ingredients.

Being real is no secret to the Orville Redenbacher's brand. In 1952, Orville Redenbacher himself hand-selected a small group of family farmers to grow his exclusive kernel. Generations later, farmers like Richard Overmyer continue to grow Orville's special kernel that pops up lighter and fluffier. 

So, some might say that Orville Redenbacher's is the king of popcorn.

For something a little less butter-drenched, try Orville Redenbach's Butter.

Fluffy and buttery, without that chemical butter taste of some of the lesser brands. Addictive? Absolutely. If you’re looking for that buttery popcorn favorite that perfectly imitates the real thing and you don’t care about calorie counting, this one is hard to beat. 

#5.                                                                                         

Pop Secret Homestyle Butter

($6.18 FROM Walmart - Get Up To 3% Cash Back)

• Flavor: 4.5

• Texture: 4.8

• Value: 4.2

Editor's review:

Pop-Secret popcorn has gained a lot of fans. Each piece of this brand is large and fluffy, but it still has plenty of crunch for munching. 

We also loved that the butter didn't taste artificial or overly salty, and it isn't drowning in this butter flavoring.

Honestly, there’s not much of a butter taste here. Don’t fret, though. It’s still there.

#6.                                                                                         

Jolly Time Blast O Butter Ultimate Movie Theatre Microwave Popcorn

($3.88 FROM Walmart - Get Up To 3% Cash Back)

• Flavor: 4.8

• Texture: 4.5

• Value: 4.7

Editor's review:

Blast O Butter Ultimate Theater Style Microwave Popcorn is for extreme butter lovers. This full-flavored popcorn delivers a rich, delicious movie theater butter flavor with every bite.

It has more butter than Pop Secret - you can see it. The moment you remove the bag from the microwave, your hands are already covered in oil.

The butter is very evenly distributed and the flavor is the longest lasting of any popcorn we've tried.

Each kernel is coated well with buttery flavor, with a noticeably wet appearance.

Perhaps because the butter is evenly distributed, the popcorn isn't super crispy, but has a light and airy texture, which means it's less likely to get stuck in your teeth than other brands.

It's a salty, sweet, buttery popcorn that will make you feel like you just bought a fresh batch from the theater.

Because it delivers on the promise of extra butter, don't try it if you don't particularly enjoy the buttery flavor, the box shows already yellow popcorn dipped in golden yellow butter oil. 

#7.                                                                                         

Jolly Time The Big Cheez Ultimate Cheddar Microwave Popcorn

($3.88 FROM Walmart - Get Up To 3% Cash Back)

• Flavor: 4.3

• Texture: 4.5

• Value: 4.7

Editor's review:

If you want a rich, cheesy flavor, get The Big Cheez.

Made with a larger-than-life, full-out cheddar cheese flavor, this ultimate cheese microwave popcorn packs every bite with a melt-in-your-mouth burst of rich, over-the-top cheddar taste. 

When you take the bag out of the microwave, a neon orange liquid seeps from the seams. But don't worry - shockingly, this isn't a bag of grease. It really tasted like movie theater popcorn.

Despite its shockingly bright hue, Jolly Time didn't have an unappealing artificial taste. 

Most popcorn is crumbly. It was a bit inconsistent in texture though - the small amount of popcorn we had was soft.

#8.                                                                                         

Pop Weaver Extra Butter

($19.99 FROM Amazon)

• Flavor: 4.5

• Texture: 4.2

• Value: 4.2

Editor's review:

It’s better than Jolly Time, in that it doesn’t leave your fingers a complete oily mess. They provide a chewy and crispy texture that you can’t ignore. 

They have a super buttery flavor that smells good when hot but tastes even better with all the salty and creamy notes.

However, the butter flavor has a more pronounced artificial flavor and there is always a pile of unpopped kernels at the bottom of the bag.

#9.                                                                                         

Act II Xtreme Butter Microwave Popcorn

($5.16 FROM Walmart - Get Up To 3% Cash Back)

• Flavor: 4.3

• Texture: 4

• Value: 4

Editor's review:

ACT II is known for offering consistent quality at a great family value, and it's proud to present some of the most enticing popcorn products and flavors available, from such classics as Light Butter and Movie Theatre Butter to special flavors. 

