Monday, Oct. 12 2009 @ 8:00AM
 |
The action figure boom of the past decade has resulted in toy versions of characters from such cult favorites as The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Flash Gordon and The Big Lebowski. Sadly, the cliché that you can't please all of the people all of the time lends itself especially well to a dilemma that more and more toy hobbyists are facing: there are still a ton of toyless cult movie characters. It's somewhat upsetting that you can strut into any Toys 'R' Us and find Jason or Leatherface toys, but a more obscure horror icon like Basket Case's Belial continues to get the proverbial shaft. The ugly truth is that many characters are just too obscure for companies to make without incurring gigantic financial losses in order to please some fanboys. (Dealing with licensing and likeness issues is never a picnic either). But we are geeks, right? Realistic production issues don't matter when we want our toys! So here's a list of 24 cult movie characters who should -- make that need -- to be made into action figures toot sweet. The odds are against most of these ever being produced, but hey, this is the Internet where dreams can become reality! Or something.
24) Mr. Futterman from Gremlins
The only thing better than an action figure of a xenophobic drunk? An action figure of a xenophobic drunk played by the legendary Dick Miller.
23) Belial from Basket Case
There has never been an action figure of a hot dog-loving parasitic twin, and goddamn it, there really should be. The closest Belial (star of Frank Henenlotter's no-budget classic Basket Case) ever came to being captured in plastic was as a Japanese vinyl toy promotional giveaway for the film's sequels. Japan always gets the coolest stuff.
22) Lloyd Dobler from Say Anything
A toy of John Cusack's sensitive kickboxer with great taste in music would make a fine addition to mantles everywhere. Just leave out a sound chip that plays "In Your Eyes," because that song is really fucking annoying at this point.
21) Louis Tully from Ghostbusters
Mattel's awesome (yet overpriced) Ghostbusters line is well underway. Hopefully completists will be able to own a Louis Tully figure at some point. I'm aware that there's a Minimate based on him, but those toys don't offer the great sculpting or articulation that an icon like Rick Moranis deserves in his action figure representation.
20) Peter Vincent from Fright Night
Not to encourage any perverted fan fiction or anything, but I always thought -- okay, just once actually -- that it would be neat if Roddy McDowall's Peter Vincent Fright Night character could have a run-in with another of his greatest portrayals, Cornelius from Planet of the Apes. Such pointless nerdery could occur if only we had a Vincent toy.
19) Max Renn from Videodrome
On second thought, having a toy with a tummy vagina might not be the best thing to encourage nerds to buy.
18) The Thing with Two Heads
If I ever had to review The Thing with Two Heads, my Rotten Tomatoes-ready pull quote would be "it's The Odd Couple with bigotry and lots of crashing police cars!" If any company is insane enough to actually consider producing toys from this one, the motorcycle accessory is a must.
17) The Tonnika Sisters from Star Wars
Affectionately known as the "Star Whores" to their fans, the Tonnika Sisters are amongst the last unproduced Mos Eisley Cantina figures. (It's pretty much them and Bartender Bea Arthur at this point). Hasbro claims there is some likeness rights issue with the actresses who portrayed the space siblings that is preventing the production of the figures. Hooey, I say. If we can't have intergalactic grifters/prostitutes in our Cantina dioramas, what's the point of having dioramas at all?
16) Max Fischer from Rushmore
He saved Latin. What did you ever do?
15) Jeff Spicoli from Fast Times at Ridgemont High
If an edgy comedy like The Big Lebowski can get toys, there's no reason why Ridgemont can't. Oh the fun you could have with a talking Jeff Spicoli doll! Sean Penn seems way too serious to sign off on it, but these are strange times, so who knows?
14) Snakeman from Dreamscape
Dreamscape is full of nightmarish imagery. The scariest sequence in the film involved a Snakeman that Dennis Quaid was forced to square off against. He made moviegoers crap themselves in the 80s, but still hasn't been given his toy due. You call that justice?
13) Mark Renton from Trainspotting
Action figures are like heroin to collectors. So what would happen if there was an action figure based on a character who is a heroin addict? There needs to be a nerd equivalent to Mythbusters to answer these sorts of questions.
