List of films based on toys explained

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

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, 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 (), 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 ().

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, , 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

!Film Title!Year!Source Toy!Manufacturer!Release Type
2004American GirlMattelTelevision film
2005Television film
2006Television film
2008Theatrical Release
2009Direct-to-video
2012Direct-to-video
2013Direct-to-video
2014Direct-to-video
2015Direct-to-video
2016Direct-to-video
Battleship2012BattleshipHasbroTheatrical Release
Bratz: The Movie2007BratzMGA EntertainmentTheatrical Release
Barbie2023BarbieMattelTheatrical Release
Clue1985CluedoWaddingtons/Parker BrothersTheatrical Release
Dungeons & Dragons2000Dungeons & DragonsTSR/Wizards of the CoastTheatrical Release
2005Television film
2012Direct-to-video
2023Theatrical Release
Jem and the Holograms2015Jem and the HologramsHasbroTheatrical Release
The Garbage Pail Kids Movie1987Garbage Pail KidsToppsTheatrical Release
2009G.I. JoeHasbroTheatrical Release
2013HasbroTheatrical Release
Snake Eyes2021HasbroTheatrical Release
The Hugga Bunch1985The Hugga BunchHallmark Cards/KennerTelevision film
Mars Attacks!1996Mars AttacksToppsTheatrical Release
Masters of the Universe1987Masters of the UniverseMattelTheatrical Release
2022Monster HighMattelTelevision film
Monster High 22023
My Pet Monster1986My Pet MonsterAmerican GreetingsDirect-to-video
Ouija2014OuijaHasbroTheatrical Release
2016Theatrical Release
2013RobosapienWowWeeTheatrical Release
Transformers2007Transformers Hasbro/TomyTheatrical Release
2009Theatrical Release
2011Theatrical Release
2014Theatrical Release
2017Theatrical Release
Bumblebee2018Theatrical Release
2023Theatrical Release

Animated films based on toys

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: From toys to the big screen. Peterson. Jeffrey. Deseret News. 2012-05-17. 2013-07-11.
  2. Web site: 'Transformers' Roots Can Be Traced To Care Bears, My Little Pony, In Rewind. Heitmueller. Karl. MTV. 2007-06-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20140222055412/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1563309/rewind-transformers-not-first-movie-based-on-toys.jhtml. dead. February 22, 2014. 2013-07-11.
  3. Web site: What Hollywood Can Learn From the End of Universal's Ill-Fated Hasbro Deal. Brodesser-Akner. Claude. Vulture. 2012-02-06. 2014-02-11.
  4. Web site: How to Make a Movie Out of Anything — Even a Mindless Phone Game. French. Alex. The New York Times. 2017-07-27. 2018-07-25.
  5. Web site: Other toy makers are looking to build on success of 'The Lego Movie'. Miller. Daniel. Los Angeles Times. 2014-02-11. 2014-02-11.
  6. News: Lang. Brent. Paramount, Hasbro Sign Five-Year Distribution, Production Pact. November 6, 2017. Variety. November 3, 2017.
  7. News: Barnes. Brooks. It’s Hollywood Barbie’s Moment (and She’s Bringing Her Friends). July 10, 2021. New York Times. July 9, 2021.
  8. News: Fleming. Michael. Graser. Marc. Barbie’s a Living Doll at Universal with Big Screen Plans. July 10, 2021. Variety. September 23, 2009.
  9. News: Creswell. Julie. Mattel’s Revival Plan: Bet on Barbie, the Movie. July 10, 2021. New York Times. December 13, 2018.
  10. News: Rubin . Rebecca . 25 April 2023 . Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling Bring Plastic, Fantastic 'Barbie' to CinemaCon . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230425185045/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/greta-gerwig-and-margot-robbie-barbie-cinemacon-1235586958/ . April 25, 2023 . 25 April 2023 . Variety.

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