I Drank All of Fanta’s Halloween Sodas

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When I was kid, Halloween was one day. You went trick or treating on October 31, and then you went back to your regular, non-spooky life. If you were lucky, you might find a box of Count Chocula in the store. (Good luck convincing your parents to buy it even if you did.) That was it.

Currently, Halloween has expanded into a prolonged celebration that, in some aspects, outlasts traditional calendar seasons such as summer and autumn. This extension starts with pumpkin decorations appearing as early as August, remaining until Thanksgiving. In this extended period, an array of brands join the festivities, introducing temporary products and embracing the most eerie flavor known to humanity: Pumpkin Spice (a flavor so chilling that merely reading its name might send a shiver down your spine).

It’s impossible to take more than ten steps in a grocery store during the month of September without encountering some unique food or drink with a Halloween theme. As someone who finds themed foods and beverages intriguing (whether it’s an interest or a curse that may lead me to an early demise), I’ve been keeping an eye on this trend, mainly from afar. However, the Halloween season isn’t just about spooky treats; it’s also the perfect time for horror movies. And since trends often intertwine, we see the emergence of themed Halloween food that’s also inspired by movies.

Today, we delve into our sampling: A lineup of Halloween-inspired Fanta beverages! Last October saw the debut of Fanta’s temporary “Haunted Apple” flavor, fondly known as Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Its popularity was unmistakable, leading to this year’s even more tantalizing addition – Chucky’s Punch, a tribute to the infamous doll from Child’s Play. To add to the horror-themed fun, Fanta adorned the labels of their other drinks with an assortment of Blumhouse cinematic villains.

Here at ScreenCrush, as tradition goes, I dive into any food or drinks inspired by movies, share my thoughts with you, and this time it’s fizzy drinks! Given the generous amount of soda in front of me (and let’s face it, I’m not a druid who can polish off a whole batch), my family pitched in. As expected, we had diverse views; however, quite unexpectedly, we unanimously agreed on a favorite flavor – and it wasn’t the one I anticipated!

Here are our reactions to Fanta’s Halloween sodas.

I Drank All of Fanta’s Halloween Sodas

Orange (and Orange Zero Sugar)

Orange soda isn’t really my cup of tea. I admit, it’s a personal preference issue. It’s just not my favorite drink.
On the contrary, my wife adores orange soda, so she was thrilled to have some, regardless if it had anything to do with Five Nights at Freddy’s or not. Fanta provides both standard and zero-sugar options for orange soda; the cans may come in different colors, but the Freddy Fazbear on the label remains constant.
As the orange drink enthusiast in our family, my beloved wife claimed she preferred the full-calorie version over the diet option. To me, both tasted similar, yet again, this is a matter of personal taste. Hopefully, one day I’ll acquire a taste for the intricacies of flavored carbonated beverages.

3. Strawberry

In a striking marketing move, the sinister figure from “The Black Phone” and its upcoming sequel is gracing the can for Fanta’s strawberry-flavored drink. Although I watched “The Black Phone,” I don’t recall Ethan Hawke consuming much carbonated beverage during the film, but perhaps those scenes were left on the cutting room floor.

Regardless of Ethan Hawke’s beverage preferences, let me share my experience with this strawberry-flavored drink. The aroma was indeed strawberry-like, yet the taste was another story. The primary flavor was an overpowering sweetness. It was so sweet that after the third sip, I found myself wondering when I last visited the dentist. It felt as if the character from “The Black Phone” had suddenly grabbed my teeth and given them instant cavities.

2. Pineapple

I can’t say for certain if I’ve ever sampled pineapple soda before, as fruit-flavored beverages aren’t typically my preference. However, this particular one took me by surprise – it tasted like a more intense version of one of my favorite desserts, a Dole Whip ice cream, thanks to its strong pineapple flavor. It was enjoyable on its own and I also thought it could have been paired well with a dash of alcohol.

The only issue I had: The image of Michael Myers on the can seems oddly out-of-place when considering the pineapple flavor. Fanta missed an opportunity here to release a pumpkin spice Halloween soda, as it would have been fitting for the season. It’s unfortunate that they didn’t seize this chance.

