From 1920s Hollywood (with Minions), to Bonnie Anderson’s home and to infinity and beyond, this year’s cinematic slate will transport audiences to a range of imaginative worlds, both on the big screen and in the toy aisle. 2026 is shaping up to be one of the strongest, most toyetic years for the industry since 2019, when audiences experienced blockbusters like Toy Story 4, the live-action version of The Lion King, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Avengers: Endgame, and more in theaters, each offering fun storylines with toys to match.
Fast-forward to 2026, this year’s fully loaded release slate brings entertainment and toys together again, reinforcing their undeniable intersection through a licensing bonanza. Those releases play like a sequel to 2019, including Toy Story 5, Minions & Monsters, the live-action Moana, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Throw in this spring’s The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, and Masters of the Universe, and forthcoming releases like Supergirl, Street Fighter, Avengers: Doomsday, and PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie, and this year is massive. While most of these characters and franchises have been around for decades, that doesn’t make them stale; rather, it makes them ripe for a new generation of audiences, while offering a sense of nostalgia for older ones.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Generation Z accounted for 39% of the North American moviegoing audience last year. Although we cannot deny that streaming continues to rise — and don’t forget the streaming-to-cinema success of Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters — attending a movie in the theater, in any season, remains a meaningful and exciting experience. As many of this year’s films are remakes, sequels, and legacy franchise installments, they are poised to attract Gen Z and millennial audiences by tapping into that nostalgia through revisits of characters and stories that defined their childhoods.
When there are beaches, water parks, and other outdoor activities, going to the movies over the summer may not be every family’s first choice. However, seeing a movie in the theater — or outside at the drive-in — remains a perfect way to escape the heat and reality. Supporting theaters and movies, in turn, supports these toy and game licensing programs.
When kids (or their grown-ups) connect with a film and its characters, that excitement can last for months or even years, creating evergreen business. With that in mind, here are some of the hot items that retailers can stock to keep the movie
magic going long after the credits roll.
MINIONS QUEST FOR THE MONSTER SET
Activate a multi-step reveal by adding water to the spell book, pouring potion into the mountain, and triggering hidden mechanisms. A twist-and-press feature releases a concealed monster figure.
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MINIONS FART BLASTER PRO
The Minions Fart Blaster Pro includes new smells. | Source: Moose Toys
Source: Moose Toys
Source: Moose Toys
The Minions & Monsters-inspired Fart Blaster features new despicably hilarious scents like Garbage Gusher and Yum Yum Bubble Gum. Each blast launches double fog rings up to six feet and will play one of 15 fart sounds.
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MINIONS MINI FART BLASTER
This tiny blaster, based on Illumination's Minions & Monsters, has an updated design and eight sound effects so kids can take fart jokes on the go.
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MINIONS MINI FIGURES
Unbox a 2-inch Minion figure featuring an updated scale and character styling inspired by Minions & Monsters. The assortment includes 12 characters with rare glow-in-the-dark variants for collectibility, trading, and imaginative play.
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MINIONS HEROES OF GOO JIT ZU FIGURES
The James Goo Jit Zu figure has a glucose filling. | Source: Moose Toys
The Goomi Goo Jit Zu figure is a sensory toy. | Source: Moose Toys
Stretch and squeeze character figures featuring unique fillings, including glucose and rheoscopic swirl effects. Elastic construction extends up to three times in size before returning to form, delivering tactile play with character-driven appeal.
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LITE-BRITE X TOY STORY 5 COLORPOP! EDITION
Kids can create light-up artwork using ColorPOP! templates inspired by all five Toy Story movies. Includes 650 mini pegs, multiple light modes, a translucent screen for detailed designs, and a built-in easel.
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8-INCH DISNEY PIXAR TOY STORY SQUISHMALLOWS
Fans can cuddle and collect soft 8-inch plush characters from Toy Story in signature Squishmallows styling.
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TOY STORY PLAYSCALE INTERACTABLES ASSORTMENT
Based on key characters from Toy Story 5, each figure has an interactive talking feature that enables them to speak and respond to other figures in the assortment.
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TOY STORY 100-PIECE PUZZLE
Hamm, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Rex, Slinky, Aliens, and the Army Men are ready for adventure in this colorful puzzle inspired by Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story.
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PROJECT HAIL MARY ROCKY 8-INCH COLLECTOR PLUSH
This 8-inch plush re-creates Rocky from Project Hail Mary with a multi-limbed design and printed details.
