Sometimes a toy does more for an IP than the actual story.
People underestimate how powerful physical objects are in shaping belief, memory, and emotional attachment. A world becomes real the moment someone can hold a piece of it.
Star Wars is the clearest example. In just one year (1977 to 1978 ), their toys pulled in $100M in revenue.
The movie itself made $550 in its initial run, but that was just the beginning.
Fast forward to 2024, and they’ve brought in around $10.3B. Sounds huge… until you compare it to the $32B generated from merchandise alone.