🎬 My Top 5 Favorite Movie Candies from the ’70s and ’80s

Going to the movies back in the ’70s and ’80s was an experience like no other. The smell of popcorn filled the theater, the screen seemed enormous, and the sticky floors crunched beneath your sneakers. But for me, no movie trip was complete without candy. From the convenience store on the way to the theater or straight from the lobby, these little treats were the icing on the cinematic cake.

Here are my top five favorite movie candies from back in the day that still bring back those feel-good memories:

🍫 1. Milk Duds

The king of chewy movie candy! These little caramel bites smothered in chocolate had staying power—a good-size box could last you through a long stretch of the movie. They weren’t just for nibbling on their own either; toss a few into your popcorn and let them soften a bit, and you got that perfect sweet-and-salty combo before it was even a thing. Milk Duds were simple, delicious, and made the theater experience just that much more magical.

🍬 2. Hot Tamales

Before spicy candy was trendy, there were Hot Tamales. That cinnamon kick could wake up an entire theater and keep you alert during the slower parts of the movie. They were also a slow-eating candy, which meant one box could last most of the film. I remember shaking the box during previews, trying not to spill them while waiting for the movie to start. Sweet, fiery, and unforgettable.

🍫 3. Flicks

Flicks were chocolate perfection. Imagine a flattened Hershey’s Kiss, but made from chocolate so smooth and fine it practically melted the second it touched your tongue. Thick enough to savor, yet thin enough to pop a few in your mouth during the previews, they were a real treat. Wrapped in shiny little foil cylinders—red, green, or gold—you could spin the tube in your hands, tracing the repeating silhouettes of two Dutch kids chasing each other in wooden shoes. My dad always got me these, and I’d sit there staring at the wrapper before slowly unwrapping a disk and letting it dissolve in my mouth. They weren’t just candy—they were part of the ritual of going to the movies.

A bit of Flicks history: Originally developed by Ghirardelli in the early 1900s, chocolate wafers were a staple in theaters for decades. Production stopped in 1989, but in the 2000s the Tjerrild family revived the brand, bringing back the chocolate disks and those iconic foil-wrapped tubes, keeping the classic movie candy experience alive for a new generation.

🍬 4. JUJYFRUITS

These chewy, colorful gummies were tough little candies that tested your teeth through the entire film. Sometimes they’d get stuck in your molars, but that was part of the fun. Nothing says “classic movie candy” like sitting in the dark, trying not to crunch too loudly on a Jujyfruit.

🍫 5. Goobers & Raisinets

Chocolate-covered peanuts, chocolate-covered raisins—both made by the same company, both simple, crunchy, and classic. Perfect for tossing into your popcorn for that sweet-and-salty mix. I was one of those strange kids who actually liked chocolate-covered raisins, so Raisinets were a special treat for me alongside the Goobers. I remember the big boxes stacked next to the Milk Duds at the concession stand. If I had an extra dollar, this combo was my go-to—a perfect mix of chewy, crunchy, and chocolatey goodness.

🍬 Bonus Entry: Junior Mints!

Not exactly a candy you’d plan on enjoying the entire way through the movie, Junior Mints were a complimentary theater treat that packed a punch. That first cool, minty pop would awaken your senses, clear your sinuses, and snap you right into the action on screen. Perfect for staying alert during a slow part of the movie or intensifying the thrill during an exciting or suspenseful scene, Junior Mints were small but mighty—a little burst of freshness that made movie-watching just a bit more cinematic.

🎥 Bonus Memory: Sneaking Candy In

Let’s be honest—half the fun back then was sneaking your own candy into the theater. A jacket pocket full of treats saved a few bucks and felt like a small act of rebellion. My friends and I would walk in like candy smugglers, grinning all the way to our seats.

Those candy boxes, the movie posters in the lobby, the paper tickets—they all come together in one big nostalgic blur. Grab a handful of Milk Duds, a Flick or two, and you’re transported back to those magical movie nights. They just don’t make movie nights like they used to—but a little bit of old-school candy can take you right back.