1. Chucky’s Punch

Instead of regular Halloween Fanta with fancy labels, Chucky’s Punch stands out as a genuine movie-inspired drink, themed after the iconic Child’s Play series. So, what is this Chucky’s Punch? It’s like fizzy Hawaiian Punch, and if that sounds appealing to you, I believe you would find it quite enjoyable. Given Chucky’s penchant for violence, the bright red color seemed fitting. Interestingly enough, this can of soda with a horrifyingly scarred Chucky image was my seven-year-old’s first encounter with him. For some reason, she couldn’t recall his name properly; she kept calling him “Chunky” instead of Chucky, and then requesting more “Chunky soda”. Now, I find myself referring to him as Chunky too.
To clarify, the text above is a paraphrased version of your original text. The key changes include using simpler sentence structures, providing additional context for readers who may not be familiar with Child’s Play or Chucky, and making the language more conversational to make it easier to read.

The Final Verdict

In a surprise fit for any horror flick, my entire family unexpectedly agreed that Chucky’s Punch was their favorite among the five flavors! It’s unfortunate it’s only temporary; I’d happily drink it again and even search for it sometimes. Unlike the cloyingly sweet Strawberry, this one had a balance to it, and somehow reminded me of Ecto Cooler – a tasty beverage that doesn’t rely on a horror theme and could easily outlast its initial marketing tie-in.

So, to directly address your query: Do I want Fanta? If the Fanta in question is Chucky’s Punch, my answer is an emphatic yes! (I must admit, I can’t seem to stop referring to it as ‘Chunky’ now.)

The Most Ridiculous Movie Tie-In Food Ever Made

20. Subway’s The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Fiery Footlongs

I get it; The Hunger Games’ sequel was called Catching Fire, Subway wanted to promote some “Fiery Footlongs.” If you know nothing about the premise of this franchise then it makes sense to try to get people to eat a Sriracha Chicken Melt by glomming onto a very popular movie.
But if you know anything about The Hunger Games, you know that the characters in this dystopian sci-fi movie are starving; the only way to get additional food rations from the government is to enter your family’s children into a lottery where they might be selected to fight to the death. Hence the name hunger games! And in that context … awfully weird to be like “Hey! Starving like those poor saps who are killing each other for a morsel of food in Panem? Come on down to Subway to try our new Turkey Jalapeno Melt!” Then again, the whole vibe is pretty dystopian. Maybe that’s on purpose.

19. Johnny Rockets’ Kong: Skull Island Street Tots

For quite some time, fast-food chains have been attempting to convert various non-nacho dishes into nacho-like versions. Coinciding with the launch of the Monsterverse’s “Kong: Skull Island,” Johnny Rockets introduced a new dish called “Street Tots” – essentially nachos made from tater tots. One might question the connection between these tater tot concoctions, loaded with bacon, cheddar cheese, and scallions, and “Kong: Skull Island.” The movie is primarily set on an unexplored island surrounded by ocean, devoid of streets or street food like Street Tots. Furthermore, the term “street tot” sounds more akin to something you’d find discarded on the sidewalk than a meal. So, when someone suggests eating these, it gives off a rather unappetizing vibe – as if someone were trying to pass off a roadside find as edible. “Oh no, don’t eat that one. I dropped it. It’s a street tot.” Eww… No thank you!

18. Denny’s Independence Day: Resurgence Red, White & Bacon Menu

When considering the Independence Day films, two ideas come to mind: colossal spacecraft wiping out Earth’s iconic landmarks, and an abundance of bacon. Plenty of bacon, indeed. This connection might seem peculiar, but it’s familiar to you. Then, you visit Denny’s, a renowned pioneer in cinematic cuisine, where the menu boasts a staggering array of options celebrating bacon – from skillets and burgers to samplers, tot-dishes, several bacon slams, and even a bacon-infused ice cream sundae. It felt as though Denny’s envisioned bacon as the extraterrestrial weapon, and your digestive system as a landmark like the Empire State Building.

