Hypothetical scenario. You go to the movies and buy popcorn and drink.

[Chan790]

11. Markups.

A one gallon container of popcorn is approximately a half-cup of kernels. (cost: about $0.20)
Fake butter...mostly oleoresins of palm oil. (Vegan fake butter is cheaper and "butterier" than the real thing.) Assume 1/4 cup (cost: about $0.30)
Quart of Coca-Cola...(cost: exactly $0.25)

Factor in labor and electricity and permitting--your $1 is approximately accurate.

Note though that microwave popcorn is barely more cost efficient than movie popcorn. For home use, buy an air-popper (<$15) and a bag of kernels. The air-popper will pay for itself in under 1/3 bag of kernels in savings over the cost of microwave popcorn...a box of microwave-popcorn costs $3 and contains 2-4 bags of popcorn. (on average it takes 2 boxes to equal the movie bucket) A 1# bag of kernels costs $3.25 and contains ~22 servings.