The '80s Pizza Hut Glass Collectible Cups Worth Checking Thrift Stores For

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Millennials have practically perfected nostalgia — as a child of 1984, I can attest to this. The 1980s and 1990s were years of many firsts, bringing forth questionable kitchen design trends, girl power, boy bands, blockbuster movies, the dawn of messaging via dial-up internet, and, subsequently, the Y2K phenomenon (and fear). Chains, too, capitalized on these moments through marketing campaigns, promoting their brands by selling promotional products at their individual outlets.

One chain that was exceptionally great at doing this was Pizza Hut. The pizza chain, known for its retro vibe, meal deals, iconic red plastic cups, many pizza styles (which we ranked), and BOOK IT! program (which has been around since my birth year and is still very much in existence), also had a knack for collectible glassware. Here's how the promo worked: Each week, a new 16-ounce glass featuring iconic characters from popular series and movies would drop for a mere 49 cents with every Pizza Hut pizza purchase (or with a glass of Pepsi back in the 1970s). It was every kid's ultimate goal to collect the whole set.

I still have many of these, including the entirety of the Care Bears set and most of "The Flintstones" set — all in pristine condition — stowed away at my parents' house (thanks, Mom and Dad)! It brings me great joy to report to millennials and beyond that these glasses can currently be found at thrift stores and on websites alike, often for a reasonable price.

My love for the Care Bears runs deep, and I have no shame in saying that I've watched "Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation" in recent years. The Pizza Hut collection of four features four of the main bears: Cheer Bear, Grumpy Bear, Funshine Bear, and Tenderheart Bear. Run, don't walk, as you can typically find entire sets on Etsy or eBay for under $50.

What Gen Z and Gen Alpha may not know is that there was, in fact, a kids' version of the Hanna-Barbera classic called "The Flintstone Kids" that ran for two seasons from 1986 to 1988 (though a flop, those were two glorious seasons). Pizza Hut, too, ran with the beloved Saturday morning cartoon, offering up four glasses depicting "The Flintstones" main characters: Fred, Wilma, Barney, and Betty. You can typically find the entire set for between $30 and $55 on sites like eBay and Etsy — a steal for this geriatric millennial.

"E.T." has remained a classic film since its theatrical release in 1982. The movie featured products from countless brands, and Pizza Hut was among the many major players to capitalize on the beloved film through merchandising deals. The four-piece glass set features quotable moments, including "Phone Home," and "I'll Be Right Here." Full sets are a bit harder to find, but they are occasionally available on resale sites like Mercari and eBay; individual glasses are easier to snag.

Mattel's Popples franchise, featuring plush toys that you could pop inside their own pouches, had a brief stint of popularity in the mid-1980s (I absolutely had one). The four glasses in the Pizza Hut set featured Party Popple, P.C. Popple, Puffball Popple, and Puzzle Popple. In 1986, these bad boys were sold for the tune of 49 cents a pop (heart be still). Full sets are more difficult to come by, but you might get lucky and find one on a resale site for under $125.