Start Fresh

• When making theater-flavored popcorn, fresh popcorn is key. Avoid pre-popping popcorn in advance or purchasing pre-popped popcorn, as popcorn can quickly become stale. Pop popcorn right before you plan to eat it to ensure it does not taste stale come movie time. While oil, butter and salt give the flavor to movie theater popcorn, starting with crisp, fluffy kernels is essential to creating popcorn that stands up to your local movie theater's popcorn.

Use Oil

• While popping corn in oil is not the most heart-healthy method of preparation, it is what most movie theaters use. Don't air pop popcorn if you're trying to replicate movie theater popcorn. Coconut oil was a long-standing oil of choice, but because it is so high in saturated fats, many theaters now pop corn in canola oil. Use about 1 tablespoon of oil per 1/2 cup of popcorn to create popcorn that has a noticeable amount of oil without being overly greasy.

Buttery Topping

• Movie theaters swear by the often proprietary buttery topping they use, but you can buy buttery toppings that replicate the flavor of those at your favorite cinema. Look in the popcorn section of the grocery store or the spice aisle to find powdered and liquid buttery topping for popcorn. For a wider selection, shop online for liquid buttery toppings that most closely mirror the type of buttery toppings used in movie theaters. Pour or spray the toppings on to taste.

Popcorn Salt

• Use popcorn salt, which is a finely ground powder salt, to ensure the salt sticks well to the popcorn. Some buttery toppings have more salt added than others, so don't add salt before you taste the popcorn after adding the buttery topping. Add no more than 1/4 teaspoon of salt per 1/2 cup of unpopped popcorn after popping and taste as you add it to ensure you do not make the popcorn too salty. Add salt, stirring well, to ensure it is evenly distributed.