17. Burger King’s The Addams Family Wednesday Whopper

Recently, Burger King has been quite daring with the colors of their Whopper buns. They’re no longer just your typical bun shades. For instance, when a popular film like “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is released, the buns can turn red. Similarly, they might resemble fire for “How to Train Your Dragon”, and for “The Addams Family”, you could opt for a “Wednesday Whopper” with a purple bun. Interestingly, the vibrant purple bun appeared more appealing than the somewhat pale gray burger I received inside it.

16. IHOP’s Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Stuffed French Toasts

In essence, this restaurant’s menu is themed around an video game that drew influence from films. However, the selection of dishes seems oddly peculiar, warranting a mention. One might expect a promotional event based on Indiana Jones to feature more fitting options, but IHOP opted for stuffed French toast instead, offering three variations as tribute to Xbox’s Indiana Jones at the Great Circle.

When I sampled this menu, the quality of the food was subpar (with the “Explorer’s Caramel Apple Butter Hot Chocolate” being particularly unpalatable), but that’s almost inconsequential. The game is titled Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. So why not serve a classic circular breakfast item like pancakes, given their popularity? Instead, they chose square French toast. IHOP, after all, stands for International House of Pancakes! It’s a bit baffling how such an iconic breakfast establishment managed to miss the mark so significantly on this theme.

15. MrBeast Burger’s Shrek Quesadilla

Over a decade since the last Shrek movie, YouTube sensation MrBeast introduced a green Shrek-themed Quesadilla through his MrBeast Burger enterprise, which was essentially a ghost kitchen that faced numerous legal disputes starting in 2023. The issues stemmed from MrBeast accusing his business partners of damaging his reputation by associating his name with restaurants serving subpar food. In response, the partners sued MrBeast for a claimed $100 million.

Now, one might argue that if you’re preparing food based on a character like Shrek, it seems fitting to make something that looks and possibly tastes less than appealing?

14. IHOP’s The Grinch Grinch’s Green Pancakes

IHOP and Burger King engage in a playful competition over colorful food items. While Burger King offers rainbow Whopper buns, IHOP counters with a variety of colorful pancakes reminiscent of a full Crayola box. As part of their collaboration with the animated film “The Grinch”, they sold green pancakes adorned with cream cheese icing, whipped cream, and candy hearts. Fortunately, unlike the Grinch, they decided to keep the pancakes flat rather than making them furry!

13. IHOP’s The Addams Family Morticia’s Haunted Hot Chocolate

If you’re looking for something truly green in contrast, steer clear of Grinch-themed pancakes; instead, locate a photo of my face post-consumption of a purple hot chocolate inspired by The Addams Family (yes, the same family that was the muse behind the purple Burger King Whopper. For me, this movie is like a personal version of ‘It Follows’, but with food).

Originally, I just wanted a mug of hot chocolate with violet whipped topping and Hershey’s chocolate syrup drizzle, but something went wrong at the blending point because after a few minutes, it transformed into this peculiar, almost radioactive-looking sludge.

12. Denny’s Solo: A Star Wars Story Co-Reactor Pancakes

As a die-hard Star Wars fan, I fondly remember the time Denny’s secured the exclusive license for the Han Solo spinoff movie. They took advantage of it by concocting an entire menu inspired by “Solo,” featuring items like the “Lightspeed Slam” and the “Two Moons Skillet.” However, what truly caught my attention were the “Co-Reactor Pancakes.” These heavenly pancakes were adorned with strawberries, strawberry sauce, whipped cream, and a dash of Pop Rocks, or as Denny’s referred to them, “Crystal Crunch Rocks.”

To this day, I remain puzzled about what a “co-reactor” entails. While it might be the power source for the Millennium Falcon, my searches on Google have yielded no results that make sense within the Star Wars context beyond Denny’s creation. So, it seems as though Denny’s may have redefined Star Wars continuity to cater to their own culinary ambitions? Perhaps, Pablo Hidalgo could shed some light on this peculiar naming choice.

11. IHOP’s Wonka Dreamy Lemonade

It seems IHOP might have saved some purple food coloring from their “Addams Family” specials, as they used it extensively in their “Wonka” menu too. For instance, they had “Wonka’s Exceptionally Purple Pancakes,” smothered with a sweet purple sauce (sauce, icing, whatever), and a “Dreamy Berry Biscuit” drizzled with purple syrup (syrup, mixed berry topping, whatever).

