Top 10 Good Movies Based on Toys
These films gave you the joy and thrill of seeing your childhood playthings up on the big screen. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Movies Based on Toys. For this list, we're looking at theatrically released or direct to video feature films that prominently feature real life toys or are adaptations of the toy itself.
Special thanks to our user Grant Dillard for submitting the idea on our Interactive Suggestion Tool at http://www.WatchMojo.comsuggest
Script written by Noah Levy
#10: “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl” (2008)
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Introduced in 1986, American Girl dolls were designed to teach children about different time periods and ethnicities. This included Depression-era Kit Kittredge, who became the star of the first theatrically released American Girl movie. With the titular role played by Abigail Breslin, the movie focuses on the intrepid young Kit trying to solve a mystery in her home of Cincinnati. The film’s greatest strength is perhaps the fact that it provides a well-written, strong role model for young girls in its young female protagonist.
#9: “The Wizard” (1989)
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Nintendo’s domination of the cultural landscape reached a peak when this fun but blatant commercial for their games was released. In it, Fred Savage takes his brother on a cross-country road trip to a video game tournament, encountering Nintendo games, and some less important human characters, at almost every turn. In addition to serving as the American public’s hilariously overblown introduction to Super Mario Bros. 3, the film remains a cult favorite for the character of Lucas, and his NES control method of choice. Say it with us now: “It’s so bad!”
#8: “The Care Bears Movie” (1985)
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You might think that a movie based on characters that originated in greeting cards was a desperate idea even in the mid ‘80s, but the big screen debut of the world’s most caring bears actually turned out alright. As one of the first movies based directly on a toy line, this animated fantasy flick retained the heart and spirit of its namesake, while providing a surprisingly dark, enthralling experience for its young audience. If that’s not enough to make you care about it, it even helped revive the then-dormant market for children’s films.
#7: “Pokémon: The First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back” (1998)
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Can anybody even remember a world before Ash, Pikachu and the phrase “Gotta catch ‘em all”? Well, this film that was released when Pokemania reached its peak, making sure no one would soon forget about the Pocket Monsters phenomenon that began as a pair of Game Boy video games. The first Pokemon feature pitted Ash and his friends against the incredibly powerful Pokemon Mewtwo, who sought revenge against humanity for the experiments they did on him. Predictably, the film was a Snorlax-sized success, paving the way for a staggering 17 more Pokemon films thereafter - so far!
#6: “Mars Attacks!” (1996)
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Imagine those ‘50s B-Movies that you and your friends love making fun of so much, then imagine them done up with awesome special effects and a tongue in cheek style, and you have Tim Burton’s bonkers alien invasion film. Based upon the Cold War-era trading cards, the movie captured the comic irreverence of its source, and boasted an all-star cast that included Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, and Annette Bening. And if none of that sounds appealing, then you can always take pleasure in seeing Sarah Jessica Parker’s head on the body of a Chihuahua.
#5: “Clue” (1985)
It was Professor Plum in the library with the revolver! Or was it? This 1985 cult classic remains one of the only faithful and successful adaptations of a board game, with beloved character actors like Tim Curry, Christopher Lloyd and Madeline Kahn coming together to solve a murder at a creepy New England mansion. But where the movie really stands out in capturing the mystery spirit of the board game is with its three possible endings, where different theaters showed one of three alternate conclusions during its theatrical release.
#4: “G.I. Joe: The Movie” (1987)
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We doubt many of you even knew about this direct to video release based on the beloved military toys. But as some wise soldiers once said, “Knowing is half the battle!” Released when the G.I. Joe toyline was at its peak of popularity, the movie depicts the climactic confrontation between the Joes and the evil forces of Cobra. While it wasn’t released in theaters, it still serves as the most accurate adaptation of the toys to this day, especially in light of 2009’s live action “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra,” which topped box offices but was a critical disappointment.
#3: “The Transformers: The Movie” (1986)
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And here we have the adaptation that traumatized a generation. Twenty-one years before Michael Bay brought them to the screen in the most bombastic way possible, the shape-shifting Japanese-American toys were featured in a film where the stakes were bigger, darker, and more epic than they had ever been. In addition to serving as the final roles for both Scatman Crothers and the legendary Orson Welles as the planet eater Unicron, the movie also burned the image of (SPOILER ALERT!) the tragic death of Autobot leader Optimus Prime into our minds.
#2: “The LEGO Movie” (2014)
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Building a movie off a toy line that’s been around for over half a century and with so many different incarnations is a daunting task, to say the least, which is why this 2014 film is such an awesome accomplishment. Directed by comedic masterminds Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, this movie is a frantic, fast-paced, visually wonderful sensory overload experience that brings together so many characters and icons from the Danish company’s long rich history. Not bad for something that started off as a tiny 2x4 plastic brick.
This is where we’d normally have some honorable mentions, but for more toy-based movies, be sure to check out our list of the Top 10 Bad Movies Based on Toys instead!
#1: “Toy Story" franchise (1995-)
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You can’t really go wrong with one of the greatest film series of all time. If containing the first fully computer animated feature film wasn’t enough, this storied Pixar franchise - more than any other - perfectly captures what it was like to play with your favorite toys growing up. While the series features real-arlife toys like Mr. Potato Head, Green Army Men and Barbie, the movies then created a successful toy line of their own with real life versions of characters like Woody and Buzz Lightyear. “Toy Story” is sure to be with us for infinity and beyond.
Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite movie based on a toy? For more fun top tens posted, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
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