When 33-year-old George Lucas finally got the green light to film his dream film, space epic Star Wars: A New Hope, not even he could have imagined how successful and influential the film would turn out to be. The film grossed over $775 million worldwide, was the third highest grossing film of all time, and made household names out of stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher. Two sequels and three prequels followed along with an animated television series, a multitude of books and comics, various video games, and many other assorted properties. Of all of the merchandise, Star Wars affiliated toys have been the biggest sellers and earned Lucas an absolute truckload.

20th Century Fox didn't believe the film would do well and allowed Lucas to negotiate a contract whereby the majority of merchandise sales went directly into his pocket, a move that proved genius. Toy company Kenner Products picked up the license for Star Wars expecting to add to their toy portfolio without making much money but got the shock of their lives when kids went made for the toys, selling out in incredible time. The release of The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi kept the toys in the spotlight until sales calmed down during the mid-80s and the toys were discontinued.

With the announcement that Lucas was reviving the original trilogy in the 90s and releasing three more films set before A New Hope, an entirely new range of toys were released. Kenner had been bought out by Hasbro (G.I. Joe, Transformers) who went crazy, releasing hundreds of new Star Wars-related products while Lucas also allowed other companies to use the license, at a cost of course. With Disney now having taken over the Star Wars property and releasing new films every year, Hasbro is churning out the toys at an alarming rate, which is great for fans and collectors but also means there have been quite a number of horrible products released. From a Darth Vader cd player to a replica of R5-D4 who only appeared in A New Hope for a few seconds, there have been some terrible Star Wars toys created, so I've decided to highlight 20 of the worst while also letting you know about 10 of the best. Enjoy!

30 Worst: Jabba's Mama?

via: figurasdeaccionagogo.blogspot.com

When it comes to ugly looking Star Wars action figures it doesn't get much more off-putting then Yarna D'Al' Gargan. Her name might not sound familiar but you might recall having seen her at Jabba's Palace in Return Of The Jedi. Gargan can be viewed in the background when the girl Oola is fed to the Rancor. She also appears when Luke Skywalker first makes his presence felt. A dancer for Jabba The Hutt, Gargan was sold to the monstrous Jabba after being taken from her homeworld of Askaji.

Once in Jabba's possession, Gargan was forced to gain weight and wear horrible makeup so she would resemble Jabba's mother.

I don't want to know the reasons why Jabba wanted someone looking like his mother dancing seductively around him but either way, this figure was not needed as part of the Star Wars toy line. What's even more remarkable is it took Hasbro 25 years before they decided to release this figure. This demonstrates how Hasbro is more about making money and creating toys for collectors rather than fun and exciting toys for kids, as there is no way I would have wanted to this as a young child.

29 Worst: Some Things Should Never Turn Plush

via: technabob.com

Last year at the Star Wars Celebration held in Orlando, Florida, there was a heap of exclusive merchandise sold for the event. From t-shirts to action figures, dedicated Star Wars fans could find something that would remind them of their time at the event. Of all the exclusive products on sale, the Sarlacc Plush Toy was one of the worst. Featured in Return Of The Jedi, the Sarlacc was one of Jabba's favorite pets that resided in the Great Pit of Carkoon in the Dune Sea of Tatooine. The creatures live underground and are hundreds of meters in length, containing multiple stomachs where they would slowly digest their victims. Demise by Sarlacc was said to be a long and painful experience, so a plush toy representing the nasty creature doesn't really make sense. The addition of a mini-Boba Fett getting caught by the Sarlacc is cool but the Sarlacc itself looks like a giant pancake with a strange flower coming out of it. It reminds me of Audrey II, the flesh-eating plant from Little Shop Of Horrors.

It might look cute but this toy is rubbish, with even Mark Hamill agreeing. Taking to Twitter to list the four worst Star Wars toys, Hamill included the Sarlacc at number two with the caption, "Cuddly Sarlaac Devours Victim Pillow." It's hard to disagree with the man who played Luke Skywalker.

