KFC opens Hawkins Fried Chicken in the Stranger Things universe
By James Herring on Monday, November 10, 2025
With Stranger Things heading into its final season, KFC UK has dropped a collaboration that leans all the way into the Upside Down.
Created by Mother London and directed by Nick Roney, the campaign reimagines the brand as “Hawkins Fried Chicken” — a last bastion of comfort food amid the show’s collapsing town.
The campaign’s centrepiece is a high-energy film that channels Stranger Things’ signature themes of community and determination.
Set in a version of Hawkins overrun by interdimensional chaos, the spot follows a group of fast-food crew members navigating blockades and supernatural rifts to deliver hot chicken to hungry locals.
KFC’s bringing the tie-in to life with limited-time menu items: a “Stranger Things Burger” stacked with a Zinger fillet, sweet-and-spicy sauce, and a rift-red bun, plus “Stranger Wings” that riff on its classic Hot Wings. Physical and digital activations will deepen the immersion.
According to Mother creatives Tomas Coleman and Derek Man Lui, the key was finding a genuine thematic overlap. “The Stranger Things kids’ unwavering belief in protecting Hawkins mirrors BELIEVE perfectly,” they said. “We’ve created a partnership that pulls fans into Hawkins while reinforcing KFC’s brand truth.”
Netflix’s Jordan Peters noted the partnership’s commitment to authenticity, from the use of retro tech to the in-universe branding. “Together with KFC, we used authentic 80s technology to create a story that comes to life online, socially and in real life.”
The final season of Stranger Things premieres in the UK on November 27.
Until then, Hawkins Fried Chicken is serving up something for fans hungry for both lore and lunch.
