Movie-theater Popcorn Nutritional Value

Although air-popped popcorn can be low in calories and fat, movie-theater popcorn tends to be very high in both calories and fat. Typically, popcorn served at movie theaters is cooked in large quantities of oil and is topped with a lot of melted butter. Because of this, the popcorn may not be a good choice if you are dieting or on a restricted-calorie diet.

Calorie Content

One large-sized movie-theater popcorn contains 1,640 calories. This amount is 82 percent of the daily recommended intake of 2,000 calories. According to LIVESTRONG.COM's MyPlate, one large-sized popcorn contains more calories than nine glazed donuts.

Fat Content

Movie-theater popcorn is high in calories partly due to the high fat content. Each large-sized portion provides 126 g of total fat. This portion also contains 73 g of saturated fat. If you adhere to the American Heart Association's recommended limit of 16 g of saturated fat daily, then this portion provides four and a half days worth of saturated fat.

Carbohydrate Content

Movie-theater popcorn is rich in carbohydrates. Each large-sized portion contains 90 g of carbohydrates. Of these carbohydrates, 24 g come from fiber. Fiber is a vital nutrient that helps you maintain regular bowel movements.

Protein Content

One large-sized serving of popcorn at your local movie theater contains 26 g of protein. Although this is 53 percent of the daily recommended protein intake, this popcorn is not a good source of protein because it contains so many calories overall, and protein comprises just 6.5 percent of the calories in popcorn.

Sodium Content

As with many commercially produced snack foods, popcorn served in movie theaters is also high in sodium. This salty snack contains 600 mg of salt in each large-sized portion. Because salt may lead to high blood pressure and other complications, the American Heart Association suggests a limit of 1,500 mg per day. This means a large-sized serving of popcorn from the theater concession stand provides 40 percent of your daily recommended sodium intake.