There are so many ways to promote a film, from press releases to first looks, trailers, cast interviews, and more. But lately, the coolest part of new movie releases has been the themed popcorn buckets.From Freakier FridaytoSuperman,Fantastic Four: First Steps, and beyond, a slew of recent features have released unique popcorn buckets to get moviegoers hyped about the production. Some people have even begun collecting these buckets for fun — or have been making a profit reselling them to fans who couldn’t get their hands on one. The latest project to drop a bucket for its release isEminem’s documentary,STANS. Contrary to reasonable assumption, it isn’t microphone-shaped, or anything related to the process of making music. Instead, it’s a pill bottle.
A photo of the bucket was posted on X (formerly Twitter) by the popular film accountDiscussingFilm, and with roughly 51,000 likes and over two hundred comments, users are really wondering how this fits with the documentary. While it’s certainly different and stands out from other buckets, a few commenters consider it tone-deaf, while others believe it fits perfectly. It seems as if the material is cardboard, and the message written on it reads, “TAKE TO GET OUT OF BED” with “REMEMBER IT’S NOT SO BAD” written at the bottom. The “prescription” is also prescribed to Stanley Mitchell, the fictional character in Eminem’s song “Stan"who is obsessed with the artist.
When you think about it, the pill bottle is definitely on theme. Eminem has a long history of being frank about his experiences with substances, including hisRelapsealbum, whose lyrical themes are largely centered around the rocky road to sobriety. The artist’s sixth studio album, it broke a half-decade-long hiatus, making it one of the most anticipated releases of 2009. Arriving in theaters August 7,STANShas garnered a stellar 93% popcornmeter Rotten Tomatoes audience score. The documentary follows Eminem and his relationship with his loyal fanbase; Steven Leckart directed, with Eminem, Paul Rosenberg, Tony DiSanto, Stuart Parr, Antoine Fuqua, and David L. Schiff serving as producers.
Critics have praised the documentary for telling a “powerful” story about the artist and his fans. Luna Guthrie of Collider wrote, “Steven Leckart’sSTANSexplores the life and career of Eminem, the influence of his song ‘Stan,’ and the way his fanbase reflects its warnings — it’s a rich and fascinating examination of fandom.” Nate Adams of The Only Critic gaveSTANSa grade of B-, saying, “For what it is — a tribute, not an exposé — ‘STANS’ is a solid salute to the power of music, and the deep, sometimes life-saving connection it can foster between an artist and their audience.”
‘STANS’ Director Steven Leckart’s Thoughts About Eminem’s Song
It’s not every day that artists rap about how obsessed their fans are. Well, especially not in 2000. Eminem has a specific type of storytelling that his dedicated fans love, which is why he’sone of the top-selling artistsof all time, not just in the hip-hop genre. Leckart revealed his thoughts about the iconic song during an interview with Billboard:
“Stan” is one of the most unconventional and iconic songs ever written, so to figure out how to look at this world through an unconventional film was an incredible opportunity to do something different. I was incredibly excited; having grown up on hip-hop in the ’80s and ’90s, I was part of the generation that discovered Marshall on MTV. I loved how ridiculous he was. I loved his sense of humor. I loved how dark “Stan” was. I was along for the ride.
