Hot products like a “Minecraft”-themed meal helped McDonald’s turn around its sagging sales in the second quarter.

The Chicago burger giant said Wednesday its revenue rose 5% to $6.8 billion in the April-June period. That was higher than the $6.7 billion Wall Street forecast, according analysts polled by FactSet.

Same-store sales, or sales at locations open at least a year, jumped nearly 4%. Analysts had predicted a 1% decline.

It was a far different story than the first quarter, when U.S. and global same-store sales slumped and McDonald's said lower- and middle-income consumers were cutting back on fast food.

But a meal tied to “A Minecraft Movie,” which was offered in 100 countries starting in April, drove customers back to stores. McDonald's said it sold out of its collectible figures in less than two weeks.

McDonald's new McCrispy chicken strips also boosted customer traffic after they were added to the menu in May.

McDonald's net income rose 11% to $2.25 billion in the second quarter. Adjusted for restructuring charges and other one-time items, the company earned $3.14 per share. That was in line with Wall Street's forecast.

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Six soldiers were honored, each receiving Meritorious Service Medals, Thursday for heroic actions responding to the shooting at Fort Stewart. “One of the things I can say unequivocally is that the fast action of these soldiers — under stress and under trauma and under fire — absolutely saved lives from being lost,” U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll told reporters as the six soldiers stood near him Thursday. “They are everything that is good about this nation.” (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC