Weirdest Merchandise for Popular Movies
Movie merchandise can be a goldmine when done right, but sometimes studios greenlight products that make you wonder who exactly signed off on the idea. From items that completely miss the mark to collectibles that are downright bizarre, Hollywood has produced some truly head-scratching tie-ins over the decades.
Here is a list of the weirdest merchandise ever created for popular movies.
C-3PO Tape Dispenser
Back in 1983, someone at Sigma thought it would be brilliant to create a ceramic C-3PO tape dispenser where the roll of tape sits between the droid’s legs. The expression on C-3PO’s face as you pull tape from this unfortunate position has made it one of the most notorious Star Wars collectibles ever produced.
These bizarre dispensers now sell for around $400 on the collector’s market, proving that notoriety has its own kind of value.
E.T. Atari Video Game
Atari paid somewhere between $20-25 million for the rights to create an E.T. video game, then gave programmer Howard Scott Warshaw just five weeks to develop it in time for Christmas 1982. The resulting game was so confusing and frustrating that about 3.5 million of the 4 million cartridges produced were returned or went unsold.
The company eventually buried truckloads of unsold cartridges in a New Mexico landfill, and this disaster became one of the factors contributing to the video game industry crash of 1983.
Jar Jar Binks Tongue Lollipop
The Phantom Menace merchandise campaign in 1999 included what might be the most disturbing candy ever created. This lollipop featured Jar Jar Binks’ head as a dispenser, and when you pushed a plunger, his mouth would open to reveal a textured, tongue-shaped strawberry lollipop.
Even Mark Hamill has called this the goofiest tie-in ever created for the Star Wars franchise, and that’s saying something given how much weird Star Wars merchandise exists.
Django Unchained Action Figures
The Weinstein Company created eight-inch action figures for Quentin Tarantino’s 2013 film, including figures of enslaved characters from the movie. Civil rights groups including Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network called for a boycott, arguing the toys trivialized the horrors of slavery.
Only about 1,000 figures were produced before the line was discontinued, and they now sell for hundreds of dollars on the secondary market.
Rocky ‘The Meat’ Action Figure
Jakks Pacific decided the iconic meat locker training scene from Rocky deserved its own action figure, so they created a poseable slab of beef complete with a tiny robe. The meat comes with detailed sculpting to look like an actual side of beef that Rocky would punch during training.
This might be the only action figure in history that depicts food as the main character.
Rocky Wheelchair Action Figure
As if the meat wasn’t strange enough, Jakks Pacific also released a limited edition figure of Rocky in a wheelchair with visible bruises from Rocky II. Only 1,800 of these were made, turning a rather somber moment from the film into a collectible that feels oddly inappropriate.
Some collectors claim this is one of the best figures ever made for under $20, though it’s hard to imagine displaying a bruised, wheelchair-bound action figure on your shelf.
Dark Vader Burger
French and Belgian fast food chain Quick launched a limited edition ‘Dark Vador’ burger in 2012 to promote the 3D reissue of The Phantom Menace. The burger featured a completely black bun that looked appetizing in advertisements but reportedly looked far less appealing in reality.
The same concept was later recycled for The Dark Knight, proving that studios will reuse even their most questionable food tie-ins.
Matrix Reloaded Samsung Phone
Samsung’s SPH-n270 was featured in The Matrix Reloaded and then released as limited edition merchandise in 2003. The phone came pre-loaded with Matrix-themed ringtones, wallpapers, and menu designs.
These phones now sell for up to $2,500 on eBay, which seems excessive for a device that could only display eight lines of text.
300 Spartan Leather Briefs
After Zack Snyder’s 300 hit theaters, licensed replicas of the Spartan leather briefs worn in the film became available for purchase. These historically-inspired undergarments retailed for between $79 and $95, depending on where you shopped.
Finally, Hollywood created something resembling a costume option for men beyond the usual superhero fare.
Magnolia Silicone Prop Frogs
Paul Thomas Anderson’s film features a biblical rain of frogs in its climax, and someone decided these prop frogs deserved to be collectibles. The silicone frogs sold for around $2,000 each, complete with certificates of authenticity.
Paying two grand for a tiny prop frog you’d probably lose within months seems like a questionable investment at best.
The Fly Prosthetic Feet
Jeff Goldblum’s grotesque, purple prosthetic feet from the 1986 horror film sold on eBay for $4,125. These misshapen, sore-covered fly feet are exactly as disgusting as they sound.
The buyer must have been a serious horror collector, because these definitely aren’t something you’d display prominently in your living room.
Shawshank Redemption Metal Food Trays
Six pressed steel sectional cafeteria trays from the prison scenes sold at auction for $450. The item description was appropriately bland and straightforward for what amounts to generic prison dining equipment.
This proves that if a movie is beloved enough, even the most mundane props can find buyers.
Ghostbusters Ghost Blasters Keychain
Hardees released this forgotten keychain tie-in that featured sound chips playing effects from the 1989 movie. The keychain was marketed as a way to warn friends and colleagues about ghosts with the press of a button.
In reality, it just annoyed everyone within earshot with its lame sound effects and Slimer artwork.
Twister Necktie
Someone looked at the 1997 disaster movie about terrifying tornadoes tearing through Oklahoma and thought the perfect merchandise would be a necktie. The obvious promotional opportunity of a launchable toy cow apparently escaped them entirely.
This remains one of the most baffling disconnects between a film’s content and its merchandise.
Kill Bill Letter Opener
A tiny sword-shaped letter opener was released as merchandise for Quentin Tarantino’s revenge film. While it didn’t come with a miniature scabbard, it would have instantly made any mid-2000s desk space feel more cinematic.
The disconnect between using a sword to open mundane mail and the film’s brutal action makes this oddly charming.
2001: A Space Odyssey Monolith Action Figure
The mysterious black monolith from Stanley Kubrick’s film got its own action figure, despite being literally just a rectangular block. Calling it an ‘action’ figure seems generous when the object has zero movable parts and does nothing.
This might be the most minimalist collectible ever produced for a major film.
Terminator Sunglasses
Gargoyles released replica ANSI Classics sunglasses matching the ones Arnold Schwarzenegger wore in the first Terminator film. These same glasses also appeared in Dirty Harry, making them a two-for-one deal for movie fans.
Unlike most items on this list, these actually made practical sense as wearable merchandise.
When Merchandise Misses the Mark
The strangest movie merchandise reminds us that not every blockbuster needs its universe expanded into consumer products. What seemed like a good idea in a boardroom often translated into items that confused audiences or, worse, actively offended them.
Studios have learned valuable lessons from these missteps, though the temptation to slap a movie logo on anything that might sell clearly remains strong. These bizarre collectibles now serve as time capsules of marketing decisions that ranged from misguided to downright inexplicable, proving that sometimes the best merchandise strategy is knowing when to say no.
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