1 | 2
61 comments
Comments
Sarah said:
Mark Renton action figure better come with baby with a twistable head.
Gleeman said:
I'd sell a kidney for a Leon/Mathilda figure set!
Scoots McGee said:
How about Dr. Edward Pretorius from From Beyond?
http://www.best-horror-movies.com/image-files/from-beyond-red-monster.jpg
Phil said:
I think there's no Adam West Batman figure cuz Fox owns the rights. So either WB just can't do it or they would have to work out a
deal to pay fox residuals which they won't do.
It's why there's no DVDs either.
GalvaTRION said:
FAIL. With the exception of the Buckaroo Banzai inclusion- so I guess only mostly fail.
Why? No Sho' Nuff and Bruce LeRoy.
Sorry, I don't make the rules.
Gordon said:
No Dalton from Roadhouse figure? SHAME.
drgnrbrn316 said:
There were Pulp Fiction Minimates? News to me.
False Moustache said:
I think we should all create and sign a petition to have Buckaroo Banzai figures made ASAP! Not just the titular character, but John Whorfin/Emilio Lizardo, New Jersey, Perfect Tommy, etc etc!
Other characters I'd add to this list are Dale Cooper, the non-robots from MST3K (Joel, Mike, Dr. Forrester and Frank, etc) and Brisco County, though I know Bruce Campbell already has a large number of action figures to his name.
Babylonian said:
They Live is a scary movie. I wish they would remake that one. It could do with some improvements.
I always thought that Dolemite would beat Black Belt Jones' ass. Hes Dolemite muthafucka!
Smiley Virus said:
Leon and Mathilda figures open up a whole can of lolita worms that I wouldn't touch with a barge pole. O.O
AlexB said:
This doesn't really count as "cult" (at least yet) but I was just thinking it would be cool to have an action figure of Tallahassee from Zombieland. Woody Harrelson went right up there with Bruce Campbell and Rowdy Roddy Piper in my favorite horror heroes list.
It would come with a shotgun and a Twinkie.
JOE said:
Yes! The Snakeman must be an action figure. I might be wrong but I could swear he makes an appearance in Waxwork as well.
I would also like to see a Reverend Kane from the poltergeist movies made into a figure.
"LET ME INNNNNNN!"
'Stater Nuts said:
I'd like an Audrey II figure.
Blinker said:
Scoots McGee said:
"How about Dr. Edward Pretorius from From Beyond?"
I'd rather a figure of Barbara Crampton from From Beyond. You know the one.
Chad said:
I would have sworn there was a Gunslinger from Westworld figure...
Marjorie said:
Marty McFly's never been made into an action figure? I would buy the whole set.
The Flash III said:
If they do They Live figures, they have to do a figure of Keith David so he and Roddy can re-enact their hilarious and magnificent back alley brawl. "Put on the sunglasses!" Best fight scene ever!
The Man With Two Brains said:
One problem with a lot of these is that they'd work better as statues of their scenes. Buckaroo Banzai deserves to top the list, of course, and Black Belt Jones, Marty McFly, John Nada, Travis, Audrey II, the Gunslinger, Logan 5, and Batman all deserve to be on here, but most of the lower half of the list... I'd argue "no".
Some you missed: Buddy from "Six-String Samurai" (second place on my list), the Kid from "Purple Rain", Bartleby & Loki from "Dogma" (I know they have 'inaction figures' but those don't count!), the McManus brothers from "Boondock Saints", etc.
Ramone said:
Don't be mean; we don't have to be mean, cuz, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.
Ramone said:
Oh, and this list has some great ones too:
http://www.mania.com/10-movies-need-action-figures_article_117029.html
(some are the same)
JS said:
What I wouldn't give for a Blaxploitation action figure collection....Shaft, Willie Dynamite, Mr. Big, it could go on and on...in addition to Foxy Brown and Black Belt Jones....my life would then be complete.
Rorschach said:
There WAS a Louis Tully figure. I still have it.
