Wikipedia

List of films based on toys

This article lists feature length animated and live action theatrical, television and direct-to-video films based on toys, tabletop games and trading cards. Many of these films are based on dolls and action figures made by American toy companies Hasbro and Mattel.[1]

History of films based on toys

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Prior to 1977, toys were released together with films as merchandising tie-ins. Films that were suitably toyetic spawned numerous licensed properties, often marketed heavily to children. Beginning in the late 1970s, this approach was flipped as films began to appear that were based on popular toys. In 1977, Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure debuted as the first theatrical motion picture in which a consumer toy was the star.[2] During the 1980s, action figures got their own films, such as Masters of the Universe (The Secret of the Sword) and Transformers (The Transformers: The Movie), as did dolls, such as Pound Puppies (Pound Puppies and the Legend of Big Paw) and My Little Pony (My Little Pony: The Movie). Also in the 1980s, the greeting card companies American Greetings and Hallmark Cards created popular characters that were made into toys, on which films were later based, such as The Care Bears (The Care Bears Movie), Rainbow Brite (Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer), and Strawberry Shortcake (Strawberry Shortcake: The Sweet Dreams Movie).

A resurgence of live action film adaptions of toy properties began in 2007 with the release of Transformers, the first film in what would become the Transformers film franchise. The first film in the G.I. Joe film franchise, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, was released two years later. In 2008, Hasbro entered into a deal with Universal Pictures to make at least 4 films based on its brands and products. In 2012, the poor performance of the first film from this partnership, Battleship, caused other projects in development to be shelved or sold off to other studios.[3] The success of The Lego Movie in 2014 showed that even intellectual properties without an existing narrative, or even familiar characters, could be profitable and its success renewed the interest of toy companies and film studios in producing toy-related projects stuck in development hell.[4][5]

On 3 November 2017, Hasbro Studios entered into a five-year production and distribution deal with Paramount Pictures to develop additional productions based on Hasbro brands.[6] In 2021, Mattel Films announced a development of 13 films in production based on Mattel toys and games, such as Hot Wheels, Magic 8 Ball, Masters of the Universe, Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, Polly Pocket, View-Master, American Girl and Uno, as well as an original intellectual property in Christmas Balloon.[7] After being in development for over a decade, a live-action film adaptation of Barbie was announced by Warner Bros. Pictures with actress Margot Robbie cast as Barbie and Greta Gerwig directing.[7][8][9] Released on 21 July 2023, Barbie was the first live-action Barbie film after numerous computer-animated films and specials.[10] The film received critical acclaim and grossed more than $1 billion in worldwide box office sales, becoming the second highest-grossing film of 2023, the highest-grossing film of all time solely directed by a woman and from Warner Bros. in their centennial anniversary and the 25th highest-grossing film of all-time.

Live-action films based on toys

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Film Title Year Source Toy Manufacturer Release Type
Samantha: An American Girl Holiday 2004 American Girl Mattel Television film
Felicity: An American Girl Adventure 2005 Television film
Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front 2006 Television film
Kit Kittredge: An American Girl 2008 Theatrical Release
An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong 2009 Direct-to-video
An American Girl: McKenna Shoots for the Stars 2012 Direct-to-video
An American Girl: Saige Paints the Sky 2013 Direct-to-video
An American Girl: Isabelle Dances Into the Spotlight 2014 Direct-to-video
An American Girl: Grace Stirs Up Success 2015 Direct-to-video
An American Girl: Lea to the Rescue 2016 Direct-to-video
Battleship 2012 Battleship Hasbro Theatrical Release
Bratz: The Movie 2007 Bratz MGA Entertainment Theatrical Release
Barbie 2023 Barbie Mattel Theatrical Release
Clue 1985 Cluedo Waddingtons/Parker Brothers Theatrical Release
Dungeons & Dragons 2000 Dungeons & Dragons TSR/Wizards of the Coast Theatrical Release
Dungeons & Dragons: Wrath of the Dragon God 2005 Television film
Dungeons & Dragons: The Book of Vile Darkness 2012 Direct-to-video
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves 2023 Theatrical Release
Jem and the Holograms 2015 Jem and the Holograms Hasbro Theatrical Release
The Garbage Pail Kids Movie 1987 Garbage Pail Kids Topps Theatrical Release
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra 2009 G.I. Joe Hasbro Theatrical Release
G.I. Joe: Retaliation 2013 Hasbro Theatrical Release
Snake Eyes 2021 Hasbro Theatrical Release
The Hugga Bunch 1985 The Hugga Bunch Hallmark Cards/Kenner Television film
Mars Attacks! 1996 Mars Attacks Topps Theatrical Release
Masters of the Universe 1987 Masters of the Universe Mattel Theatrical Release
Monster High: The Movie 2022 Monster High Mattel Television film
Monster High 2 2023
My Pet Monster 1986 My Pet Monster American Greetings Direct-to-video
Ouija 2014 Ouija Hasbro Theatrical Release
Ouija: Origin of Evil 2016 Theatrical Release
Robosapien: Rebooted 2013 Robosapien WowWee Theatrical Release
Transformers 2007 Transformers Hasbro/Tomy Theatrical Release
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen 2009 Theatrical Release
Transformers: Dark of the Moon 2011 Theatrical Release
Transformers: Age of Extinction 2014 Theatrical Release
Transformers: The Last Knight 2017 Theatrical Release
Bumblebee 2018 Theatrical Release
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts 2023 Theatrical Release

Animated films based on toys

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References

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  1. ^ Peterson, Jeffrey (2012-05-17). "From toys to the big screen". Deseret News. Archived from the original on July 11, 2013. Retrieved 2013-07-11.
  2. ^ Heitmueller, Karl (2007-06-26). "'Transformers' Roots Can Be Traced To Care Bears, My Little Pony, In Rewind". MTV. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved 2013-07-11.
  3. ^ Brodesser-Akner, Claude (2012-02-06). "What Hollywood Can Learn From the End of Universal's Ill-Fated Hasbro Deal". Vulture. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  4. ^ French, Alex (2017-07-27). "How to Make a Movie Out of Anything — Even a Mindless Phone Game". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-07-25.
  5. ^ Miller, Daniel (2014-02-11). "Other toy makers are looking to build on success of 'The Lego Movie'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  6. ^ Lang, Brent (November 3, 2017). "Paramount, Hasbro Sign Five-Year Distribution, Production Pact". Variety. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  7. ^ a b Barnes, Brooks (July 9, 2021). "It's Hollywood Barbie's Moment (and She's Bringing Her Friends)". New York Times. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  8. ^ Fleming, Michael; Graser, Marc (September 23, 2009). "Barbie's a Living Doll at Universal with Big Screen Plans". Variety. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  9. ^ Creswell, Julie (December 13, 2018). "Mattel's Revival Plan: Bet on Barbie, the Movie". New York Times. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  10. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (25 April 2023). "Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling Bring Plastic, Fantastic 'Barbie' to CinemaCon". Variety. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.

See also

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