Few media franchises are able to build generational fandoms. But “Star Wars,” which released its first movie in 1977, is one of them.
While it’s impossible to nail down just how much money the “Star Wars” universe has brought in over the last five decades, it’s estimated that at the box office alone the franchise has earned more than $10 billion.
And fan demand continues. In May 2026, the franchise will be releasing its first big-screen production, “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,” in seven years. The film’s star, Pedro Pascal, told Fandango that the latest installment in the universe feels like “a true adventure.”
In celebration of the franchise’s return to theaters, and that adventurous spirit it brings out in viewers, Burger King is releasing a limited-time menu in collaboration with “Star Wars,” bringing out-of-this-world flavors to a drive-thru near you.
The Burger King and “Star Wars” menu collab, collectibles
Starting on May 4th, affectionately known by fans as “Star Wars Day,” Burger King will be offering a “Mandalorian and Grogu” menu at participating restaurants. The menu consists of four distinct items and offers diners a chance to collect four keepsake cups.
“Star Wars has shaped generations of fans, and as we head into the release of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, we saw an opportunity to bring that excitement straight into our restaurants,” Burger King North America’s Chief Marketing Officer Joel Yashinsky said in a statement.
“From themed packaging to bold, flavor-forward menu items, this is our way of celebrating an iconic new film with the iconic flame-grilled taste only Burger King can deliver,” he continued.
“Star Wars has always been about bringing generations of fans together. The Burger King ‘Have It Your Way’ spirit makes them the perfect brand to help fans celebrate the upcoming theatrical release of ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ because it’s rooted in bringing people together through shared, memorable experiences,” Walt Disney Vice President of Partnerships Jan Coleman said.
“Together, we’re giving fans and families a fun and delicious way to connect with the excitement of the galaxy,” she continued.
The Star Wars x Burger King menu will include:
- BBQ Bounty Whopper — a quarter-pound hamburger topped with melted swiss, crispy pickle chips, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and BBQ bounty sauce served in a helmet-shaped carton
- Grogu’s Blue Cookie Shake — creamy soft serve swirled with blue sugar cookie syrup and topped with blue cookies
- Grogu’s Garlic Chicken Fries — crispy white meat chicken fries topped with parmesan and garlic, served in a Grogu-themed carton with garlic dipping sauce
- Imperial Cheddar Ranch Tots — crispy tater tots stuffed with cheese and ranch seasoning, served in an imperial-themed carton
Source: Burger King
Diners can unlock the keepsake cups with the purchase of a Bounty Bundle (a special consisting of all four menu items), the BBQ Bounty Whopper combo, or the 12-piece Grogy’s Garlic Chicken Fries combo.
Younger diners can get in on the fun, too. Starting on April 28th, The Mandalorian and Grogu King Jr. Meal will be available at select restaurants.
The kids meal will come in specially branded packaging and will be complete with “a Mandalorian-themed toy for the next generation of galactic adventurers.”
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Burger King’s reinvention plan
Over the past several quarters, Burger King has been working on its “Reclaim the Flame” growth plan. Collaborations, like this one with “Star Wars,” have been a key component of the company’s strategy.
During the Restaurant Brands International, Burger King’s parent company, Q4 FY2025 earnings call, CEO Josh Kobza highlighted how instrumental these collabs have been for Burger King’s overall growth.
“Marketing and menu innovation played an important role during the quarter,” he told investors. “In December, we launched the SpongeBob SquarePants menu…The activation drove strong guest engagement and brought families back into our restaurants, with kids’ meals reaching their highest incidence level in the last 10 years.”
More restaurants:
- Buffet chains shutter locations nationwide
- Chili’s rewards loyal fans with new menu items
- Jack in the Box fights to keep dozens of stores from closing
“Importantly, we were able to retain traffic after the promotion ended, with new SpongeBob guests coming back to Burger King in January,” he continued.
Comparable sales were up 1.6% year-over-year in 2025, largely thanks to the increase in traffic driven by the promotions. Given the fact that “Star Wars” fanbase is much larger and covers a bigger generational cross section of consumers, it’s possible that this new collaboration will be a much bigger traffic driver than anything the fast food chain has done thus far.
The Burger King and Mary J. Blige controversy
The “Star Wars” menu release is also coming at a time when Burger King is in desperate need of some good press coverage.
In a recent episode of Scott Evans’ YouTube Interview series “House Guest,” the Queen of R&B reflected on her controversial 2011 ad with the fast food chain. In the TV spot, Blige sings a jingle about the chain’s chicken wrap sandwiches. But the tune didn’t land, leading many fans to dub it stereotypical and offensive.
In a recent summary of the controversy, USA Today notes that Burger King apologized to Blige for the controversy and quickly pulled the commercial from the airwaves. It didn’t take long, for the whole thing to blow over and for many fans to forgive the chain’s “racist” misstep.
But now, as Blige is speaking out about the emotional turmoil the episode put her through — telling Evans “it doesn’t feel good still, because I was getting clobbered for no reason” — the chain finds itself back in the hot seat. Perhaps the restaurant is hoping that a major new collaboration will be enough to push that mistake out of diners’ minds once and for all.
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