Link:
DoctorSmashy said:
Someone should now make a set based on this list. Then we'd have
Butch
Leon and Mathilda
Audrey 2
The Gunslinger
John Nada
Snakeman
And The Goddamn BATMAN?! Now that's the ultimate action figure showdown. Throw in a Lego Darth Vader and you're set for life.
demoncat said:
no doubt Tully is in the works. as for the 60s batman Mattel and DCD have stated that the rights are not part of the dc toy license neither can legaly do batman 60s toys and doubtfull they want the headache with fox to get the rights. as for Bukaroo one toy company tried to get the license and found the series tied up in legal right issues. as for the Tonkika sisters even Hasbrow clears the rights to finaly make them Lucas will still stop them from being made for he does not want whores in the star wars toy universe.
RobP said:
What I like about the possibility of a Lewis Tully figure is that you could have at least 4 variants. Plain Clothes Tully, possessed Tully, Lawyer Tully, and Ghostbuster Tully with detachable ear muffs!
And, if you're gonna make a Marty McFly (or several), you've got to include Doc Brown and Biff Tannen. Oh, and a Jennifer with two heads for each actress that played her. And, of course, a Delorean-- preferably one that's remote controlled.
giskards_revenge said:
A great list you have here.
But the ultimate cult movie action figures would have to be Rubin Farr and Ed Tuttle, from the 1991 classic "Rubin & Ed".
Hachiko said:
Who needs Leon and Mathilda? I want my Detective Stansfield figure. It also must have a sound chip that says:
I HAVEN'T GOT TIME FOR THIS MICKEY MOUSE BULLSHIT!!!!!
Kids, should be in school.
*POW* He said, go back inside.
Benny, bring me everyone. Waddya mean 'everyone'? E-VRY-OOOOOONNNNNNNNNN-UH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JOE said:
Wait! I know. We need a figure of Forest Taft from On Deadly Ground. The greatest Steven Seagal movie ever.
Capsulesn'Coffee said:
No Blaxploitation collection would be complete without Truck Turner...
"he makes a healthy living by making living unhealthy for cats who skip bail"
I just about grew a third testicle after watching that film. Issac Hayes, how we will miss you.
He should be packaged with Nichelle Nichols character(yes Star Trek's Nichelle Nichols), a foul mouthed, crazy ass brothel madame.
Each figure should have a voice chip that spouts their respective quotes of badassary. Damn, I really need to see that movie again pronto.
Check out the trailer, you shall not regret it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUHmQ0rfejw
Cobra Commander said:
Good list, but you could do a whole Kurt Russell sublist here:
Jack Burton
Snake Plissken
R. J. MacReady with morphing Thing accessory
Cash from Tango and Cash
Bull McCaffrey from Backdraft
Wyatt Earp (definitely needs a Val Kilmer Doc Holliday sidekick)
Colonel Jack O'Neil
The dudes from Soldier, Sky High and Death Proof
The list is virtually endless.
By the way, I don't think I ever saw Videodrome. WTF is that all about? Gonna have to rent it now.
Doctor said:
I actually have a mini-figure of Brea Tonnika (the twin in green). She came in one of those Micro-Machines Battle Packs with a Bantha, an armless Ponda Baba, and a few others I can't remember. It's somewhere in a box in storage. I'm pretty sure that doesn't technically qualify as an action figure though.
Rob said:
One word for you:
BLACULA!
Selaphiel said:
I'm probably the only person to think this, but
Torgo from Manos: "Hands of Fate"
Seriously. That character made that POS watchable.
Well, that and all the slapping.
Chelsea said:
A nerd equivalent to Mythbusters? As if Mythbusters isn't already the most adorably nerdy thing ever.
Themac339 said:
Black Belt Jones is the coolest muthafucker to ever live!!!!!!!!! I agree that we need a Black Belt Jones,Bruce Leroy,and a Sho'Nuf figures.
False Moustache said:
@ giskards_revenge:
The Rubin and Ed figures would have to include a David Letterman figure for Rubin/Crispin to kick at.
The Great A'Tuin IS RESPONSIBLE THIS said:
Should have had:
*Torgo
*Eugene Martone/Jack "Devil Boy" Butler (Crossroads) Headcutter's Pack
*Wander(Shadow Of The Colossus)
*Mr. Furious
*Echo(Not quite cult classic yet, but it'll get there.)
Greg said:
Why nobody has done a Buckaroo Banzai toy line yet boggles the mind. Of all the crap that has been made into action figures, including 233 variations on Jason, 112 variations on Freddy, and 73 versions of Michael Myers, you'd think somebody from Mezco or NECA would chase down this license.
