Toy preview (and advice) for Star Wars fans on the eve of Force Friday
Posted Thursday, September 3, 2015 at 10:32 AM Central
Last updated Thursday, September 3, 2015 at 10:38 AM Central
by Tim Briscoe
Yes, you will be able to buy these Chewbacca slippers
When Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2013 and announced a new trilogy of Star Wars sequels, it didn't take a Jedi soothsayer to know there would also be new movie merchandise. Since the beginnings of the Star Wars saga in 1977, toys and collectibles have played a huge role.
Huge as in $27 billion dollars. That's the estimated total revenue in the franchise's 38-year history. Only 16% of that pie chart is movie tickets. Over 44% is toys -- by far the biggest piece.
This exchange of money for molded plastic collectibles will begin anew this Friday. At 12:01 a.m. retailers will start selling merchandise for this December's Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Disney is calling the event Force Friday. There has been a global unboxing event broadcast live on YouTube. It's a lengthy event so there's a good chance you can still watch:
I'm a a seasoned Star Wars collector. I've spent more money in my lifetime on Star Wars stuff than I care to know. I still own all the action figures released through 1985. I have enough Millennium Falcons, Yodas, and Tauntauns to fill a room in my house -- much to my wife's chagrin.
I've come to realize I can't buy everything. Even if I had an infinite supply of money, I couldn't collect it all. There is just too much. Even the most famous of collectors, Steve Sansweet of Rancho Obi-Wan, can't have it all.
That's my advice to you as product starts to fill the shelves. Slow down. Don't get caught up in the hoopla. Most everything will be there Force Saturday, Force Sunday, or whatever day they next claim as a holiday. You might even wait to see the new movie (gasp!) before you buy the new stuff, if at all. Lots of people got burnt buying "cool" Jar Jar toys before Phantom Menace's release. Wait to see the film and figure out what you like best.
My absolute favorite part of the original movies is the Battle of Hoth from The Empire Strikes Back. I've elected to make that my focus. If there are new snowspeeders, AT-ATs, or Wampas to be had, I might buy them. Even with that narrow collecting target, I don't care to own it all. And it just so happens that my wallet agrees with me.
It is fun to look. I almost always walk down the toy aisles to see what new goodies are available. I will probably find my way into a Wal-Mart or Target this Friday. You know, just to observe the madness.
It's safe to assume you don't have the time to watch all 18 hours (yes, seriously) of Star Wars reveals in that YouTube broadcast -- who does? Thankfully a kind soul on Reddit is chronicling all the collectibles in one lengthy post.
Below are just a few of the new items to be available for purchase. Truly, there has not been an assortment as wide as this in the history of Star Wars.
I think this remote control BB-8 toy will be the must-have item for everyone.