Here's how several current popcorn poppers performed:

• Nostalgia Electric's Old Fashioned Movie Time Popcorn Maker
  www.bedbathandbeyond.com
  Boxy popper recalls old-fashioned theater poppers — kind of — but has air-popper innards. There were lots of unpopped kernels, one of which traveled 8 feet.
  
  
• Orville Redenbacher's hot-air popper
  www.gopresto.com
  Classic, upright air-popper. Easy to use, easy to clean, fast and healthy- but the popcorn has a lack of taste. Presto models are widely available in stores and online.
  
  
• Popcorn popper with detachable handle
  www.bromwellhousewares.com
  Sturdy and simple, it can be used over stove or fire, and pops almost all the kernels. But the lid was hard to remove and the price is high for a low-tech implement.

• Whirly Pop popcorn popper
  www.popcornpopper.com
  Best value. Low-tech stove-top pot has a folding lid and a crank. It was fun to use and turned out fluffy, crunchy popcorn.