28 Best: A True Lego Icon

via: reddit.com

It's no surprise Lego Star Wars has become one of the leading selling Star Wars affiliated toys. Lego is known for licensing the best film and television properties and creating wondrous Lego creations that appeal to both kids (including big kids) and collectors alike. Over the years there have been some fantastic Lego Star Wars sets, from the gigantic AT-AT to the sleek X-Wing, but it's hard to go past the Ultimate Collector Series Millenium Falcon as the best of the lot.

The most expensive Lego Star Wars set on offer (it retails for around $1,399, although you can get a cheaper version) the Millenium Falcon looks just as impressive as the actual spaceship seen in the film. Made up of 7,541 pieces, the Falcon is extremely detailed and features all the interior rooms as seen in the film version of the spacecraft, including the cockpit, game room, and the gunnery station. You can remove sections of the ship to see the inside, with the model also including four classic mini figures (Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, and C-3PO), three episode VII/VIII figures (Older Han Solo, Rey, and Finn), a BB-8 droid, two buildable Porgs, and a buildable Mynock. The Falcon is also huge as you can tell from the photo above and will provide endless hours of fun while building it.

27 Worst: We Don't Need A Medic

via: ebay.com

The Polis Massan are a race of sentient beings from the planet of Kallidah. They are officially known as Kallidahin but because they spent centuries living on Polis Massan they were given that name instead. Interesting story, right? Anyway, these aliens first appear in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith as midwives who help Queen Amidala as she goes into labor. While you can say they do a good job delivering the twins, they don't really do that much, instead letting the medical droids work their wonders. They are more like moral support for Amidala, standing around and making sure she's feeling alright.

Personally, the thought of a blank-faced creature like the Polis Massan staring down at me sounds bloody terrifying, and I can only imagine how Amidala would have felt giving birth as the creatures looked on. That said, the toy is a pretty accurate depiction of the film version but leaves the question why? Why would you want or need a Polis Massan figure unless you are recreating the birthing scene from Revenge Of The Sith in the comfort of your own home? I know it's great to have as many different Star Wars characters as possible but Polis Massan is one figure we can do without.

26 Worst: The Original Anakin

via: memoriesoftoymorrow.blogspot.com

The great Jedi Anakin Skywalker is the main focus of the Star Wars prequels but only showed up in the final minutes of the original films. Played by actor Sebastian Shaw, Skywalker only reveals his true self to Luke after he's ended Emperor Palpatine and returned to the light side of the force, vanquishing his alter ego Darth Vader. Audiences finally got to see a shot of Skywalker in his normal human form when he appears as a ghost alongside fellow Jedi's Obi Wan Kenobi and Yoda on Endor as the Rebel Alliance celebrate their victory over the Empire.

Deciding to cash in on his appearance Kenner created a ghost-like figure of Skywalker. The action figurine was meant to represent Skywalker as part of the force as seen at the end of Return Of The Jedi. Dressed in brown robes similar to that of Obi-Wan Kenobi the figure was based on Shaw's portrayal of Skywalker. As he is supposed to be deceased and part of the Force Kenner dulled the color of his clothing and gave him grey hair and deceased-looking eyes so fans could tell he was ghost. The result was the hideous looking figure you see above that looks more frightening than friendly.

25 Best: The Biggest Bounty Hunter

via: pintrest.com

While the majority of Star Wars figures released during Kenner's initial run measure the standard 3.5-inch scale that had become so popular, the company also released a limited number of larger figures that measured 12-13 inches in height. From 1978 to 1980 12 different large size Star Wars figures modeled on main characters were released by Kenner. These toys are fantastic replicas of the smaller scale figures and include greater detail and accessories. The best of the lot (that includes Darth Vader, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Luke Skywalker) is the 13 inch Boba Fett. The large model includes nine points of articulation with ball joints at the shoulders and elbows, allowing greater arm movement and the ability to pose Fett in many creative ways. Fett also comes with a removable backpack and rocket and includes a movable range finder, unique rifle, cape, and two Wookie scalps.