Zak said:
I liked this list with the exception of one totally excellent figure that's yearning to be made.... RUFUS!! Why haven't there been any Bill & Ted figure awesome in this world yet? Sideshow, get on that shit already.
Jedi Princess said:
JOE: I love you, I too would have a Reverend Kane Action figure. He gave me nightmares for most of my childhood, and I refuse to to allow any religious leaders near my house, to this day, because of that one scene.
Kudos.
demoncat said:
according to a company called bif bam toys that looked into getting the license for Buckaroo Banzi the series is tied up in a web of legal rights issues thus till they are solved no buckroo toys are going to happen. for star wars fans will see the Tonkia figures or the rights to do 60s batman toys will get cleared up before buckaroo and company are visiting to shelves. though buckroo will proalby happen long before the sixties batman ever gets free and clear rights wise for toys and dvds
giskards_revenge said:
back @ False Moustache:
That's very funny, and it would be a great addition..
I was thinking that Rubin could come with a cooler that has a frozen dead cat in it, and Ed could come with either a removable toupee and/or a beat up green car that has "Andy Warhol sucks a big one" on it's hood.
:-P
Statch said:
I'm still awaiting a pootie tang figure complete with magic belt
jaganar said:
what , NO james earl jones THULSA DOOM action figure O_o
come on i am sick to PHUQ (yup i spelt it differnt ) about seeing Darth Vader 24/7 when i think of perfection
you should have included
Doom in here
we have countless Conan toys BUT no GADDAMN BLUE EYED CHOCOLATE >_ ( first facial scene of thulsa at the intro)
(even the series that came out last year with the PITFIGHTER arnie ..UGH i need a DOOM to oppose him dammit or atleast his generals )
2. MAKO the wizard , where is his figg ?
RaZZo said:
Dick Miller alone could be at least 8 of these...
Beppo said:
Big Jim Slade from Kentucky Fried Movie.
Starcrash action figures would be sweet too.
DJ Maniak said:
A lot of the ones you guys have mentioned HAVE been made as action figures:
R.J. MacReady from The Thing (Now Playing Boxed Set with Dog Kennel scene)
Stunt Man Mike from Death Proof
Rufus was made in the Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventures action figures line, I actually owned one for a while.
Snake Plisskin was released in one of the early Movie Maniacs lines.
Roddy Piper has had several figures put out by Jakks in his old school WWF attire, as well as a convention exclusive G.I. Joe figure from a coupla years back (you'll never own one, well over $500 on the secondary market), but I'd love a Nada figure.
Blacula is scheduled to get a limited release some time this year through Amok Time toys.
And as far as the suggestions for Rubin and Ed, MST3K, and Truck Turner, I love them all.
MrScratch said:
Hmmm.....I could really go for some new cult classics 2-packs...
-Deckard and Roy Batty from "Blade Runner"
-Duke and Gonzo from "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"
-Tyler and "Jack" from "Fight Club"
Whover said Agent Cooper was dead-on, and I'd love a real and FULL line of figures from the alien movies, too....
TL said:
did someone already make a Henry from ERASERHEAD figure and missed it..?
Asat said:
How 'bout a two-pack of Tracey Walter from "Repo Man" and William Sanderson from "Blade Runner"?
Hell, thrown in Daryl and Daryl while you're at it. That would be a triumph for the human spirit.
Hypersapien said:
Why the hell is there no Bruce Leroy on this list?!
WHOSE RESPONSIBLE THI.. ah the hell with it.
GospelX said:
What about Bruce Leroy from The Last Dragon?
Nurdbot said:
No Alex and his Droogs Clockwork Orange set? I'd buy that.
kristopher komassa said:
Holy cow - the snakeman from Dreamscape gave me nightmares for years!!
Fentook said:
I'm too lazy to check if a good set exists, but a well done Guitar Wolf set (from Wild Zero) would have a place of high honor on my geek desk next to my Lego TIE Fighter.
ZeroCorpse said:
Good news everyone!
An established, international toy company has promised to make all the action figures you listed here, both in the article and in the thread. Yes, that includes the Blaxsploitation line, and the Kurt Russel line! They'll be in stores this Christmas!
