It’s a fine, orange-yellow powder made with salt, artificial butter flavor (diacetyl), and coloring agents, which is what gives movie theater popcorn its vibrant color and rich, savory taste.

The family-owned popcorn company has been perfecting the timeless snack since 1944. But, while the brand does make a Movie Theater Butter flavor, it was the Buttery Explosion that we fell hard for.

There is an art to homemade popcorn. It seems like nothing can compare to the mystical, magical movie theater popcorn machines that seemingly produce a constant flow of yellow, butter-coated kernels.

A movie theater customer shared her 'life hack' for taking the popular popcorn butter flavoring home in a now-viral TikTok.

Even the bagged “movie theater butter” microwave popcorn can’t get it right. So, what’s the secret? The flavor all comes down to one ingredient: Flavacol.

It’s a fine, orange-yellow powder made with salt, artificial butter flavor (diacetyl), and coloring agents, which is what gives movie theater popcorn its vibrant color and rich, savory taste.