These large-scale action figures are highly sought after by collectors, with original models still in their box fetching over $500 online. Not only is the Boba Fett large action figure a fan favorite but it looks darn cool and is one of the best looking Fett's created.

24 Worst: A Family Affair

via: swmerchandise.wikia.com

George Lucas made millions of dollars from Star Wars and has legions of fans but that wasn't enough to satisfy his ego. Lucas decided he also wanted to be part of the Star Wars universe and wrote a part for himself as the blue-faced Baron Papanoida who you can spot waiting outside the Coruscant Opera House in Revenge Of The Sith. Not only did Lucas appear but he made his three children cameo in the film as well, playing Chi Eekway (Katie Lucas), Terr Taneel (Amanda Lucas), and Zett Jukassa (Jett Lucas).

I can understand Lucas wanting to get involved in the film and have a cameo but what's really unbelievable is he also had figures created of the characters he and his children played. Known by fans as the George Lucas Family Set, this four-figure collector set includes representations of the characters Lucas and his children play in the film. Why anyone would want to own a miniature version of Lucas is beyond me but I'm guessing somebody out there was a fan as the set actually sold alright. I'm guessing it was dedicated fans disappointed with the prequel trilogy who wanted to have their own Lucas to torment at home.

23 Worst: Vader In Disguise

via: pintrest.com

Merging the mythology of Star Wars with the Transformers universe seems kinda weird and this hybrid toy proved it wasn't a great idea. While there have been multiple versions of this toy available over the years, it's the 30th Anniversary Darth Vader to Death Star Transformer that makes the list. For some reason, the brain trust at Hasbro thought it would be a great idea to turn Darth Vader into a Transformer who could turn himself into the Death Star. The result is this awkward looking toy that resembles a giant egg you could then turn into a huge Darth Vader-modeled Transformer.

As a transformer, you can clearly see Vader's head, with his hands wielding a red lightsaber and blaster. This version of the toy even comes with sound effects, with Vader repeating lines from the films when a button on his back is pushed. This might sound cool but considering it takes 25 steps to transform Vader into the Death Star and vice versa I can't see many people transforming him regularly. The toy also comes with three miniature tie fighters, three stormtroopers, and a mini-Vader, which can easily be lost and aren't that well made. Add to this the fact the toy is quite fragile and pieces easily snap off, I think it's only right that this monstrosity makes it onto the worst list.

22 Best: The Ultimate Fighter

via: pintrest.com

The vintage Star Wars toys are still some of the best. Case in point, the 1984 Darth Vader Tie Fighter. Released as part of Kenner's Collectors Series, the tie fighter is a replica of Darth Vader's spaceship as seen in the original trilogy. The model features great detail, with wings popping off to simulate battle damage, a red laser to signify the cannons firing, and awesome battle sounds. You can even open the cockpit and put an actual Darth Vader figure inside while the batteries for the lights and sounds are well hidden in the back of cockpit.

As far as authentic Star Wars toys it doesn't get any better than this work of art.

While the Tie Fighter doesn't contain as many special features as some of the later models  (such as mini-figures or swiveling weapons) this version is just really cool to look at and captures the nostalgic feel of my childhood playing with Star Wars toys. It's the kinda toy I'd be happy to display at home today, even if it makes me look like a nerd. As a bonus, this edition of the Tie Fighter also came with a bunch of cool stickers you could plaster your room with.

21 Worst: Personal Disappointment Transporter

via: picssr.com

Another toy from Kenner's first run of Star Wars toys is the Personal Deployment Transport (PDT-8). A clunky plastic vehicle used to transport your Star Wars action figures, this toy was another misstep from Kenner. The original idea for the vehicles use was as a droid transporter, but Kenner decided it would be easy to use the word deployment so kids could whack whatever figures they wanted into the toy. The PDT-8 arrived as part of The Empire Strikes Back line of toys and was very basic in both design and function. It's pretty much a white block of plastic with two movable jet pod thrusters on either side along with two laser machine guns.

