McDonald's is bringing back its classic Hamburglar character to promote some changes to its menu lineup (2024)

McDonald’s Corp. is bringing back the Hamburglar to help promote minor changes it’s made to the recipes for some of its burger offerings.

The Hamburglar, a classic mascot of the fast-food chain second only to Ronald McDonald, returned in the company’s newest TV commercial, the fast-food chainsaid Monday.

The character is being used to promote improvements to the Big Mac, McDouble, and the classic Cheeseburger, Double Cheeseburger and Hamburger. In addition to extra Big Mac sauce on Big Macs and softer buns, the company said it tweaked its cooking process to “get hotter, meltier cheese,” and changed its grill settings in order to achieve a better sear.

It’s not the first time McDonald’s has revived the Hamburglar to promote certain menu items. In 2015 itremade the characterinto a bearded hipster with a trench coat who had a craving for a new sirloin burger. McDonald’s restaurantsphased outthe limited-time menu item when it expired later that year.

The new changes were initially tested in Australia, Canada, and Belgium and have been introduced in certain western US cities. They will be rolled out to the entire US by 2024, McDonald’s said.

McDonald’s recently found itself in the center ofcontroversyfor its menu changes, particularly surrounding meals promoted by rappers Cardi B and Offset. Some franchisees argued that the partnership violated the company’s marketing code and would hurt their brand due to the nature of the rappers’ music, which features profanities and sexual content. In response, McDonald’s said it was focused on placing the company at the “center of culture.”

McDonald's is bringing back its classic Hamburglar character to promote some changes to its menu lineup (2024)

FAQs

McDonald's is bringing back its classic Hamburglar character to promote some changes to its menu lineup? ›

McDonald's brought back the Hamburglar last April when announcing changes coming to its classic burger lineup, which includes the signature Big Mac sandwich. The introduction of the Burgercuda serves to raise awareness and drive traffic around the nationwide availability of the revamped menu.

Why is McDonald's bringing back the Hamburglar? ›

The fast-food chain is hoping some small changes to how its burgers are cooked will have customers flipping. All-new hotter, juicier, tastier burgers are officially rolling out at McDonald's, and the company has brought back a familiar foodie accomplice to mark the occasion: Hamburglar.

What character is McDonald's bringing back? ›

McDonald's is reviving its golden age of advertising

Last week, McDonald's announced the return of the Hamburglar to promote its new and improved hamburgers, the latest marketing push centered around a classic character from the McDonaldland spokesuniverse.

What happened to McDonald's Hamburglar? ›

This rebranding of a beloved children's character to a live-action adult was off-putting and short-lived. But in 2023, the Hamburglar returned once more in a new series of nostalgic TV commercials.

Why did McDonald's change the characters? ›

With the introduction of the "I'm lovin' it" campaign, McDonald's advertising began to focus more on adults and less on children. While Ronald McDonald continued well past that time, this virtually marked the end of the McDonaldland characters, who have appeared only occasionally since then.

Is the Hamburglar evil? ›

The Hamburglar, also originally a villain, was a thief that targeted hamburgers and sandwiches, but he is now more of a lovable rogue character.

What is Grimace supposed to be? ›

According to McDonald's, Grimace is supposed to be the “embodiment” of a milkshake. The grinning purple blob has commonly been interpreted by others as a taste bud. “The original Grimace was scaly, mean-looking, had four arms, and had no charm whatsoever.

Is McDonald's bringing back Grimace? ›

Is the Grimace Shake Back for 2024? In an official press release from May 13, McDonald's confirmed that for the second summer in a row, the Grimace Shake is, indeed, returning. "The rumours are true," the post begins.

Why is Grimace evil? ›

Grimace was first introduced to the franchise in a 1970s commercial as an antagonist, then called “Evil Grimace,” who stole milkshakes. Grimace was soon reintroduced as a friendly character and dropped “Evil” from his name.

Who is the oldest McDonald's character? ›

"Ronald McDonald, the Hamburger-Happy Clown" debuted in 1963 on three separate local television spots.

Why did Ronald McDonald go to jail? ›

Ronald McDonald (February 25, 1926 – August 7, 2011) was an American convicted child molester known for playing Santa Claus for over 25 years before confessing to his crimes.

Is Hamburglar A Boy or a girl? ›

Hamburglar is a petty thief who was dedicated to stealing hamburgers and first appeared in 1971. His appearance has also varied over the years, from an old man to a red-haired teenager, but always with a mask over his eyes and a hat.

What does the Hamburglar steal? ›

The second spot depicts the Hamburglar's heist, in which he drops down into the restaurant to steal a tray of sandwiches. Viewers will recognize the thief from his typical striped outfit, burger tie, black mask, fedora and cape.

What is McDonald's changing their name to? ›

McDonald's is changing their name. But only temporarily. For the time being, McDonald's will take the risky chance of changing their famous “M” to a “W,” and will now be known as WcDonald's all over the United States.

What is the purple McDonald's character? ›

The lovable, spherical-shaped, purple giant has always been one of McDonald's most recognizable characters, with his bright smile and his arms always open for a hug.

What was Hamburglar's slogan? ›

His previously unintelligible mutterings were also replaced with an actual catchphrase. “Robble robble!” became his rallying cry.

What is the new McDonald's burger in 2024? ›

McDonald's legendary Big Mac is getting bigger in 2024...and we have the official scoop. Say hello to the Double Big Mac, available at participating McDonald's restaurants nationwide for a limited time starting Jan. 25. The Double Big Mac is double the fun with four 100% all-beef patties.

What new items are coming to McDonald's in 2024? ›

Discover the mouth-watering additions to McDonald's menu launching on April 17th, 2024. From the Lotus Biscoff Frappe to the Chicken Big Mac, satisfy your cravings with these delectable delights. Don't miss out on the Galaxy Caramel Pie and other new desserts!

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