This '90s Dairy Queen Chocolate Treat Was Inspired By A Film

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Dairy Queen has never quite achieved the heights of the true titans of fast food, but it's still a solid, reliable option for a quick bite. The chain is known for its delicious and unique frozen treats that are not technically ice cream, as well as traditional fast food items like burgers and sandwiches, plus some slightly off-the-beaten-path options like pretzel sticks and cheese curds (just be sure to avoid this list of the absolutely worst items to order at Dairy Queen). Oh, and it's also known for that creepy ad campaign in the early 2000s where the Dairy Queen logo turned into a big pair of lips, but the less said about that, the better. 

Of all the food items Dairy Queen has sold over the years, only one is inspired by a movie starring Nicolas Cage. Yes, in 1996, DQ decided to introduce a sweet treat named after a film that came out two years prior. And which movie was calling out for a frozen-treat connection? It was none other than "The Rock," an action movie directed by Michael Bay and starring Cage and Sean Connery, which centers on their escape from Alcatraz. From this cinematic inspiration sprang DQ's Chocolate Rock.

The Chocolate Rock is definitely one of the most intriguing Dairy Queen items from the '90s that you've probably forgotten about. So what exactly was it? It was basically a sundae with nuts and a heaping helping of chocolatey goodness. Specifically, there was a thick bottom layer of hot fudge, then vanilla soft serve filling up most of the cup, more fudge, a sprinkling of almonds, and a hardened chocolate shell topping it all off. It retailed for $2.29. While the connection to the Michael Bay film, outside of the name, may not be super clear, what is evident is that this was a delicious offering for chocolate lovers.

Dairy Queen realized this too. The popularity of the Chocolate Rock led them to extend the life of what was supposed to be a one-season, limited edition release. Ultimately, it didn't become a permanent part of the menu, but even today it hasn't completely disappeared. If you're lucky, you might be able to find one of the DQ locations that will still make you one as part of a hidden menu (sometimes with pecans instead of almonds).