Although marketed as a transport vehicle you could only fit two figures in the PDT-8 so it wasn't much use if you wanted to carry a heap of characters with you. It's not hard to believe this one wasn't a big seller and was quickly cut from the toy range when Return Of The Jedi was released. The Imperial Troop Transporter is a much more efficient mode of transport, with the toy being able to carry nine figures along with having a button that activates six electronic sounds, including the engine, laser battle, Storm Trooper and C-3PO voices, and R2-D2 beeps.

20 Worst: Chews Something Else

via: collector-actionfigures.com

I've already mentioned the Star Wars Lego partnership earlier in this article but here's another brand crossover that didn't work as well. Star Wars characters were licensed to Playskool Friends for the release of Mr. Potato Head-themed toys. These are squarely aimed at young children but the majority of them are really ugly-looking depictions of characters from the films.

Take, for instance, the Chewbacca Mr. Potato Head in the picture above. Going by the name Chipbacca (I've no idea why they changed his name but they did it for all the characters) the round shaped figure features Chewy's animal hair on top with two bulging eyeballs, a large black nose, and a weird toothy grin. It looks all out of proportion and is far from aesthetically pleasing. There is a ton of other Star Wars Mr. Potato Head-themed characters, all looking just as bad or worse than this one. The Yoda version has massive eyes and a small mouth while the one modeled after droid BB-8 looks like a potato in a rubbish bin, complete with large eyes and ears. Despite my reservations about these toys they appear to sell well and are still in production, with the majority of big name retailers carrying them. Obviously, I've misjudged Star Wars fans thirst for new merchandise.

19 Best: Become A Jedi

via: YouTube (Faris Tan)

Han Solo might be the coolest character in the Star Wars universe but he doesn't control the Force. Due to his lack of the Force, Solo never requires the use of a lightsaber, possibly the best weapon in any science fiction film. For that reason alone I've always had a soft spot for the likes of Darth Vader and Darth Maul, interesting looking bad guys who could use the Force and wield a lightsaber like nobodies business. The chance to replicate the Jedi duels in the films in real life became even better when lightsabers were released by Hasbro.

Over the year's there have been many different versions available but the best, in my opinion, is the Hasbro Force-FX Removable Blade Lightsaber. Sure, it retails for a steep $164.99 but it does come in five different styles and, surprisingly enough, features a removable blade. You can remove the blade and attach the hilt to your pants, with the lightsaber lighting up from the bottom and coming with various sounds effects, including the hum of the lightsaber and the noise it makes when you strike something. For those on a budget, the Hasbro Star Wars Force Tech Electronic Lightsaber is just as durable, coming with a lit blade, sound effects, and a friendly price tag of just $24.99.

18 Worst: No Quacking Matter

via: amazon.co.uk

If you're a Star Wars fan who enjoys playing with toys in the bath then you'll be on board these Star Wars-themed rubber ducks. Coming in a range of different characters from the films you can surround yourself with Darth Vader, who goes by the name Duck Fadar, and a horde of Storm Troopers, or Pondtroopers.  Or maybe you'd prefer to surround yourself with Luke Pondwater (Luke Skywalker) and Princess Layer (Princess Leia) and watch them float by while listening to the Star Wars soundtrack. Many of the ducks also sport LED lights and are ideal for adding some atmosphere while others glow in the dark if you like to bathe with the lights off.

Unfortunately, there is only so much fun you can have with a rubber duck. 

While these rubber ducks would be great for young kids who enjoy Star Wars and could be used as a way to tempt them into having a bath, there isn't much value in them for us big kids. I'd also stay away from the Chewbacca duck as he looks more like a deranged wolf and is certainly not kid-friendly.

17 Worst: Color Clarity

via: monstersofgeek.com

Not only is the Blue Snaggletooth an ugly and basic-looking figure but when Kenner produced the first run of the alien toy they got the color scheme wrong. When designers were creating the prototype all they had to go on was a grainy black and white photo of the characters head. Without any more details on offer they made an executive decision and made him average human height and gave him a blue costume. Turns out the Snaggletooth they designed couldn't have been further from what the actual character looked like. In the brief seconds he is glimpsed in the film, he's wearing a red costume and is half the size of a human. This alone is enough reason for him to end up on this list, but when you also factor in how ugly he looks with his snout nose and beady red eyes it's no wonder Kenner quickly revised the figure and released one that actually looked like the character, complete with a red jumpsuit.

