From Star Wars: A New Hope to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the Star Wars films have been popular with audiences since the original trilogy was released in 1977. Just as popular are the variety of action figures and collectibles that have been released to go along with the film franchise. Star Wars action figures and toys are among the most popular collectible items today, well-loved both by those who grew up with the original three films and by newer fans of today.

In this blog post, we’ll dive into the history of Star Wars toys, discuss 25 of the rarest and most collectible toys available, and review the factors that contribute to the value of these toys.

A Brief History of Star Wars Toys

The first Star Wars movie was released in 1977, permanently impacting the world of sci-fi movies. It was about one year later the various toys that were released began to have their impact on the toy industry. When George Lucas and 20th Century Fox planned the marketing for Star Wars, they intended to sell t-shirts, posters, lunchboxes, and toys related to the movie. This was unheard of at the time! Lucas planned to take the majority of his revenue from the merchandise sales, which in the long run paid off mightily.

When Star Wars released, the demand for toys was spawned, but the toys were not produced yet. For Christmas that year, toy companies such as Kenner decided to give away Early Bird Certificates, which allowed kids to mail order four figurines, which included Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, Princess Leia, and Chewbacca. This move was criticized, but it at least kept these toys on people’s minds. In 1978, Kenner introduced its Star Wars line of toys, which made over $100 million in the first year.

Over the years, more movies and toys were produced. Today there are eleven Star Wars movies, each with toys associated with them. Today, the toys are just as popular – if not more popular – than when they were first released. The early vintage action figures have significantly grown in value, and toys in their original packaging are worth the most on the secondary market.

The 25 Most Elusive Star Wars Collectibles and Their Worth in 2023

When it comes to Star Wars, there are nearly endless variations of action figures and toys from the movies, and they are quite popular with collectors. Read on for 25 of the rarest and most in-demand Star Wars collectibles and their value in 2023.

1978 blue Snaggletooth

When Star Wars first came out, there was a high demand for Star Wars action figures. People wanted them so badly that the toy company, Kenner, released characters that only appeared in one scene of the film, such as Snaggletooth.

In the film, his uniform was red, but the original action figure accidentally came out with a blue uniform. This mistake was corrected later, but the original action figure with the blue uniform is now worth around $350.

1978 vinyl cape Jawa

Jawas are creatures that have a large role in the franchise. The 1978 vinyl cape Jawa is one of the rarest of the Jawa action figures, with the sewn vinyl cape being its distinguishing feature. It has been auctioned for $25,000 in the original box in mint condition.

Double telescoping lightsaber Obi-Wan Kenobi

When Kenner first released figures of Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Darth Vader, the three figures had double-telescoping light sabers. These sabers could extend out twice, which meant that they could fit a longer lightsaber in a small base.

This design was eventually cast aside due to its cost, but the original designs are worth a pretty penny. Any Obi-Wan Kenobi kept in the original packaging sells for around $148.

1983 Yak Face

The character of Yak Face made its first appearance in Return of the Jedi. Kenner produced an action figure of this character, which was sold in Europe and Canada but never made it to the United States. Today, this limited-run action figure is in demand, and is worth around $1,000.

1980 Medical Droid FX-7

The medical droid made its appearance in the Empire Strikes Back, working to aid Luke Skywalker in healing. This droid action figure was released two times, once with a TESB 31 backing card in 1980, and then later with a Tri-Logo ROTJ backing card. These can sell for as little as $5 or as much as $12,000.

1988 Glasslite Vlix

The character of Vlix is a droid who worked as head of security for the Fromm Gang. His action figure was slated for release in 1988, but the toy line was canned after only one round was released. This Vlix action figure never made it to toy store shelves, and today it is worth between $5,000 and $20,000 in its original packaging.

1980 small head Han Solo

This Han Solo action figure was released in America in 1980 during the release of The Empire Strikes Back. It was taken off the shelves due to the fact that its head was too small for its body. Today, this imperfect figure is selling for about $2,500.

MTV 7-Inch Mini Rig 1983

MTV stands for Multi-Terrain Vehicle, and this vehicle was designed to navigate the Hoth terrain. The toy was released to tie in with Return of the Jedi, and not many of them were produced. In their original packaging, this toy can sell for around $7,000.

Spanish-language Star Wars figures

These toys were printed in the Spanish language and were originally sold outside of the United States. They were usually produced in small quantities, making them a valuable collectible item today. Spanish language action figures from the 1980s can sell for as much as $5,000.

1978 Unpainted L-Lock Rocket Fire Boba Fett

This unpainted prototype of a Boba Fett action figure was never actually sold and has become quite valuable today. Its resale value is around $236,000.

1978 Death Squad Commander

When Kenner released the Death Squad Commander, they quickly decided that this name was too dark for children. They rushed out a new label, calling the toy a Star Destroyer Commander. The original packaging that reads “Death Squad Commander” has become quite valuable, selling for as much as $6,500.

1999 C-3PO Lego Minifigure prototype

This Lego Minifigure is a prototype of a C-3PO from 1999. The body paint for this figure was a bit too bright, which is why this version didn’t last for a long time. However, it has become quite valuable as a collectible, selling for over $3,200 on the secondary market.

