Biggest yet! More views, Likes, profile visits, external link taps and interactions than ever before.
Would certainly like to monitize things, but also want to expand viewership, Followers and encourage more interactions with both the film and snack communities. Also interested in trying to uncover potential partnership opportunities and some sort of well-connected representation to help make things happen.
OPPORTUNITIES & POSSIBILITIES
The film / entertainment industry is in turmoil / transition. Films that aren’t tentpoles or established IP are having a difficult time getting made. And if they are made, making a dent has becoming harder and harder. Theaters are also having trouble sustaining themselves on the ‘event film’ formula and there are so many film festivals now that are all fighting for the same sponsorship dollars. It was interesting to learn that at the recent Cinemacon, collectable / elaborite (and costly) popcorn / beverage buckets were all the rage. While there is certainly a market for this – most people say that cost is the #1 reason they don’t go to the movies more often. Feels like creative and unique promotions to lower ticket / popcorn, candy and soda prices would be a bigger draw for the masses.
I am a +1 to a member of both Film Independent and The Academy. This allows me to literally see everything. As a film fanatic myself, wanted to have some skin in the game, so decided to create something unique that would help others enjoy the movies as much as I do. Realized I was snacking (almost) every time I watched something, so did a little digging and discovered that movies and snacks have been intertwined since ‘Let’s All Go To The Lobby’ premiered in 1957. Also learned that the concession stand accounts for almost 40% of a theater’s revenue and up to 80% of their profits. From that, Film Reviews In A Snack was born.
Film Reviews In A Snack serves up visual and emotional analogies that capture the tone of a movie and sets up the viewing. They are light-hearted, relatable, graphic presentations – colorful, easy quick-reads meant to create intrigue for a film and joy for snack consumption.
Now over 800 reviews in, Film Reviews In A Snack Followers include movie lovers, film critics, film festival programmers, snack companies, as well as so many of the people in and behind the movies that are paired with the snacks. Every day, I am reached out to with compliments and comments of how the reviews highlight the material, while also sparking a hankering for the treat.
NOTE
Many of the films reviewed are from the festival circuit or screenings I attend almost every weekend. This means that a lot of the reviews are early – the larger general public might not see these pictures for a long time. Many are also small films that not a lot of people will never see. That said, in the Online movie-sphere and in small movie houses, there seems to be great fan-ship for the obscure and indie world – in addition to the larger, more mainstream titles. To that end, most of the highest Views and interactions for Film Reviews In a Snack come from these smaller projects. Feel this is due to: 1) They don’t get much coverage. 2) These projects, Directors, Actors and others involved respond to the snack reviews because they are odd / different, quick to read / digest and cut through the usual long-winded review type clutter.
INSTAGRAM POSTS
The Film Reviews In A Snack IG feed is filled with daily posts of films, TV and new vertical format shows, along with the occasional concert, play, live comedy act, novel, audio-book, etc. Thought being that if it can be consumed, it can be snacked!
After each Post, a pre-made but personalized DM is sent to the project’s main players (translated into the natural language in the case of something international). This results in a lot of Likes, Reposts, Story mentions and back and forth interactions between them and me about the film, what it was like to work on, the excitement of being up for an award, etc.
New Viewers often Like Posts in batches of 6, 8 or 10 at a time – illustrating that people enjoy the concept enough to scroll the feed and take in multiple offerings.
INSTAGRAM STORIES
In addition to the Posts, have also been serving up Film Reviews In A Snack Stories. Series of 3 to 5 Posts from the feed, set to music and grouped by theme. (Ex. Themes to date include Wet & Wild, Romance, Fire, Music, Sports, Creatures, Mother’s Day, Small Town Life, Relationships, Candy news, the Devil, Lost, Cringe, Available on Apple TV…) These additional postings have gained a separate following from the Posts and also generate a lot of response, repostings and re-mentions in the feeds of Directors, Actors and behind the scenes folks associated with the projects. Each Story also presents where someone can watch the film or show.
To view samples, check out the Instagram Highlight titled: ‘Good Watch’.
For theaters, Film Reviews in a Snack could offer a fresh way to level up customers already in the building by increasing the dollars spent by each. A series of in-lobby and on-screen posters for the 4, 6, 8, 12 movies playing at a cineplex would work to direct movie-goers to the snack bar – either to purchase that particular movie’s treat or something else.
Note: reviews for theaters would incorporate items carried by their concession stand.
FESTIVALS
Film Reviews In A Snack showcases what the film audiences are about to see. Pre-festival, Film Reviews In A Snack would preview the competition films and equate them to the confections offered by their theater venues. (This would help show the festival’s theater partners that you’re thinking of them.) Large, colorful (in-lobby and Online) posters would offer unique viewing / noshing setups, as well as multitudes of Social Media opportunities. The comparisons would be a unique and memorable way to introduce the films to audiences of VIPs, celebs and festival movie loving attendees. The film-snack pairings could also make for good Host banter at premieres.
Post festival, the badged digital posters could be used by the film as a Marketing tool – extending the reach of the festival beyond just the week of the live activities.
Again: reviews for the festival films would incorporate snack items carried by the participating theaters concession stands.
