Whether you were there, many moons ago, in 1977 when George Lucas’ intergalactic masterpiece hit the silver screen, or you’re a relatively young fan finding yourself swept up in the magic, one thing is for certain: Star Wars is a franchise that spans generations and appeals to people of all demographics. But, what about the toys?
Is it worth collecting Star Wars figures? Is it something that should be solely reserved for children, or can anyone benefit from building up their own personal collection? And if you do decide that you’re interested in collecting Star Wars figures; what’s the best brand?
In this article, we’re going to boldly go where no man has gone before and talk about whether or not it’s all hype or worth an investment—in which case, what are the most valuable Star Wars items?
Strap into your seats and prepare to enter hyperspace! It’s about to get reeeeaaaaally nerdy up in here.
Is it worth collecting Star Wars figures?
So, is it worth collecting Star Wars figures? Well, the same could be same about literally anything; is it worth collecting anything at all? And what drives people to start a collection? In this section, we’ll delve a little deeper so that you can decide whether or not it’s worth it. First, let’s break it down:
Why do people collect things?
There are so many different reasons why people start collecting things. Some people do it purely for pleasure; others collect items to learn more about a specific subject; others do it to seek status or to be the very best; whereas some people simply do it out of pure love and loyalty to a given brand or franchise.
The fact is, archaeologists found that people have been interested in collecting things for thousands and thousands of years. One of the earliest collections found was a collection of crystals in the Kalahari region of Southern Africa. As to why that particular set of people chose crystals of all things to collect are hard to say, but we can hazard a guess: because they’re pretty and shiny!
Sure, those crystals didn’t offer the collector any practical advantages (unless the early human civilisations believed in the potential healing properties of stones, crystals, and minerals as many people do today), however, in any case, they would have provided the collector with a certain sense of pride achievement. We just like nice things!
Today, however, particularly when it comes to hobby collections, many people are driven by the potential investment. Take Star Wars figures as an example: for collectors with figures acquired between 1977 and 1985, some of their figures could be worth anywhere between $100 and $10,000! All you need to do is log onto eBay and you’ll be blown away by the sheer volume of branded collectibles on there and some of the prices they can fetch at auction.
So yes, money is a huge driving factor. You could start collecting figures today, and then revisit your collection in several decades and who knows, perhaps you could fetch a hefty return on your investment as well. Yes, there are certainly faster ways to make money, but if history has told us anything, it’s that branded figures that are kept in mint condition that fetch a nice price down the line.
Now that we know why people start collections, let’s talk about whether or not it’s too late to start yours…
Is it too late to start a Star Wars collection?
The short answer is no. Whether you are looking to collect for future profit, or simply because you’d love to have a games room dedicated to your favourite franchise, it is never too late to start a collection.
OK, yes, you would need a lot of money if you were to be able to start today and end up with the largest and rarest Star Wars collection in the world. However, as Theodore Roosevelt once famously said: “Comparison is the Thief of Joy.”
So, rather than start a collection to have the largest and rarest, start a collection for reasons of your own. You could invest in some quality figures today and cash in in 20 years, or so. It’s all about how long you’re willing to wait if profit is at the forefront of your priorities.
Otherwise, start a collection simply because it’s a franchise that you love and you want a cool setup of your own.
Is it worth starting a Star Wars figures collection?
This ties in closely with whether or not it’s ‘too late’. It’s entirely down to you! If you like Star Wars and want to collect figures, then yes, 100% it is worth starting a Star Wars collection. Again, it all depends on your reasoning behind it:
- For prestige
- For the love of it
- For future investment
- For something to do
- To annoy your partner
These are all perfectly valid reasons and if any apply to you, then yes, it’s completely worth it. The fact is, you really don’t need a good reason to start collecting anything, other than the desire to do so.
If you are serious about investing your money into something that might be worth a lot someday, Star Wars figures have a proven track record of appreciating in value – quite significantly in some cases.
What is the best brand for Star Wars figures?
This is a difficult question to answer because it all depends on what you are using to measure it. After all, to go ahead and make an assumption would be a Wookie mistake!
So, what are your metrics? Do you want to know the best Star Wars figure brand based on production quality? Affordability? Rarity? Likelihood to appreciate in value? These are just a handful of considerations and as you can see, selecting the best brand is difficult.
Your best bet is to decide, why you want to start a Star Wars collection. Then you can go from there. In any case, here are some of the most popular and successful Star Wars toys brands on the market:
- Hasbro: Hasbro has been knocking around since 1923 and has been creating Star Wars figures since the very beginning. While there are dozens of toy companies that have created Star Wars figures, many of the oldest and rarest will be from this brand.
- Lego: Star Wars Lego is HUGE with the fans right now – particularly adults. This is arguably one of the best Star Wars figures brands on the market and if you want to build your collection (literally), then this is a great place to start.
- Funko Pops: Funko Pops were founded back in 1998 and have grown exponentially in popularity over the last decade. You’ll instantly recognise a Funko Pop as being cute figurines with distinctly large heads and unique designs. If you want to start a collection with a light-hearted twist, Funko Pop is worth a look.
What are the most valuable Star Wars items?
The rarest and most valuable Star Wars items tend to be the rarest. For example, the original R2-D2 droid was auctioned off back in June of 2017 for a whopping $2.76 million USD!
Other valuable items of note include:
- The original X-Wing Model
- Darth Vader’s helmet
- The first ever camera used to film the OG Star Wars
- Han Solo’s blaster
- Luke Skywalker’s Lightsaber
As for collectible figurines, the most valuable Star Wars items, as you may have guessed, tend to be the most vintage! In fact, one of the most valuable Star Wars figurines was the 1978 unpainted L-Lock Rocket Fire Boba Fett, which fetched some $236,000 USD!
Conclusion: Tips for Starting Your Own Collection
Of course, for those who are looking to start a brand-new Star Wars collection, the main thing to consider is quality and condition. Make sure that you invest in some quality Star Wars figurines and then keep them that way!
Also, keep an eye out and attend plenty of yard and car boot sales. You’ll be amazed by the wonderful things you might be able to find.
You may also wish to pick a specific branch of the franchise to focus on. For example: If you are primarily a ‘The Mandalorian Fan’, then start your collection there. Or perhaps you are a lover of ‘The Bad Batch’, you could have one of the largest and most comprehensive collections in a decade or so.
In any case, whatever you decide, it’s all about dedication and consistency! In fact, you don’t even need to keep your cool official Star Wars merchandise in “mint condition” as we’ve suggested above. You could start a collection solely and purely for your own enjoyment – which means unboxing and playing with your figures as you desire.
We hope that you have found this article helpful and wish you the best of luck!