The most peculiar item on the menu was the “Enchanting Lemonade,” which was said to be a prickly pear-flavored lemonade served in a glass rimmed with cream cheese frosting and rainbow sprinkles. However, the cream cheese frosting didn’t resemble typical icing; it looked more like something out of a Willy Wonka fantasy, if you know what I mean. (I apologize. It truly did.)

10. Little Caesars’ The Batman Calzony

Initially, I wanted to know if what was shown resembled a bat. If someone had consumed this enormous blend of Little Caesars pepperoni pizza and calzone – laden with fat and sodium – they might be so disoriented that it could vaguely seem like a flying creature, but not really a bat. However, upon reflection, I must correct my statement: Bruce Wayne became Batman because he encountered a real bat while searching for a symbol to instill fear in the hearts of cowardly and superstitious criminals. If I saw what’s described here coming at me from the rooftops of Gotham City, I would certainly be terrified. Therefore, in that respect, it is an accurate culinary representation of its original inspiration.

9. IHOP’s IF Menu

At IHOP, they created a unique menu inspired by John Krasinski’s puzzling kids movie, “IF”. The standout items were the vibrant Dazzleberry Pancakes, which had a blue-green hue. Another interesting option was a fountain soda with a Bomb Pop dropped in, and another featuring gummy candy floating on top. However, the most extraordinary dish this time was the “Lewis’ Cinn-a-Bear Stack”. Essentially, it was a mountain of pancakes stacked high with another pile of donuts. Remarkably, despite its eccentricity, it tasted fantastic! Isn’t that surprising?

8. White Castle’s X-Men: Apocalypse’s Apocalyptic Waffle Slider

Wow! White Castle took advantage of the debut of Fox’s X-Men: Apocalypse movie to introduce a trio of spicy sliders. The first one had ghost pepper cheese, while the second included crispy onions and chipotle mayo along with that same cheese. Lastly, there was the “Apocalyptic Waffle Slider,” which used mini waffles as buns and featured an egg, spicy chorizo sausage, and more ghost pepper cheese. It’s a bit puzzling why a menu tied to the Marvel villain Apocalypse focused so heavily on spiciness, since heat isn’t one of his powers. However, I must admit that the meal left quite an apocalyptic impression on my digestive system, so there is some truth to the name!

7. IHOP’s Minions: The Rise of Gru Minion Menu

Over the years, IHOP has provided several menus themed around the Minions, including the enticingly named “Loaded Minion Taters.” For instance, you might request more Minions on your taters by saying, “Could I have some more Minions added to my taters, please?”

More recently, their collaboration with the movie “Rise of Gru” presented a variety of items such as two drinks, a milkshake, a burger, iced donuts, and remarkably, “Ba-Ba-Banana Pudding Pancakes.” These pancakes are topped with banana pudding, Nilla wafers, whipped cream, banana slices, and something IHOP mysteriously refers to as “Minion Sprinkles.” Please do not inform me about what Minion Sprinkles are composed of; I prefer to keep the mystery alive.

6. DiGiorno’s Deadpool & Wolverine “The Wade Special” Frozen Pizza

As an example of how movie references can go overboard, consider this frozen pizza, which is reminiscent of the first Deadpool film, where Wade Wilson orders a unique pineapple and olive pizza. DiGiorno named their version “The Wade Special” in reference to that scene.
Coinciding with the release of Deadpool & Wolverine, this peculiar combination can also be seen as a nod to the two main characters from the film, who don’t get along well, much like pineapples and olives. Personally, I enjoy both olives and pineapple on pizza, but their combination is rather unusual for me.

5. IHOP’s The Lorax Gren Eggs and Ham

The combo of IHOP and Dr. Seuss’s whimsical universe is as perfect as green eggs and ham – a dish that IHOP has served during various releases of Seuss’ animated films. In truth, the “green eggs” were simply scrambled eggs with creamed spinach, but it’s exactly what every little fan of The Lorax would dream of having!

