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McDonald's Sets May 5 U.S. Launch for 'Stranger Things: Tales From '85' Happy Meal

The tie-in channels diners into the McDonald's app through a QR game to reinforce loyalty during higher dining costs.

Overview

  • The Happy Meal debuts in the United States Tuesday, May 5, with one of 12 collectible toys, an activity book, and a QR code that opens a Stranger Things game.
  • The QR experience routes customers into McDonald's app for rewards and personalized deals to encourage repeat visits.
  • A phased rollout is underway outside the U.S., with launches extending to Brazil, Singapore, Norway, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, Italy, and India.
  • McDonald's is leaning on pop-culture partnerships as diners watch spending, with government data showing restaurant prices up 3.8% in the year through March.
  • The campaign follows a March Netflix tie-in and builds on nearly 210 million active digital users and about $37 billion in 2025 loyalty sales.