Comparison: Best Microwave Butter Popcorn (Updated | Dec 8th)

Look at the butter intensity, ingredient quality, and portion size to match your taste and snack frequency. Check if the product uses real butter versus butter flavoring, and whether it’s gluten‑free or non‑GMO. Also compare the number of bags per box to gauge overall value for your household.

Orville Redenbacher’s Ultimate Butter offers a classic buttery taste with real butter and a gluten‑free label, packaged in 12 large bags for bulk use. Pop Secret Double Butter emphasizes a “double buttery” experience with non‑GMO corn and no artificial additives, also in a 12‑bag box but with slightly smaller 3.2 oz bags. The choice hinges on whether you prefer real butter flavor or a richer, double‑butter profile.

The 24‑bag Orville Redenbacher’s Movie Theater Butter pack provides the highest bag count, which usually translates to the lowest cost per ounce. Act II Xtreme Butter’s 12‑bag box is marketed as the “best value” but offers fewer bags, so its per‑bag price may be higher. Comparing unit prices (price ÷ total ounces) will reveal the most economical bulk option.

Pop Secret’s Movie Theater Butter and Double Butter varieties highlight non‑GMO corn and the absence of artificial preservatives, flavors, or trans fats. Orville Redenbacher’s Light Butter also avoids trans fats and uses whole‑grain kernels, but includes real butter which adds a small amount of saturated fat. If a clean‑label snack is a priority, Pop Secret’s options are the most transparent.

Orville Redenbacher’s Light Butter provides 50 % less fat and 5 % fewer calories than regular butter popcorn, making it a better fit for lower‑calorie diets. Both Act II and Pop Secret products are gluten‑free and contain 0 g trans fat per serving. For added fiber, the classic Orville Redenbacher’s bags list a 3 g fiber content per serving.

Single‑serve options like Pop Secret’s 1.75 oz snack bags and Act II Butter Lovers 2.75 oz bags are convenient for on‑the‑go snacking or portion control, but they cost more per ounce than the larger 3‑oz or 3.2‑oz family bags. The larger packs, such as Orville Redenbacher’s 12‑bag value size, are ideal for movie nights or frequent popcorn eaters who want to minimize per‑bag cost.

Most microwave popcorns pop in 2–4 minutes, but Act II Butter Lovers advertises a 2‑minute pop time, which can be a slight convenience advantage. Pop Secret and Orville Redenbacher’s typically require about 3 minutes, depending on microwave wattage. Always follow the package instructions for best results and to avoid burnt kernels.

The 24‑bag Orville Redenbacher’s Movie Theater Butter pack delivers the most servings per purchase, reducing the cost per snack dramatically. If you prefer a richer butter experience, Pop Secret’s Double Butter 12‑bag box offers a premium taste with a comparable bag count. Evaluate your family’s flavor preference and how often you snack to decide which bulk option maximizes both taste and savings.