1985 Gamorrean Guard with collectors’ coin

This guard has pig-like features and is seen guarding Jabba the Hut’s palace in Return of the Jedi. Despite not being a well-liked character, an action figure of this character in the original box can command up to $5,500. The big selling point is the collectors coin that this comes with.

1979 Boba Fett

Boba Fett made his debut in an unpopular Star Wars holiday special. When he was originally released, no one bought his action figure. However, today the character has become a popular one, and this action figure is now worth around $12,000.

1977 Darth Vader’s original TIE Fighter design

In the Star Wars movies, Vader’s TIE fight was given curved wings to help audiences know who was piloting the vehicle during the Death Star trench climax of the first movie. Kenner released this toy in the original design, which featured straight wings rather than curved. They soon released an updated toy with curved wings, but the original straight-winged vehicle is now worth around $4,000.

1988 TIE Interceptor

A Brazilian toy company released a unique TIE interceptor that wasn’t like the ones seen on the big screen. It combines elements of Darth Vader’s design with a Star Destroyer. It was very popular in its day, and today is worth around $2,000.

1982 Walrus Man/Bib Fortuna

In the first releases of this toy, Bib Fortuna, a lesser-known character, was sold as “Walrus Man.” Today, as collectors enjoy collecting more obscure characters, this toy in its packaging is worth nearly $30,000.

1979 Sonic Controlled Land Speeder

This is a popular vehicle from the film, and many versions of it have been released in toy form. This particular toy was originally part of a small release by J.C. Penney, and it is worth around $19,000 today.

1980 R2-D2 proposed Kenner figure

This specific R2-D2 figurine was never actually sold in stores. It was simply a prototype that a Kenner employee created to show his boss. It is valued at $13,000.

1979 Death Star Space Station

This large toy owes some of its value to its size. It’s a large playset from 1979 that can be used to play with Star Wars action figures. Not many of them have lasted through the years without receiving lots of wear and tear, making them quite rare and valuable at $12,900.

1977 Early Bird Mail Away Kit

When there was a shortage of Star Wars toys, Kenner began handing out vouchers at toy stores so that fans could send away for their own pack of action figures when they became available. These boxed sets in good condition are now worth over $10,000.

1985 Anakin Skywalker

Not very many Anakin Skywalker figurines were sold in comparison to the other members of the Star Wars cast. This makes an Anakin Skywalker action figure a rare find, with some selling for $7,500.

2007 C-3PO

This little 14 karat gold-plated C-3PO was released in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the original movie. It is worth around $6,000!

1980 AT-AT

Most Star Wars action figures were produced by Kenner, but this particular AT-AT toy was made by Palitoy, a United Kingdom company. The packaging used British English. It has become quite valuable, at around $4,500.

2010 Lego Boba-Fett promotional giveaway figure

In his original debut, Boba Fett was not a popular character, but his popularity has increased greatly over the years. This solid bronze Lego version of Boba Fett is very rare, and worth around $3,500.

Factors that Affect Star Wars Collectible’s Value

When it comes to collecting Star Wars action figures, there are three factors that can affect the value of the toy. These factors include age, condition, and rarity. Read on to learn more about each!

Age

In general, the vintage Star Wars figures from when the films were first released tend to be worth the most money. These original figures are valuable for collectors, many of whom are drawn to them because of the nostalgia that they bring. Some collectors can still remember coveting these action figures in their childhood!

Condition

Condition plays an important role in the value of a Star Wars action figure or toy. Those toys in mint condition and in their original boxes tend to sell for more than loose figurines. If you have the original box, be sure to keep it in good condition!

Rarity

Rare characters tend to be worth more on the resale market. Action figures that weren’t very popular upon release have shot up in value over the years, as collectors value being able to find obscure characters that are hard to find. Figures that come in packaging that is in a foreign language are also quite rare and in demand with collectors.

Maintaining and Protecting Your Star Wars Collectibles

Since many Star Wars figures are so valuable, it’s important that you do what you can to protect your collection. Store your figures away from dust and direct sunlight, which can destroy or fade the packaging. If you display your figurines, do so on secure shelving, or even behind the glass of a curio cabinet. Be sure to keep them out of reach of children and pets.

FAQs

How much are Star Wars action figures worth?

Star Wars action figures can be worth anywhere from a few dollars to thousands of dollars. It all depends on the figure itself – its age, its popularity as a collectible, and its condition.

What is the rarest Star Wars action figure?

Among the rarest figures is a 1980 R2-D2 proposed Kenner figure. This figure was produced by a Kenner employee to show his boss, and there is only one available.

Are 1990s Star Wars figures worth anything?

In general, Star Wars figures from the 1990s are not worth as much as those released around the time of the original trilogy. However, there are some rare or limited-edition figures from the 1990s that can have a high value. Be sure to research your specific toy to see what it is selling for online.

Sources

https://www.eightieskids.com/most-valuable-star-wars-toys

https://gizmodo.com/the-groundbreaking-history-of-star-wars-toys-1706298670