Fandom Rewind: The Most Popular Toys in History

Be kind, rewind! From August 21 – 23, Sideshow is throwing it back with Fandom Rewind 2024. This totally retro celebration of pop culture takes collectibles from your past and rockets them into a present-day party. After all, nostalgia never goes out of style! So join us as we spotlight our favorite fandoms of the ’80s and ’90s today.

Toys are a part of everyone’s life. They are especially crucial to collectors. Whether you still have your childhood toys or childhood toys inspired you to get into statue and figure collecting, there’s definitely a linear path there. But what are the most popular and best-selling toys in history? Did you have — or do you still have — some bestsellers? Below, let’s look at 10 of the most popular toys ever. And then race to your garage and see what you’ve got in that plastic bin labeled “nostalgia/childhood home.”

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Rubik’s Cube and LEGO combined problem-solving with playtime

We love a toy that can also increase intelligence. Rubik’s Cubes were originally designed by a professor who wanted to help his students learn three-dimensional geometry. Then, everyone was trying to solve the thing. Adults and kids alike embarked on this global test of spacial skills, in which you attempt to match all color squares on each side. People wanted to find the path with the fewest moves possible to solve it. Others just wanted to fidget. Whatever the reason, it was stimulating those brain cells, so we applaud it.

LEGO also encourages innovation. These elevated building blocks help with patience and problem solving skills. LEGO builders have to follow careful instructions in order for the finished product to be cohesive and complete. The more complex the design, the more attention to detail and organization you must dedicate. Ultimately, of course, LEGO sets are an excellent way to extend your play and relationship with your fandom. You can spend hours building the Death Star and then display it — or dismantle it and do it all over again. Pop on the Star Wars™ movies in the background while you’re at it.

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Hot Wheels made every kid race toward their goals

What’s a little competitive spirit between you and your friends? Competition can be healthy and productive, especially if contests are settled with sick toy cars. Mattel’s diecast Hot Wheels cars are modeled after existing cars as well as cartoon characters. Really, there are super hero cars and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles designs! The aesthetics are top notch. The sound the wheels make when you slide the cars across concrete or the kitchen floor is also super satisfying. Or you can set the cars up on a mechanical race track and watch them whirl. But watch out … this Hot Wheels completionism mindset inspire a lifelong car collecting obsession! It could be super cute to have a Hot Wheels and its life-size counterpart, though.

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Beanie Babies and Teddy Bears kept things cuddly

Look, plushies have been and always will be in style. Teddy bears specifically have always been popular. Available in a variety of colors, sizes, and soft fabrics, teddy bears are made for infants and up. Because there’s not any age limit on wanting a cuddle buddy! Teddy bears usually have stitched on facial features and hard, beady eyes. Their bodies and creation vary in complexity. Many have little ribbons around their necks. Some, like F.A.O. Schwartz’s teddies, are slightly articulated. These bears can also be found everywhere, from dollar stores to high-end toy shops, or one-off, uniquely commissioned premium plush. After all, the teddy bear — and every bear-adjacent creature — is eternal!

Unfortunately, Beanie Babies cannot boast the same longevity. The company Ty’s adorable collection of plush critters exploded onto the scene. Ty produced endless variants, exciting collectors and animal lovers alike who could get their hands on a rarer creature like a cockatoo. Beanie Babies were soft, filled with beans instead of stuffing, and even had special tags that declared their names and backstories. Beanie Babies spawned a massive after-market craze … which eventually plummeted. But hey, if you’re in it for the stuffy and not for the sales, your collection is as valuable as ever.

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Cabbage Patch Dolls and Barbie helped us role-play real life

Dolls of all shapes and sizes help children experience and imagine different phases of life. On the more traditional side, Cabbage Patch Kids represent a wholesome and cutesy era of baby dolls that are meant to simulate caregiving in some way. The company headquarters is actually called Babyland Hospital! Cabbage Patch Kids come with a variety of frilly, colorful clothes and feature soft bodies with vinyl heads. They can be cuddled with, carried, and even put in strollers and bassinets.

Alternatively, Barbie dolls eschew these concepts of motherhood and babysitting. Barbie posits a future of fashion and fierce femininity. With Barbie, girls are able to play at an adulthood that doesn’t only involve becoming a mom. Since her inception, Barbie has helped her youngest fans experience imaginary lives in the modeling world, academia, or even politics and bio-engineering. While other dolls — Dawn, Bratz, MyScene — have attempted to corner niche markets within this demographic, Barbie has outlasted them all.

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Tamagotchi and Yo-Yo reminded us to be responsible

Of course, collectors are in this toy-loving life … well, for life. But toys are meant to be an escape from responsibility and real life, right? Maybe not! Tamagotchi is a brand of digital, handheld pets that owners have to “feed” and care for. You can literally kill your Tamagotchi if you aren’t careful. Maybe this is why we all check our phone notifications ASAP after we hear the vibration! We’ve all been programmed to attend to our pocket-sized, computerized child.

Also, you might be wondering how yo-yos teaches us responsibility. There are two things. One is, it teaches us to be mindful of where we’re playing. Have you ever been smacked upside the head with a yo-yo? It isn’t pleasant. Secondly, yo-yos remind us to stay active. Perhaps it’s mostly arm and wrist exercise. Throw in a little core if you’re doing some fancy stunts with it. Still, the activity/game/toy is a nice way to enjoy some sunshine while moving your body, even if you aren’t trying for the best trick throw.

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Action figures had a lasting impression on pop culture

Finally, we have to applaud the world’s everlasting love for action figures. Hasbro created the very first action figures through the G.I. Joe line. Released in 1964, these 12 inch figures centered on realism and were grounded in a concrete concept of military branches. Now, action figures have limitless potential. They are also most often created in tandem with a fandom/brand. Think of any action-genre film or television series. Chances are, someone made an action figure for you to display on your shelf or entertainment stand while you binge watch. And that makes sense, considering the action figure history. While G.I. Joe came first, what really enhanced the action figure scene as we know it was a specific sci-fi flick.

That’s right — Star Wars: A New Hope™ is the movie to thank for your incredible modern-day collection. Essentially, actions figures launched in 1964, but the popularity kind of died down. Then along comes Star Wars, and a series of Kenner action figures which recreate newly beloved characters. Kids and collectors couldn’t get enough. In response, Hasbro revitalized G.I. Joe into a semi sci-fi, fully action-adventure franchise. We can trace that history all the way up to anime figures, Marvel action figures, and more.

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Did you own any of these toys growing up? How about now? If you’re here, you can probably boast some action figures or Star Wars figures on your shelf. Share your vintage — or modern, or both! — collections at side.show/geekgroup or in the Sideshow Social Network. And as always, don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!