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Home > Uncategorized > McDonald’s Halloween Boo Buckets Are Back — and Some Fans Aren’t Happy

McDonald’s Halloween Boo Buckets Are Back — and Some Fans Aren’t Happy

Marie Calapano
Published October 8, 2025
Source: Andrii Kordis on Unsplash

McDonald’s is reviving one of its most nostalgic promotions: the Halloween Boo Buckets, arriving in restaurants nationwide on October 21, 2025. But while fans are lining up for a dose of childhood nostalgia, not everyone’s pleased. A tiny detail that the management has “time and again” missed has reignited an online uproar that’s anything but child’s play.

The Return of a Halloween Classic

Source: McDonald’s

The Boo Buckets first launched in 1986, becoming a seasonal tradition for McDonald’s Happy Meals. This year, the fast-food giant is bringing them back once again — complete with five themed designs: the returning Ghost, Pumpkin, and Goblin, plus two new faces, Cat and Zombie. Each bucket includes Halloween-themed stickers for decorating, appealing to both kids and nostalgic adults.

The Release Date and Details

Source: monticello / Shutterstock.com

According to Today.com, Boo Buckets officially hit restaurants on October 21 and will replace standard Happy Meal boxes through Halloween — or while supplies last. McDonald’s teased their comeback with the post: “Boo! We’re back — did you miss us?” reminding fans that “there’s only one OG Halloween bucket.” Some locations expect to sell out in days.

The New Faces: Cat and Zombie

Source: McDonald’s / Canva Pro

McDonald’s added two fresh designs to the lineup: a black cat with glowing yellow eyes and a mischievous grin, and a red zombie with a playful snarl. As USA Today notes, the new characters of the iconic Happy Meal blend spooky fun with modern flair. Fans praised the “Cat Bucket” as the star of the set — a creative nod to McDonald’s effort to evolve without losing its retro soul.

The Missing Lids Controversy

Source: McDonald’s / Canva Pro

But for many fans, nostalgia isn’t complete without the snap-on lids that topped the original 1980s buckets. Instagram and X quickly filled with frustration over their absence. Comments like “WE. WANT. LIDS.” and “Why is it so hard for them to replicate the originals?” echoed across McDonald’s posts. As one user wrote, “It’s cute — but it’s not the same without the lid.”

“Sadly, I Won’t Get Any” — Fans React

Source: Canva Pro

Influencer @markie_devo posted early photos of the 2025 collection, sparking hundreds of comments. While some loved the new Zombie and Cat designs, others weren’t sold. “I like the colors,” one fan commented, “but without the lid, sadly, I won’t get any.” Others joked they’d “pay extra for a topper,” turning the missing lid into an unlikely rallying cry.

McDonald’s Competitors Join the Fray

Source: Commercial Archivist / YouTube

McDonald’s isn’t the only brand tapping into Halloween nostalgia. FOX 4 News reports that Burger King’s Monster Menu and Wendy’s Frosty Frights Kids’ Meal are also competing for spooky-season attention. Each offers collectible pails or toys, suggesting that Halloween has become a serious and sentimental marketing battlefield for fast-food giants.

A Nostalgic Marketing Win

McDonald’s restaurant exterior in Alexandria, Ukraine with people walking past
Source: Shutterstock

Despite the social media drama, Boo Buckets remain a marketing triumph. Every October, McDonald’s finds itself at the center of online buzz, fueled by millennial nostalgia. As ABC News reports, fans eagerly await their return each fall — not just for the toy, but for the memory of heading to McDonald’s in costume, clutching a plastic pail filled with candy.

The Halloween Tradition Lives On

Source: YELP / Wikipedia Commons

Over nearly four decades, Boo Buckets have come and gone in various designs and colors, sometimes skipping years entirely. The 2025 edition continues that legacy, mixing collectibility with nostalgia. As local reports point out, McDonald’s has learned that “nostalgia sells” and few symbols evoke Halloween joy quite like those smiling pumpkin faces.

Trick-or-Treating on Memory Lane

Close-up of McDonalds outdoor sign with typical rounded yellow M letter against cloudless blue sky. Sign is positioned on the left side of image.
Source: iStock

This year’s Boo Buckets are more than toys — they’re time capsules. While the missing lids remind fans that you can’t fully recreate the past, their return shows how nostalgia keeps fast food culture alive. Whether you’re chasing childhood memories or collecting every color, McDonald’s has once again made Halloween feel deliciously familiar.

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