True to its name, this "Xtreme Butter" is for those who ask for extra butter on their popcorn. 

Surprisingly, it only has 160 calories per serving, which, given its highly potent buttery taste, is a win.

The texture is not very appealing as it provides very little crunch.

The extra butter forms a layer outside popped kernels, leaving them more flavorful.

#10.                                                                                         

Act II Butter Lovers Popcorn

($5.16 FROM Walmart - Get Up To 3% Cash Back)

• Flavor: 4.2

• Texture: 4

• Value: 4

Editor's review:

It's hard to tell the difference between Act II Butter Lovers and Act II Xtreme Butter, but when you taste it, you can clearly feel that "Butter Lovers" is a notch lower in terms of richness of butter flavor!

Because of personal preferences, some people like it lighter and some people like it thicker. Although the taste's far from actual butter, it's hard to be too disappointed with the sheer amount of flavor involved. 

Act II has the perfect buttery-yellow color without looking artificial.

Still, at 140 calories per serving, it's 20 fewer calories than Xtreme Butter.

Act II popcorn is more chewy than crunchy with a very light coating of buttery flavor. 

But despite its flaws and its somewhat cheap-tasting flavor, it’s an addicting bag that definitely plays on our nostalgia.

#11.                                                                                         

Cousin Willie’s Buttery Explosion Microwave Popcorn

($32 FROM Walmart - Get Up To 3% Cash Back)

• Flavor: 4

• Texture: 4.3

• Value: 3.8

Editor's review:

The popped kernels are light and crunchy - they almost dissolve in your mouth, leaving a buttery salty taste on your tongue. And there's a hint of sweetness that balances the strong saltiness.

There is a lot of butter, but it has an artificial flavor. This artificial butter flavor leaves behind a bad taste in the mouth and a strange, coated mouth-feel.

Fortunately, Cousin Willie's popcorn has an ideal ratio of crunchy and soft. And it doesn't look greasy.

#12.                                                                                         

Market Pantry Extra Butter Microwave Popcorn

($2.99 FROM Target)

• Flavor: 4

• Texture: 4

• Value: 4

Editor's review:

The popcorn on the box floats in a river of butter, so we were expecting a rich buttery flavor, and this popcorn certainly delivered.

It has a very balanced sweet and salty flavor. Seriously, it’s heavy on butter flavor. It tastes like the popcorn was seasoned with an actual stick of butter.

Easy to make in the microwave, this naturally and artficially flavored extra-butter popcorn will let you treat your taste buds to the same savory and crunchy taste you're sure to love. 

All in all, it's Target's own brand, and it's a good but not great brand of popcorn.

#13.                                                                                         

Quinn® Butter & Sea Salt Microwave Popcorn

($5.51 FROM Kroger - Get Up To 4% Cash Back)

• Flavor: 3.8

• Texture: 4

• Value: 3.5

Editor's review:

Quinn Snacks Microwave Popcorn is the most expensive option on our list when compared to the actual contents of each bag of popcorn.

Organic popcorn in healthy bags.  Each box comes with 2 Pure Pop Bags, 2 oil pouches, and 2 seasoning packets. The Pure Pop Bag is the market's first compostable microwave popcorn bag free of chemical lining.

It's one of the lowest in fat and sodium of any of the picks we reviewed.

The seasoning and butter for this popcorn come in packets on the side, so when you decide how much salt and butter to use here, it's up to you.

However, the bag is a bit small to effectively shake the oil, butter powder, and sea salt together, so you're better off transferring it to a larger bowl and tossing it there.

Then it's definitely worth the effort. This is the clear winner. Better taste, better texture and better ingredients.

Fluffy and airy, it's perfect for a snack, but butter lovers might find it underwhelming!

#14.                                                                                         

Great Value Extra Butter Flavored Microwave Popcorn

($7.12 FROM Walmart - Get Up To 3% Cash Back)

• Flavor: 4

• Texture: 3.8

• Value: 4.5

Editor's review:

Walmart brand Great Value offers a light and airy popcorn that isn’t too heavy on the butter taste. 

But the price is almost unbeatable.

Can you taste butter? Check. Can you taste salt? Check. That’s all popcorn needs to be one of the best microwave popcorn brands on this list. Most microwaved popcorn will get the job done, and Great Value does just that at a great price. 

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