Regal’s Butterscotch ICEE Is Back for Harry Potter’s 25th
Regal Butterscotch ICEE returns Aug. 24, timed to Harry Potter’s Sorcerer’s Stone 25th anniversary re-release. Here’s what’s in the cup.
If you caught a whiff of butterscotch and caramel drifting out of your local movie theater lobby last year, get ready for round two. Regal Cinemas has confirmed that its Butterscotch ICEE, the frozen treat fans immediately nicknamed “movie theater Butterbeer,” is returning to concession stands beginning August 24, and this time it’s riding in on one of the biggest Harry Potter anniversaries yet.
What’s In the Regal Butterscotch ICEE Cup
The Regal Butterscotch ICEE is exactly what it sounds like on paper, but it is dressed up a little for the occasion. The frozen butterscotch base gets a layer of cold foam on top, finished with a drizzle of caramel sauce. It’s not marketed as an official Butterbeer tie-in (Regal can’t call it that), but the flavor profile and presentation are clearly aimed at scratching that exact itch for guests who can’t make it to Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World for the real thing.
This isn’t a brand-new item. Regal first introduced the Butterscotch ICEE in 2025 during its original “Back to Hogwarts” marathon, and it apparently sold well enough to justify an encore. The chain hasn’t announced an end date this time around, saying only that it will be available at select locations while supplies last.
Why Now: Sorcerer’s Stone Turns 25
The Regal Butterscotch ICEE timing isn’t a coincidence. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone turns 25 this year, and Warner Bros. is marking the occasion with a global theatrical re-release running August 27 through September 3, 2026, playing at AMC, Regal, Cinemark, Megaplex, Harkins, and Marcus Theatres. The Sorcerer’s Stone screenings will even include roughly 12 minutes of previously unreleased behind-the-scenes footage, a genuine draw for longtime fans who’ve already seen the film a dozen times.
Regal is going a step further than the wider industry re-release window. Its own “Back to Hogwarts” celebration kicks off August 25, two days ahead of the global start date, and runs one film per day through September 1: Sorcerer’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, Deathly Hallows Part 1, and Deathly Hallows Part 2. Regal has also confirmed 4DX screenings for the full lineup, with tickets priced at $9.75, a nod to Platform 9¾.
More Than a Drink: Popcorn Buckets Join the Lineup
The Butterscotch ICEE isn’t traveling alone. Regal is also rolling out a set of Harry Potter-themed popcorn buckets for the anniversary, including a Hogwarts Express replica and a Nimbus 2000 broomstick tin with a removable base for scooping popcorn. For collectors who’d rather keep things simple, Regal is also offering a 130-ounce popcorn tin and a 24-ounce cup topped with a Golden Snitch, a more understated option compared to last year’s set of book-shaped tins and house-branded cups.
How It Stacks Up to the Real Thing
The Regal Butterbeer ICEE version is a fun, accessible substitute, not a replacement. The Wizarding World’s frozen Butterbeer leans tangier and more buttery, with that distinctive shortbread-adjacent flavor and thick foam topping that’s become iconic in its own right. The Regal Butterbeer ICEE version is sweeter and closer to a straightforward butterscotch slush, with the caramel drizzle doing a lot of the heavy lifting to bridge the gap. It won’t fool anyone who’s had the original, but for a mall multiplex concession stand, it’s a genuinely clever bit of counter-programming, and it’s a lot cheaper than a plane ticket to Orlando.
It’s also worth noting Regal isn’t the only chain leaning into the anniversary. Cinemark has its own popcorn bucket lineup for the Sorcerer’s Stone re-release, including a tin that lights up and comes with a wand-shaped stirrer, though as of now the Butterscotch ICEE appears to be a Regal exclusive.
The Regal Butterscotch ICEE Details
- Availability: Beginning August 24, 2026, at select Regal locations while supplies last
- What it is: Butterscotch-flavored ICEE topped with cold foam and caramel drizzle
- Tie-in event: Regal’s “Back to Hogwarts” marathon, August 25 – September 1, 2026
- Broader context: Global theatrical re-release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone for its 25th anniversary, August 27 – September 3, 2026
Regal hasn’t confirmed which specific locations will carry the Butterscotch ICEE, so if you’re planning a run, it’s worth calling ahead or checking with your local theater before you build a whole outing around it.
For more theme park-related news and information, visit MSM News. As always, eat like you mean it!
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