I imagine they probably sold far more of their “Truffula Tree Pancakes,” adorned with rainbow sprinkles and a strawberry yogurt sauce, than the creamed spinach eggs. (They even offered a blueberry pancake nestled within a waffle cone! By those standards, green Grinch pancakes were quite mild.)

4. Denny’s Fantastic Four Slamtastic 4 Menu (Including Thing Burger [With Thing Sauce])

You’re asking for a rephrase of the following text in a more conversational tone:

What you have there is a hand-pressed beef patty, layered with crispy hash browns, an egg cooked according to your preference, a slice of cheddar cheese, and two strips of crispy bacon on top. All of this is nestled on a bun that’s been coated in melted cheddar cheese. Sounds like a “Thing burger,” right? That’s what Denny’s served as part of their “Slamtastic 4” menu, inspired by the Josh Trank version of Marvel’s Fantastic Four.

Oh, and did I forget to mention that it was drizzled with a zesty “Thing sauce”? Yeah, it was. Now, Denny’s FF-inspired dishes were quite unusual – they even offered pancakes with clear citrus syrup, and a spicy sausage and egg skillet reminiscent of the Human Torch. But let me tell you, the movie itself was even worse.

Here’s my take:

Check this out! You’ve got a hearty burger with a hand-pressed beef patty, stacked with crispy hash browns, an egg cooked to your liking, a slice of cheddar cheese, and two crisp strips of bacon. Topped with a generous drizzle of “Thing sauce,” this beauty sits on a bun that’s been kissed by melted cheddar cheese. Sounds like the “Thing burger” to me! That’s right, it was Denny’s creation for their “Slamtastic 4” menu, inspired by the Josh Trank version of Marvel’s Fantastic Four.

And guess what? It had a tangy kick from that “Thing sauce.” Now, Denny’s came up with some unique dishes inspired by the FF – like pancakes with transparent citrus syrup, and a spicy sausage and egg skillet echoing the Human Torch. But honestly, the movie left much to be desired.

3. Van Leeuwen’s Glass Onion Ice Cream

In a unique twist that plays into the theme of mystery, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream chose to keep secret the flavor of their special edition ice cream, inspired by the sequel of Knives Out titled Glass Onion. By withholding this information from customers, they effectively hid the fact that the flavor was onion-based, adding an intriguing layer to the marketing strategy. As for my taste buds’ take on this peculiar dessert, it tasted like a chilly version of French onion soup, which made me wonder if it would have been fitting as a tie-in food for Apocalypse Now as well – considering the shock factor of the flavors aligning with the film’s iconic horror scenes.

2. Denny’s The Hobbit Menus

As a dedicated movie enthusiast and foodie, let me share my thoughts on an extraordinary collaboration that took the dining experience to new heights – the partnership between Denny’s and the Hobbit movies. Unlike other chain restaurants that typically introduced a single themed item or kids meal with a toy inspired by a film, Denny’s went above and beyond for both of the first two Hobbit films, An Unexpected Journey and The Desolation of Smaug.

The menu offerings were nothing short of spectacular, featuring mouthwatering dishes such as the “Lonely Mountain Treasure” – seed cake French toast pieces dipped in cream cheese icing, the “Smaug’s Fire Burger” with jalapenos, a cheddar bun, and “special X-sauce,” the delightful “Radagast’s Red Velvet Pancake Puppies,” and the mysterious “Hobbit Hole Breakfast.” These themed menus generated an enormous amount of buzz on social media, paving the way for the current trend of highly Instagrammable tie-in food.

1. IHOP’s Horton Hears a Who Who-Cakes

In a league of their own, the peculiar dishes on Denny’s “The Hobbit” menu pale in comparison to this extraordinary IHOP creation inspired by the 2008 film “Horton Hears a Who.” This unique masterpiece was composed of a tower of pancakes adorned with multicolored chocolate chips, drizzled with blueberry and boysenberry syrups, all held together with a giant lollipop.

The promotional image gives off a decidedly mad vibe, while the photos taken by customers reveal an even more unsettling sight. (It’s worth noting that IHOP also offered green eggs and ham for “Horton” – apparently, some kids would rather have eggs and creamed spinach than lollipop pancakes.)

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2025-09-10 18:37