Top 10 Mature Movies With Merchandise For Kids
Won't somebody please think of the children?! Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Mature Movies with Merchandise for Kids. For this list, we're looking at movies that feature elements you probably wouldn't want to show children, yet that ended up having tie-in merchandise released aimed directly at kiddies.
Special thanks to our user MikeyP for submitting the idea using our interactive suggestion tool at http://www.WatchMojo.comsuggest
#10: “Starship Troopers” (1997)
Top 10 Starship Captains in Movies and TV
“Starship Troopers” is a misunderstood movie whose story goes a lot deeper than humanity’s grisly war against a bug race that seems to want to eradicate us. So yes, it’s about more than just the mega violence we see on screen, but that in no way makes the fact that a man is shot in the face and body parts are ripped asunder any more appropriate for the young’uns. That’s why it’s so amusing that toys based on the film were released, including a miniatures game, video games, action figures and even jet toys with enticing “try me!” holes in the packaging for the kiddies. Gotta recoup that budget somehow…
#9: “First Blood” (1982)
Top 10 Kids Movies That Weren't Afraid to Treat Their Audience Like Adults
John Rambo’s first film adventure may’ve featured a lot less killing than a lot of people would assume, but that doesn’t make it any more child friendly than you’d expect. The sequels that followed showed zero restraint in terms of the body count, yet somehow a toy line was released featuring the character. A toy line, video games, comics and a cartoon series where one of cinema’s most violent characters was somehow set up to be enjoyed by children. Well, we guess some boardroom think tank probably thought it’s got a “G.I. Joe” kinda quality to it, and that’s good enough for this list.
#8: “Police Academy” (1984)
Most ‘80s kids look back on” Police Academy” as a part of a more innocent time… but, they’re wrong. Go back and watch the original film with your adult glasses on and imagine if you’d approve of showing it to your son, daughter, niece, nephew, cat or dog, or worse: your boss’ cat or dog. It’s funny and loaded with amusing voices and wacky sound effects, sure, but there’s still a ton of adult humor that permeates nearly every scene. That’s what makes it so mind boggling that this franchise spawned not only a toy line and comic books, but also an animated series.
#7: “Judge Dredd” (1995)
In a dystopian future where the criminal justice system we’re familiar with has been replaced by a corps of officers who serves as judge, jury and executioner, Dredd is a legendary figure. In the world of the ‘90s pop culture, a film starring a character that kills several people in the film’s opening was apparently a good fit for a toy line for kids. The action that played out on screen was not nearly as severe as it could’ve been given the source material, but there is still little question that Dredd was not meant for children.
#6: “Predator” (1987)
Top 10 Smartest Decision in Prey (Predator 5)
“Predator” is one of the best action movies of the ‘80s or any other decade, and many, many people collect figures based on the film’s characters to this day. Most of those collectors, however, are full grown adults who can deal with a film about an alien creature who methodically hunts down, kills and butchers army men and future State Governors to collect their skulls. That didn’t stop a toy company from marketing a series of toys featuring the R-rated alien creature to a G-rated audience. That is unless you think adults would go wild for a glow-in-the-dark, spear-firing action figure…
#5: “The Toxic Avenger” (1984)
Another 10 Hidden Jokes In Kids Movies That Will Ruin Your Childhood
Troma Entertainment is not exactly your typical film studio, but they are pretty great at making bad movies. Arguably chief among their canon, “The Toxic Avenger” focuses on a bookish “98-pound weakling” who is chased until he falls into a drum of toxic waste, which horribly mutates him. Henceforth blessed with strength he never before knew, but cursed with a face that looks like it’s melting, Toxie, as he comes to be known, kills criminals with flair. Somehow, that plot line translated into a toy line that ‘80s and ‘90s kids will likely remember fondly, as well as comics and – of course – a family-friendly cartoon called “Toxic Crusaders.”
#4: “RoboCop” (1987)
Robocop VS. Terminator
“RoboCop” became something of a superhero in the eyes of children everywhere due in large part to a TV show, two animated series, video games, comic books and that time he showed up at a wrestling match. What many of those likely did not know was that the film their champion stars in is incredibly gory. Whether it’s Murphy’s slow, brutal death, or the moment where a grotesquely mutated bad guy is liquefied, this movie is intense. To say RoboCop pulls no punches is an incredible understatement, so yeah, a kid-friendly toy line seems like the way to go. We’d buy that for a dollar!
#3: “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991)
10 Ways Terminator: Dark Fate Changed EVERYTHING
James Cameron is one of the most successful filmmakers of all time, and he was arguably at his best when he made one of the most beloved film sequels ever. Combining amazing special effects that largely hold up to this day, perfectly defined characters and a symphony of violence, “T2” has almost everything. What it clearly lacks, however, is a narrative that many parents would want their kids acting out when they sit down to play. Of course we’re guessing by this point in the list that you’ve figured out that means it was perfect material for comics writers, video game producers and toymakers.
#2: “Alien” (1979)
Top 10 Alien Movies That Were Based on True Events
Ridley Scott’s “Alien” is a masterwork in tension, highlighted by one of the scariest scenes featuring a newborn alien that you’ll ever see. Its sequel, “Aliens,” opted instead to pump up the action and used a seemingly endless supply of the Xenomorphs to get our hearts pumping. Either film’s toy line had potential to make the cut, but it’s a combination of the R-rated terror the first film heaped on audiences, and the disastrous 18-inch action figure released by Kenner that made the grade. Quickly recalled due to parental pressure and its tendency to break, this toy tie-in was an unmitigated failure. But today it’s a highly sought-after collectible, so we guess that’s something. Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: - “Spawn” (1997) - “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984)
#1: “Conan the Barbarian” (1982)
[“To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.”] That’s Conan’s reply when he’s asked what’s best in life. The movie that launched Arnold Schwarzenegger to worldwide fame, it’s a film rife with lunchbox sticker moments, such as when he punches a horse, has sexy-times with a witch and kills like he was bred to do it. Which, to be fair, he kinda was. We can totally see how it made sense to make a kids cartoon starring such a character, as well as – yup, you guessed it! – a toy line. What makes this all even crazier is that the animated series and action figures weren’t actually even that bad and, in the case of the cartoon at least, was perfectly age-appropriate. Do you agree with our list? What mature movie merch did you play with as a kid? For more film Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
