This article lists feature length animated and live action theatrical, television and direct-to-video films based on toys, tabletop games and trading cards. Many of these films are based on dolls and action figures made by American toy companies Hasbro and Mattel.
History of films based on toys Prior to 1977, toys were released together with films as merchandising tie-ins. Films that were suitably toyetic spawned numerous licensed properties, often marketed heavily to children. Beginning in the late 1970s, this approach was flipped as films began to appear that were based on popular toys. In 1977, Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure debuted as the first theatrical motion picture in which a consumer toy was the star. During the 1980s, action figures got their own films, such as Masters of the Universe (The Secret of the Sword) and Transformers (The Transformers: The Movie), as did dolls, such as Pound Puppies (Pound Puppies and the Legend of Big Paw) and My Little Pony (My Little Pony: The Movie). Also in the 1980s, the greeting card companies American Greetings and Hallmark Cards created popular characters that were made into toys and subsequently adapted into films, such as The Care Bears (The Care Bears Movie), Rainbow Brite (Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer), and Strawberry Shortcake (Strawberry Shortcake: The Sweet Dreams Movie).
A resurgence of live action film adaptations of toy properties began in 2007 with the release of Transformers, the first film in what would become the Transformers film franchise. The first film in the G.I. Joe film series, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, was released two years later. In 2008, Hasbro entered into a deal with Universal Pictures to make at least four films based on its brands and products. In 2012, the poor performance of the first film from this partnership, Battleship, caused other projects in development to be shelved or sold off to other studios. The success of The Lego Movie in 2014 showed that even intellectual properties without an existing narrative, or even familiar characters, could be profitable and its success renewed the interest of toy companies and film studios in producing toy-related projects stuck in development hell.
In 2017, Hasbro Studios entered into a five-year production and distribution deal with Paramount Pictures to develop additional productions based on Hasbro brands. In 2021, Mattel Films announced plans to release 13 films based on Mattel toys and games, such as Hot Wheels, Magic 8 Ball, Masters of the Universe, Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, Polly Pocket, View-Master, American Girl and Uno, as well as an original intellectual property in Christmas Balloon. After being in development for over a decade, a live-action film adaptation of Barbie by Warner Bros. Pictures, simply titled Barbie, with Margot Robbie cast in the titular role and directed by Greta Gerwig, was released in 2023, and was the first live action Barbie film after numerous computer-animated films and specials. The film received critical acclaim and grossed more than $1 billion in worldwide box office sales, becoming the second highest-grossing film of 2023, the highest-grossing film of all time solely directed by a woman and from Warner Bros. in their centennial anniversary and the 25th highest-grossing film of all-time.
Live-action films based on toys +Film titleYearSource toyManufacturerRelease typeSamantha: An American Girl Holiday2004American GirlMattelTelevision filmFelicity: An American Girl Adventure2005Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front2006Kit Kittredge: An American Girl2008Theatrical releaseAn American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong2009Direct-to-videoAn American Girl: McKenna Shoots for the Stars2012An American Girl: Saige Paints the Sky2013An American Girl: Isabelle Dances Into the Spotlight2014An American Girl: Grace Stirs Up Success2015An American Girl: Lea to the Rescue2016Battleship2012BattleshipHasbroTheatrical releaseBratz: The Movie2007BratzMGA EntertainmentBarbie2023BarbieMattelClue1985CluedoWaddingtons/Parker BrothersDungeons & Dragons2000Dungeons & DragonsTSR/Wizards of the CoastDungeons & Dragons: Wrath of the Dragon God2005Television filmDungeons & Dragons: The Book of Vile Darkness2012Direct-to-videoDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves2023Theatrical releaseThe Garbage Pail Kids Movie1987Garbage Pail KidsToppsG.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra2009G.I. JoeHasbroG.I. Joe: Retaliation2013Snake Eyes2021The Hugga Bunch1985The Hugga BunchHallmark Cards/Kenner ProductsTelevision filmMars Attacks!1996Mars AttacksToppsTheatrical releaseMasters of the Universe1987Masters of the UniverseMattelMasters of the Universe2026Matchbox: The Movie2026MatchboxStreaming service releaseMonster High: The Movie2022Monster HighTelevision filmMonster High 22023My Pet Monster1986My Pet MonsterAmerican GreetingsDirect-to-videoOuija2014OuijaHasbroTheatrical releaseOuija: Origin of Evil2016Robosapien: Rebooted2013RoboSapienWowWeeTransformers2007Transformers Hasbro/TomyTransformers: Revenge of the Fallen2009Transformers: Dark of the Moon2011Transformers: Age of Extinction2014Transformers: The Last Knight2017Bumblebee2018Transformers: Rise of the Beasts2023
Animated films based on toys