• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Microsoft AI chief gives it 18 months—for all white-collar work to be automated by AI

2

Former top Russian official admits the country is over Putin and can 'imagine a future without him' — even elites bail as Kremlin seizes their assets 

3

Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that

1

Microsoft AI chief gives it 18 months—for all white-collar work to be automated by AI

2

Former top Russian official admits the country is over Putin and can 'imagine a future without him' — even elites bail as Kremlin seizes their assets 

3

Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that
jurassic world

‘Jurassic World’ to bring an early Christmas to the toy industry

By
John Kell
John Kell
Contributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
John Kell
John Kell
Contributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence
Down Arrow Button Icon
June 13, 2015, 9:30 AM ET
Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Dinosaurs don’t stay extinct for long in the movie theaters. And the toy industry will happily excavate the prehistoric animals for profits.

This weekend, the Jurassic Park franchise returns to theaters for the first time in 14 years. The Universal Pictures film is poised to do big business at the box office, which is expected to benefit from nostalgia among millennials and others who grew up with the movie franchise as well as court new fans that weren’t alive when the original slate of three films were released.

But toy makers and retailers are also giddy about the potential to piggyback off of the movie’s success. As Fortune previously reported, Jurassic World is expected to be one of the most popular toy trends this year. That’s very good news for Hasbro (HAS), which is making dinosaur-themed toys, games, and wearable gear associated with the film.

Jurassic World is part of a slate of toy-friendly films this year that some say will be the strongest the industry has ever seen. Those films include an already released Marvel’s Avengers sequel, as well as the upcoming Minions, Ant-Man, and, most importantly, a new Star Wars.

“2015 is really the beginning of an unprecedented era of new entertainment that is going to build every year,” said John Frascotti, president of Hasbro Brands.

Frascotti said the movie slate looks especially strong from Walt Disney (DIS), which owns Marvel and Lucasfilm, as well as Universal and Dreamworks Animation (DWA).

Hasbro's "Jurassic Park" toys are filling up store shelves.
Hasbro’s “Jurassic Park” toys are filling up store shelves.
Courtesy of Hasbro

Sales of licensed toys jumped 7%, or two time faster than the rest of the toy market, in the 12 months ending April 2015, according to research firm NPD Group. Last year, it was all about Frozen, which generated over $500 million in toy sales in the U.S. alone, but this year’s slate should boost licensing toy sales even more. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, which doesn’t hit theaters until December, has led to double-digit growth in classic toys, NPD said.

To be sure, not every blockbuster film will yield a hit in the toy aisle. The Hunger Games and Twilight franchises, for example, were huge box office success but didn’t generate toy sales beyond the collectible market. The two best performing films of all time, Avatar and Titanic, also weren’t the right fit for the toy industry.

This year, the studios are poised to release several films that should boost sales and profits for Hasbro, Mattel (MAT), Lego, and their smaller competitors. Industry observers say Minions and Star Wars, in particular, have broad appeal and can play well across both genders and multiple age groups. And even though the Star Wars film will hit theaters just a week before Christmas, retailers and toy manufacturers plan to capitalize on the film. Some have already debuted new Star Wars toys.

“The secret sauce is the partnership between the studios, the toy manufacturers, and the retailers so we can develop great products and great experiences in our stores,” said Toys “R” Us Chief Merchandising Officer Richard Barry. He and other toy insiders say those three groups have worked more closely over the past few years to ensure toys tied to major films are a good fit for retail shelves.

Toy experts say studios have finally realized that films can generate huge profits in the toy aisle. And with more blockbusters being released each summer, the industry stands to benefit from stronger sales in the summer months, when demand for toys has traditionally slowed.

“The majority of toy sales are in November and December,” said Jim Silver, editor-in-chief of toy-focused website TTPM.com. “But if you have a strong summer, it can affect the whole year.” A second jolt in toy sales can occur later in the year, when summer blockbusters are released through digital platforms and DVDs.

Silver said that Hasbro in particular stands to benefit from the film schedule over the next several years, mostly due to the company’s relationship with Marvel. Star Wars toys are more broadly distributed, with Hasbro, Lego, and Mattel all making toys based on the franchise.

While film studios and toy makers have worked together for years to sell licensed products, they haven’t perfected the business model. Frozen was a huge hit but strong demand for dolls and other toys tied to the film caught Disney and manufacturers like Mattel off guard. Toy makers and retailers spent most of 2014 boosting inventory to meet demand.

But this year, it seems toy companies and studios are on the same page.

“Every sign we have out there points toward a very big year,” said Marty Brochstein, senior vice president at Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association. “Especially with Star Wars at the end of the year.”

About the Author
By John KellContributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence

John Kell is a contributing writer for Fortune and author of Fortune’s CIO Intelligence newsletter.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Retail

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Retail

delivery
Retailecommerce
Walmart’s upper hand over Amazon in the $1 trillion e-commerce race: 90% of Americans live within 10 miles of a superstore
By Anne D'Innocenzio and The Associated PressMay 16, 2026
15 hours ago
gamestop
RetailM&A
‘Neither credible or attractive’: eBay slaps down GameStop’s $56 billion takeover bid
By Michelle Chapman and The Associated PressMay 12, 2026
4 days ago
amazon
RetailAmazon
Amazon’s promise of 30-minute delivery collides with memories of Domino’s drivers crashing in the late 1980s
By Anne D'Innocenzio and The Associated PressMay 12, 2026
4 days ago
India’s Gen Z turned Diet Coke into a status symbol. A can shortage just made it a luxury
Asiadiet coke
India’s Gen Z turned Diet Coke into a status symbol. A can shortage just made it a luxury
By Brendan Cosgrove and Morning BrewMay 11, 2026
5 days ago
Content creator Logan Walter
SuccessJobs
This Gen Zer dropped out of college to become an influencer—now he’s a millionaire from selling products like Medicube and Neutrogena on TikTok Shop
By Emma BurleighMay 11, 2026
6 days ago
Investors are betting big on senior housing. There’s just one problem—the baby boomers they’re chasing can’t pay the rent
Real Estatebaby boomers
Investors are betting big on senior housing. There’s just one problem—the baby boomers they’re chasing can’t pay the rent
By Sydney LakeMay 9, 2026
8 days ago

Most Popular

Microsoft AI chief gives it 18 months—for all white-collar work to be automated by AI
AI
Microsoft AI chief gives it 18 months—for all white-collar work to be automated by AI
By Jake AngeloMay 16, 2026
17 hours ago
Former top Russian official admits the country is over Putin and can 'imagine a future without him' — even elites bail as Kremlin seizes their assets 
Politics
Former top Russian official admits the country is over Putin and can 'imagine a future without him' — even elites bail as Kremlin seizes their assets 
By Jason MaMay 16, 2026
7 hours ago
Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that
Success
Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that
By Preston ForeMay 13, 2026
4 days ago
Meet the 20-year-old CEO who launched a company in high school to solve Gen Z's entry-level job crisis
Future of Work
Meet the 20-year-old CEO who launched a company in high school to solve Gen Z's entry-level job crisis
By Jake AngeloMay 16, 2026
21 hours ago
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
Politics
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
By Jake AngeloMay 12, 2026
4 days ago
‘You’re not a hero, you’re a liability’: Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary warns Gen Z founders to stop glorifying hustle culture
Future of Work
‘You’re not a hero, you’re a liability’: Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary warns Gen Z founders to stop glorifying hustle culture
By Jacqueline MunisMay 16, 2026
17 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.