One thing is for sure, Hasbro, if they don't **** it up, should make a mint this year at retail. If the the three new films are good, they should send a lot of people to the toy aisles.
So, I don't think that Hasbro ****** anything up, but I don't see anyone buying into their movie lines. That goes for the JAKKS Pacific Pirates line and the Mattel Green Lantern line as well.
Nothing really seems to be moving locally. The Thor figures had some hits early on, but there was no run on the toys after the movie launched and I think if you don't order wave 2 on-line, you're probably out of luck. And for those that want Sif? Yeah...good luck with that. I see EE is still estimating waves 3 and 4 for July but does anyone actually think they'll ship?
Captain America and Green Lantern haven't had their film releases yet so it may be early to guess on those, but other than some early movement on the CA figures, both lines seem to be relatively untouched here.
The Pirates toys were DOA. The fanboys didn't even buy out the Angelica figures from the first wave. Even Target's exclusive box set of the first wave of toys isn't moving, and that's a helluva deal. It doesn't seem that they got any bump from the film, which is kind of sad, because I really liked the movie and the figures are actually pretty well done.
Transformers: DOTM toys were picked over a little at Walmart, but I think mostly people were buying the NASCAR licensed cars more than anything else (both rednecks and speculators, probably). But there's so much stuff for that movie, so many scales and sub lines, that I can't really keep track.
Cars 2 is the only movie line that seems to be getting heat. Target's display for Cars 2 is almost disgusting it's so huge, but they have sold quite a few of the basic cars already. Walmart has moved some toys as well, but they're a harder store to keep track of. I'll tell you one thing, I think they have some really cool toys out, including the Lego sets (specifically the car hauler). It would be interesting to look up a complete checklist of all the Cars characters, from both movies, and see how deep it is, because they've done a lot of merchandise over the last 5 years.
Are you guys seeing similar things, or have the movie lines been moving elsewhere?
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