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SUPERGIRL AND KRYPTO DC MULTIVERSE: SUPERGIRL MOVIE GOLD LABEL DELUXE THEATRICAL EDITION ACTION FIGURE
This 7-inch Supergirl figure based on the Supergirl film includes Krypto, a removable soft goods coat, and a display base. It features Ultra Articulation and a collectible art card.
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SUPERGIRL DELUXE COSTUMES
Kids and adults can dress as Supergirl with costume sets featuring a dress, cape, belt, and boot covers inspired by this summer’s big-screen adventure starring Milly Alcock.
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AVAILABLE SUMMER 2026
POP! RIDES SUPERGIRL LOBO ON THE SPACEHOG
Inspired by Jason Momoa’s appearance as Lobo in Supergirl, this collectible pairs the fan-favorite antihero and his Spacehog vehicle for a shelf-worthy display.
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HOT WHEELS MARIO WHEELIE MOTOCROSS R/C VEHICLE
Mario rides an R/C vehicle that performs wheelies with the push of a button. Features character movement and details inspired by The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
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THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE 5-INCH ACTION FIGURE SERIES
Fans can collect movie-inspired characters, including Mario, Yoshi, Rosalina, and Bowser Jr. in 5-inch scale. Each figure features 10-22 points of articulation and comes with a removable movie-based accessory, all showcased in a window box.
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SPIDER-MAN 2-IN-1 SUPER CHOMPIN’ TANK
Kids can re-create the adventures of their favorite web-slinging superhero with this vehicle based on Spider-Man: Brand New Day. It features multiple driving modes, a cockpit that fits two ActionVerse figures (sold separately), a projectile launcher, and more.
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LEGO MARVEL SPIDER-MAN VS. HULK EPIC CLASH
The 534-piece set includes minifigures of Tarantula, Scorpion, Boomerang, Spider-Man, Hulk, and an unlucky hot dog vendor. In this set, the heroes prepare to face off around an office building that Hulk might smash as soon as it's built.
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KPOP DEMON HUNTERS ROLE-PLAY COLLECTION
Light sticks for HUNTR/X and Saja Boys feature IR sync for group concert play, while NERF Zoey’s Spirit Blades (pictured), Rumi’s Four Tiger Sword, and Mira’s Curved Moon Sword deliver foam role-play weapons in multiple sizes for cosplay and character- driven play.
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GUI GUI KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
Giving the beloved characters of Netflix’s most popular film a squishy, stretchy, sparkly glow-up through Gui Gui has been a ‘Golden’ opportunity to deliver exactly what fans crave. Fans can craft their own gorgeous Gui Gui slime inspired by their favorite characters: Rumi, Mira, Zoey, plus Derpy Tiger, along with a limited edition “Golden” slime,…
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AVAILABLE SUMMER 2026
FUNKO X KPOP DEMON HUNTERS COLLECTON
This line of Funko Pop! figures features five fan-favorite characters from Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters. Fans can also create custom figures that look like them and wear Saja Boys or HUNTR/X merch.
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JIXELZ REMIX KPOP DEMON HUNTERS COLLECTION
Assemble characters using more than 750 micro puzzle pieces with templates and display stands. Builds feature Rumi, Zoey, and Mira.
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AVAILABLE SUMMER 2026
KPOP DEMON HUNTERS CORE FASHION DOLLS
Show the rest of your doll collection how it's done, done, done with this collection of KPop Demon Hunters fashion dolls. This lineup of dolls features Rumi, Mira, and Zoey dressed up for their opening performance and the Saja Boys' Jinu dressed up in his "Soda Pop" outfit.
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KPOP DEMON HUNTERS COLLECTION
This phased lineup includes 4D Build character model kits, Cool Maker Heishi Stack’d Bracelet Maker, Cool Maker Shimmer Me Body Art, Kinetic Sand Ramyeon Cups, and KPop Bitzee Stage, bringing the hit movie into new categories in the toy department.
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AVAILABLE SUMMER 2026
KPOP DEMON HUNTERS 3-PACK 4-INCH CLIP-ON PLUSH
Add clip plush versions of Rumi, Mira, and Zoey to bags or accessories for on-the-go fun.
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Stay on the Pulse of Play!
A version of this feature first appeared in The Toy Book‘s 2026 Licensing & Entertainment Issue, featuring The Licensing Book. Read the full issue here!
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