The bad news? The company is Mego, the toys are all knock-offs, and they will only be sold in dollar stores in the Bible Belt. Enjoy!
RedJetFire said:
Wow Folks.... You know how to make a guy feel at home. :)
If we have to see 37 versions of the same frelling franchise figures warming the pegs week after week, month after month at our local retailer.... surely movies and shows with a fringe/fanatical audience that have stood the test of time could move a set or two of well deserved action toys in their tribute.
A Dale Cooper/Twin Peaks line would be EXCELLENT. Each one could come with Bookhouse Boy Patch, Twin Peaks Varsity Letter, Broken Heart Necklace or 1/6th of the parts needed to build Dale's flute like other toy companies do with their build a figures.
Hell, they could just slap in six parts with six different figures to "Build your own Loglady's Log".
(Margret's Pitch Gum not included, of course.)
Could you imagine if the managed to sneak in a voice chip in a Gordon Cole Figure?
As for the mention of any Blade Runner figures.... sign me up. Why these havent been made is beyond me. The mere mention of Harrison Ford shouldve moved some toy company long ago to make the molds.
Im also with y'all on Fight Club.... I know the movie has a staunch ideology against commercialism, but its just two, maybe four figures???? (His name was Robert Paulsen.... Meatloaf Aday)
Buckaroo Banzai? I dont think I have anything new to add to the conversation.... The actors in this film have gone on to flourish in various mediums since it was produced.
Someone mentioned Col. O'Neil/Kurt Russell. I believe it Hasbro/Kenner produced a Stargate line when the movie hit the Summer Box office back in the mid 1990's (I dont remember the exact year) This is the NOT the Diamond/Art Asylum line based on the TV show.
Anyways, this short lived line based on the Stargate movie was HORRID. If I remember correctly, it was a lot of repaints and re-used molds from failed toy lines and some left over GI Joe vehicles/figures. I seem to remember the Jack O'Neil figure's Head Sculpt made the late 1980's Toy Biz Punisher or Bob The Goon figure look "adequate". Look the line up, if youre feeling adventurous. You didnt miss a thing. Its right up there with this years Playmates' sculpt of the "Terminator:Salvation" figure representing Christian Bale, if you know what Im referencing.
Oh yeah.... I believe NECA has the "Boondock Saints" License. I think theyre planning on releasing the figures shortly. I believe remember seeing pictures of the prototypes in a Toyfare either last month or the month before that.
Well thats basically my 2 cents worth. Before I go, here's a couple of suggestions I'd like to throw in for $#!ts and giggles as it were:
Chris Knight and Lazlo from Real Genius.... Maybe Kent too?
Martin Blank, Debbie, and Grocer from Grosse Pointe Blank
(A bloody Ink pen & smashed TV on the head would be a must)
Number Six from "The Prisoner" Why this isnt a figure yet, I will NEVER know ?!?!? (Rover too.... too easy)
The ~Wild Cards~ from "Space:Above and Beyond"
I just really like the show, and thought James Morrison kicked some MAJOR Ass. It only lasted a year, but it fairly well written.... there's worse stuff on television, as you can probably guess.
The Agents of Thames House from "Spooks/MI-5"
One of the best shows that you really have to look for on American Television.... Its currently in Season 7 I believe on the BBC. Its quality has dipped, but the first four seasons ROCKED !!!!
Well, thats enough now.... Thanks for reading this far down.
jacen said:
Uh...... there IS a Star Wars POTF comtech chip Wuher bartender. So.... guess its only the twins left.
CarKrash said:
You just made a list of about 15 movies i need to see.. and another 9 I should re-watch..
thanks.
im checking walmart's 5 dollar bin on the way home.
Mark said:
Dolph Lundgren and Frank Langela as He-Man and Skeletor from Masters of the Universe.....and if know one thinks we need them and the rest of the movie cast your all wrong.
Crispin said:
I know this is an old Post, So Someone may have already pointed this out, But There were actually Three Louis Tully Figures released in the REAL Ghostbusters line. Slimed Louis, Ecto Glow Louis and I wanna say Backpack hero Louis. All the same sculpt.
