Pot Noodle Fuels Cinema’s Hunger for Horror

    Date
    Author Joby Reeves

Pot Noodle is sponsoring Digital Cinema Media’s new “Dead Good Films” package in a three-month cinema deal targeting horror-fanatics. It’s the first ever cinema spot for the snack brand, serving up an advertising takeover of  2026’s biggest horror releases.   

Live until late March, the campaign includes a 30” ad, two horror-themed DCM idents and a revamp of Cineworld’s Turn Your Phone Off (TYPO) segment – strategically placing Pot Noodle across the entire ad reel. DCM has launched its new Dead Good Films package to help brands reach horror fans, positioning Pot Noodle ahead of the hottest thrillers, including 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Scream 7, The Bride and many more.  

Watch for a new take on DCM’s iconic cinema ident:  

Horror fanfare has reached lofty heights in recent years, with Stranger Things, The Last of Us, and record-breaking films like The Conjuring: Last Rites (£6.8m opening weekend), transforming brand safety for the genre and inviting lucrative commercial opportunities. Horror now delivers the highest percentage of 16-34-year-old cinema viewers, with a higher average than Tik Tok, providing a unique opportunity for Pot Noodle to reach younger audiences.  

Cinemagoers will be presented with a new flavour of the traditional Turn Your Phone Off spot, with DCM Studios delivering a Pot Noodle twist on the traditional messaging.  

Horror movies now make up as much as 8% of DCM’s yearly admissions, setting a strong precedent for growth in the genre. The new-look Dead Good Film’s package is curated to help brands tap into this cultural power strategically. 

Jeremy Kolesar, Creative Director at DCM Studios said: “There’s an undeniable appetite for horror in the UK among 16-34-year-olds, a demographic which dominates the genre in AV. Age-old concerns for brand safety no longer apply, and the love for these horror franchises far outweigh any content fears. Pot Noodle is feeding this frenzy for horror with a well-crafted, targeted campaign set to reach millions of ticketholders. We’ve launched Dead Good Films to make buying into horror as simple and effective as possible.” 

Madeleine Boulton, Senior Brand Manager at Pot Noodle: “Before the internet comes at us, we're not advocating for people to eat noisy snacks in the cinema. However, our Pot Noodle fans appreciate a no‑nonsense, deeply satisfying way to tackle hunger whenever it strikes. This campaign is our tribute to that love, by celebrating our fans, their favourite flavours, and the unapologetic ways they choose to enjoy Pot Noodle, no matter what others might think.”