McDonald's and Netflix Are Pitting 2 K-Pop Rival Meals Against Each Other

McDonald’s is turning a fictional K-pop rivalry into a real-world fan showdown.

Starting March 31, the fast-food giant is teaming up with Netflix to launch two limited-edition meals inspired by the film KPop Demon Hunters.

Here, they'll be inviting fans to pick a side between HUNTR/X and the Saja Boys, translating the on-screen conflict into a physical, shareable experience across stores nationwide.

“Everything we do at McDonald’s is for the fans, and no one can relate to that more than Netflix and KPop Demon Hunters,” said Alyssa Buetikofer, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer at McDonald’s. 

“Big things happen when you bring two massive fandoms together, and this partnership was a natural fit.”

Each meal is designed to capture the identity of its respective group.

The Saja Boys Breakfast Meal features a Spicy Saja McMuffin with a peppery sauce inspired by the film’s demon lore, paired with hash browns and a drink.

Meanwhile, the HUNTR/X Meal anchors the all-day offering with Chicken McNuggets, Ramyeon McShaker Fries, and two signature sauces, donning Korean-inspired flavors.

Netflix sees the brand partnership as an extension of the animated story that captured the hearts of many.

“KPop Demon Hunters has ignited an incredibly passionate global fandom, and we’re always looking for authentic ways to bring fans deeper into the worlds they love,” said Marian Lee, CMO at Netflix.

Overall, the initiative continues the trend of a growing reliance on brand collabs to bridge entertainment and retail.

Through these tie-ins, passive viewers can turn into active participants.

How the Collab Turns Fans Into Players

Beyond the menu, McDonald’s is layering in collectible and digital mechanics to seal the deal and capture the hearts of fans. 

Each meal includes a photocard pack tied to either HUNTR/X or the Saja Boys, along with a Derpy access card.

Fans can scan a QR code and enter a unique code into the McDonald’s app to unlock early access to exclusive content.

This then culminates in a reveal of which group wins the “Battle for the Fans.”

The experience is further enhanced by the launch of the "Derpy McFlurry," a dessert featuring vanilla soft serve mixed with popping pearls and wild berry sauce.

McDonald's positions the ice cream as a "neutral offering," allowing it to appeal to fans regardless of their preference.

Ultimately, limited-time products, collectible incentives, and app-based rewards allowed the fast-food giant to build a closed-loop system that connects in-store purchases to digital engagement.

The result is a campaign that sells meals and keeps the K-pop fandom alive. 

McDonald’s Fan-Driven Meal Battle

The Big Mac-maker's latest campaign shows how entertainment tie-ins can evolve into full-funnel engagement systems:

• Turning fictional rivalries into real-world choices gives fans a role. This increases their emotional investment in the product and repeat participation.
• Pairing physical collectibles with digital gives the campaign a longer lifespan. It also drives app usage and measurable engagement loops.
• Introducing new products alongside themed items helps brands capture undecided consumers all without breaking campaign narrative cohesion.

McDonald's remains the top fast-food chain in the U.S. in terms of system-wide sales, earning approximately $53.469 billion in 2024. 

Our Take: Are Fans Buying the Story or the Meal?

The meal is just the entry ticket.

What McDonald’s is really selling here is allegiance.

When fans place an order, what they're actually doing is picking a side, scanning a code, and maybe arguing about it later online.

And that’s where things get interesting.

What makes this genius is how McDonald's not only created products that would please a fanbase, but it also gave them something to discuss by the time they're done with their meal.

In short, the fast-food chain wants you to play along. And if you do, it rewards you just enough to come back again.

In other news, McDonald's recently tapped into the card-collecting community by dropping its first-ever trading cards in the UK. 

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