# 90s-Inspired QSR Meals The Dave’s Hot Chicken X-Meal Celebrates X-Men '97 Season Two By Michael Hemsworth | Published 2026-06-30 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/daves-hot-chicken-xmeal References: [foodbeast](https://www.foodbeast.com/news/daves-hot-chicken-teams-up-with-marvel-for-a-new-x-men-meal/) & [daveshotchicken](https://daveshotchicken.com)  The [Dave’s](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/daves-bites) Hot Chicken X-Meal is a retro-inspired meal deal being offered by the brand in celebration of the X-Men '97 season two release to help fans of all ages get involved in the excitement. The menu item consists of the Dave's #4 slider with fries or a 10-piece order of Dave's Bites with fries alongside one of four [collectible toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonalds-collectors-meal). The toys are each inspired by characters from the franchise and thus drive home a nostalgic 90s-inspired design for fans to collect. The Dave’s Hot Chicken X-Meal is priced at $13.99 and will formally launch on July 1, 2026 to coincide with the launch of the X-Men '97 season two that fans can stream on [Disney+](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/golden-berry). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 7.9/10 - Popularity: 75% | Activity: 77% | Freshness: 84% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Branding](https://www.trendhunter.com/branding) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Nineties-inspired Dining:** Retro visual cues and childhood-era fandoms are reshaping limited-time meals into cross-generational cultural products with premium appeal. - **Collectible Toy Meals:** Character-based collectibles add repeat-purchase value to meal bundles by blending quick-service convenience with scarcity-driven fan commerce. - **Streaming Release Tie-ins:** Entertainment launch calendars are becoming retail activation platforms where food promotions extend audience engagement beyond the screen. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Quick-service Restaurants:** The category is evolving through media-linked meal drops that transform everyday orders into branded fan experiences. - **Streaming Entertainment:** Platform franchises gain additional cultural reach when new seasons are paired with physical dining products and collectible merchandise. - **Licensed Merchandise:** Franchise collectibles embedded in food purchases create accessible entry points for fans while expanding licensing revenue beyond traditional retail. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Nostalgic Adult QSR Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonaldland-meal.md) - [Sci-Fi Show QSR Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonalds-x-stranger-things.md) - [Value-Driven QSR Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mvp-meal-deal.md) - [Spicy Collaboration QSR Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hot-ones-munchie-meal.md) - [Horror Movie QSR Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/popeyes-freddy-fazbear-crunch-menu.md) - [Affordable Nostalgia Value Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/slap-box.md) - [Spice-Challenge Chicken Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/houston-tx-hot-chicken-1.md) - [Mozzarella Cheese-Inspired QSR Offerings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hot-mozz.md) - [Limited-Time Themed Adult Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/adult-meals.md)