Remember when you were a kid, or maybe it was last week...when you had the privilege of receiving that magical card board box with the golden arches for handles, that we call a Happy Meal? It was a good day when your mom or dad agreed to get you a Happy Meal. I still remember my first Happy Meal, or at least my first memorable one. It was back in 1997 when the Beanie Baby craze was so big that McDonald's started offering mini Beanie Babies inside their Happy Meals! It was actually thanks to Mickey Dees that I got hooked on Beanie Babies because the first one I ever got was inside a Happy Meal and it was a tiny Goldie the orange Goldfish. I still remember it to this day. I was so happy to get that tiny Beanie Baby! My mom got into it with my too and from that moment on we'd go Beanie Baby hunting! We'd visit multiple stores here and there in our spare time looking for them. We must have gotten hundreds of them! It was a fun bonding activity with my mom that I cherished. I still have the collection in my parents attic somewhere...I digress though.
The original Happy Meal was first introduced in 1979. It was circus themed and came with a burger, fries, cookies, a soft drink, and a toy. Before McDonald's started teaming up with big companies like Mattel, Disney, Nintendo, and more, they put out their own branded toys. However, it did not take long for McDonald's to start collaborating with other companies as the same year they introduced the product is the same year they put out promotional toys starting with Star Trek. The motion picture Star Trek came out that year and so McDonald's put out 5 different Start Trek themed boxes with souvenirs, thus beginning the start of themed Happy Meal boxes.
With that being said, TheToyZone decided it would be a fun idea to cook up some imaginary Happy Meals that could have been in the 80s! Which Happy Meal box would you have liked to see come out during your childhood but sadly Mickey Dees just never put out? If you grew up in the 80s, there is a good chance you might be able to at least see what that Happy Meal box could have looked like...let's take a look!
Top Gun, anyone?
This is my favorite 80s movie and even though I was not alive for when it came out, I still think a Top Gun Happy Meal box and toy would be badass! my husband would have loved this!
Top Gun Happy Meal ConceptPhoto: TheToyZone
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
This movie is just a classic. I feel like you cannot think of 80s movies without this movie coming up. Teens and kids alike would have been flocking to McDonald's for this Happy Meal!
Ferris Bueller's Day Off Happy Meal ConceptPhoto: TheToyZone
The Shining
Despite this classic 80s horror film being released in May of 1980, it would have made a "killer" Happy Meal promotion in October! Spooky!
The Shining Happy Meal ConceptPhoto: TheToyZone
The A-Team
A fun action packed 80s movie for sure! This Happy Meal would be a big draw too!
The A-Team Happy Meal ConceptPhoto: TheToyZone
The Breakfast Club
Hey, hey, hey, hey! This is another top 80s movie that I think everyone immediately thinks of when they think 80s movies. This would definitely be a Happy Meal I'd want to get my hands on! How about you?
The Breakfast Club Happy Meal ConceptPhoto: TheToyZone
Knight Rider
Another badass 80s movie! What boy in the 80s wouldn't want to get their hands on this action hero toy in their Happy Meal? Come on!
Knight Rider Happy Meal ConceptPhoto: TheToyZone
My Neighbor Totoro
I'll be honest with you. I don't know this one...the imagery looks familiar but I'll take TheToyZone's word for it that it was a popular 80s movie that a lot of 80s kids/teens would have loved to get a Happy Meal of!
My Neighbor Totoro Happy Meal ConceptPhoto: The ToyZone
Blade Runner
Another action packed hero! I'd want a Rick Deckard/Harrison Ford action figure in my Happy Meal too!
Blade Runner Happy Meal ConceptPhoto: TheToyZone
Labyrinth
You know I know this was a huge movie in pop culture in the 80s and I've seen a ton of imagery from the movie, but I've never actually seen the movie. It's on my to watch list. Of course David Bowie is just an icon and thus why so many were drawn to the movie even more, so a Happy Meal with him as the action figure is just super cool!
Labyrinth Happy Meal ConceptPhoto: TheToyZone
I have to say those are some pretty damn cool Happy Meal concepts! My top 3 that I would personally want though are Top Gun, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and The Breakfast Club. TheToyZone and CGI artist Jan Koudela did a great job creating these imaginary Happy Meals! I hope all of you readers enjoyed seeing these concepts as much as I did. Since we never got to experience them in real life, it was nice to just imagine!
Damn, now I'm craving McDonald's after all this Happy Meal talk!
-Producer Lightning
Photo Credit: TheToyZone