FOCUS IS ON MOVIES BUT SNACKS ARE THE KEY
consumers
• Over 90% of global consumers snack daily (61% have two snacks)
• 64% of US adults snack at least once a day
• 65% of people report snacking while watching television
• 75% of moviegoers purchase food & beverage during theaters visits
• 56% of consumers discover new snacks via social media
• Gen Z is driving the trends for both elevated and nostalgic snacks
snack companies
• Snack food industry sales increased 4.8% over the past year to reach over $156 billion
• Snack food companies are a huge advertiser – with lots of sponsorship and partnership $s
• Data from 2023, shows that at that time, the snack and dessert sector invested over $2.7 billion in digital, print, and TV advertising
• During that same 2023 period, chocolate, candy, cookies, and cracker brands increased spending by 17% to 179%
TICKETERS
Film Reviews In A Snack is also a partnership opportunty for ticketers like Atom Tickets, AXS, Event Brite, Fandango, etc. Things like snack purchase discounts could add extra value to their offerings.
Film Reviews In A Snack is well poised for print and digital syndication. Each review is the same square size so they fit easily and reliably on any page day after day, week after week…
EXTENDING THE OFFERING
Have started reaching out to a number of the more enthusiastic film-snack audience members about a new favorite ‘watch snacks’ feature. The easily shareable clips are being posted as IG Stories and also be part of a new Film Reviews In A Snack Youtube offering, as well as here on the Web site.
SPOKE IN THE WHEEL
Film Reviews In A Snack is the ideal connector – for consumers and theaters / festivals, theaters / festivals and snack makers, snack makers and streamers, snack makers and delivery services, etc. There are so many great opportunities for movie, ticket service and snack company cross promotions.
STREAMERS
(Thinking on a grand scale) Film Reviews In A Snack would be ideal as part of Netflix or Amazon’s home page video tile offerings.
NETFLIX
Netflix has 325 million paid subscribers globally and 84 million in the United States. The company states that it is rapidly diversifying its revenue beyond just the standard subscriptions. A key 2026 growth driver includes the doubling of ad revenue. Film Reviews In A Snack is a natural bridge to link the streamer with big dollar snack-makers.
• Approximately 26% of users (age 25–34) watch Netflix multiple times a day, while another 21% watch once daily
• Among 35-44 year olds, 25% watch Netflix multiple times a day, and another 21% watch daily
• This adds up to about half of Netflix subscribers in these key demographics tuning in to the service daily – and about half of all these folks are going to put something in their mouth while they consume their content
Netflix and chill would morph into Netflix and chew.
AMAZON
U.S. Prime membership was 180 million in 2024 and expected to exceed 200 million by late 2025. 48% of Prime members (in the U.S) signed up for Prime Video access. Half of them are also going to put something in their mouth while they consume their content.
Amazon is also rapidly diversifying its revenue streams beyond its traditional e-commerce retail model. Online stores and ad revenue contribute to their highest volume of sales. Film Reviews In A Snack is a natural bridge to link the streamer with new snack-maker partnerships that could help increase consumer (or their own) Online store sales, as well as providing a boost to new ad spending.
• In 2025, Amazon delivered over 8 billion items to U.S. Prime members on the same or next day
• Sales of snacks, produce, and baked goods now make up nine of the top ten most-ordered items in the same-day delivery category (A 30x growth since January 2025).
SNACK DELIVERY
• US Online food delivery is projected to be $68.6 billion in 2032 – up from $29.1 billion in 2023
• 60% of Americans (40+% of Gen Z and Millennials) order from food delivery apps at least once a week
• Snack delivery is heavily driven by younger, urban, and tech-savvy demographics who prioritize convenience and speed
• Gen Z households often spend upwards of $210 per month on food delivery
• Married consumers are high-frequency users of delivery apps
• Snacks and candy are the #1 most-ordered grocery item for delivery (24%)
• Single-serve snack package sales have increased by 10% – indicating a focus on immediate, portion-controlled convenience
Snack food delivery is huge business. Film Reviews In a Snack provides a reason to order.
Note: Most people ordering, almost always order more than one item, That means each of these $s per order could be substantial. And commissions (whether direct or third party), are always based on a full order. That’s a huge revenue opportunity for Film Reviews In A Snack.
Also: When a customer orders from an Amazon store, that store owns that person’s cookie for the next full day – meaning all additional Amazon purchases within the next 24 hours earn that Online store an additional commissions (1-10% depending on the category of purchase). This could also result in an excellent revenue stream for a Film Reviews In A Snack store, or as a partner with other Amazon Stores.
ADDITIONALLY
• Starting to get more and more film-snack review requests. They have ranged from full length features and shorts playing on Netflix and Tubi, to lower budget Indies on YouTube and Vimeo. These reviews tend to get a lot of reaction and interaction because the people behind the projects see the benefit of having something unique to promote their efforts.
• Waiting for final word from an upcoming film festival about incorporating Film Reviews In A Snack as part of their upcoming competition slate.
• Have reached out to a variety of independent theaters about having Film Reviews In A Snack as in-lobby and online posters to help attract more snack-bar sales. Also out to a well-know Producer who is a big promoter of independent theaters about having them introduce the idea to operations they feel might benefit from this kind of partnership.
• Considering doing some kind of third party thing with this outlet called Feedspot. Hope being that they can get Film Reviews In A Snack in front of the people of Big Snack who create sponsorship / partnership opportunities.
• Have introduced / continue to have back and forth with the guy who founded Rotten Tomatoes. He has shared some good thoughts that I have sewn into my own doings. I continue to update him from time to time to keep the channel of communication open and ongoing. He’s very smart and well connected. Hope is to one day hit the right button and have him to offer more substantial help.
Any thoughts appreciated.