Today the Blue Snaggletooth is a collector's item, with used figures fetching between $300-400 and mint condition versions of the action toy even more.

16 Best: One Sweet Ride

via: YouTube (Radio Flyer)

If you've got kids who are into Star Wars then you can't go past Radio Flyer's drivable Landspeeder. Modeled after Luke Skywalker's sand-pocked and sun-faded X-34 craft from A New Hope, this cool looking two-seater vehicle can actually be driven around by young children. The landspeeder features an interactive dashboard with lights and real movie sounds, with the phrases, "Look, there's a Droid on the scanner," "Dead ahead," "Might be our little Artoo unit," and "Hit the accelerator!" all spoken by Luke Skywalker.

The landspeeder can also be driven up to 5 miles per hour, allowing the driver to imagine they are actually whizzing around the desert landscapes of Tatooine. The vehicle includes a 12 Volt rechargeable battery and charger and is the kind of toy you get a Star Wars fan who has everything. You can check out a short video of some kids enjoying the Landspeeder here. I really wish they had something like this when I was around instead of sitting in a cardboard box and pretending to be Skywalker riding with my brother as Obi-Wan Kenobi.

15 Worst: Leia This At The Bottom Of The Toy Box

via: superretromania.com

The first glimpse we get of Princess Leia is at the beginning of A New Hope when the future leader of the Rebel Alliance is attempting to hide the plans for the Death Star inside R2-D2. With her ship under attack from Imperial forces, Leia manages to pass off the plans to the blue and white droid before being captured by Darth Vader and his army. Dressed in white robes with her familiar two-bun hairstyle, Leia is the epitome of good. Carrie Fisher's angelic features and fantastic acting helped transform Leia into a well-rounded character who became the crush of many young schoolboys.

Unfortunately, when it came to recreating Leia's beauty in action figure form, Kenner didn't always get things right.

The Power Of The Force edition of Princess Leia was meant to look like Leia when she was first seen in the opening of A New Hope but looked much more like a muscular male version of the princess.  Given a large muscular frame with male features, this recreation of Leia looks nothing like the film version or indeed, Carrie Fisher. Fans called the model "Monkey Face Leia" for her resemblance to the hairy creatures. It's certainly not an attractive figure and one that wasn't very high on collectors or fans lists.

14 Worst: Farming For Moisture

via: therobotspajamas.com

Before he became the hero of the universe, Luke Skywalker was a simple moisture farmer on the desert planet of Tatooine. Living with his Uncle Ben and Aunty Beru, the orphaned Skywalker dreamt of leaving the planet and seeing the world but found himself working long hours under the dual Tatooine suns. For some reason, Hasbro thought it would be a great idea to release a Skywalker action figure based around his time as a moisture farmer.

It's quite a dull looking set with Skywalker sporting a blank expression on his face, looking like he's really hating his job. The figure comes with a piece of equipment used to harvest water along with a lightsaber, which is quite strange considering Skywalker didn't have one before Obi Wan Kenobi came along and gave it to him. It's very similar to the Skywalker Bacta Tank figure that features a weird looking Luke in his underwear with a bacta tank to heal his injures. If I was going to own a Skywalker figure I would certainly choose one with a bit more flair, particularly one made in recent years as those models have much more detail and extra accessories. Give this figure a miss.

13 Best: Sound Like An Icon

via: buybigbang.com

There have been an assorted number of Darth Vader masks released over the journey but the best of the lot was Hasbro's voice changing mask that was first released as part of the merchandise surrounding Revenge Of The Sith. The detailed mask was easily adjustable and featured the ability to play Vader's breathing sounds as well as quotes from the Star Wars films, including favourites such as, "Don’t make me destroy you," "Impressive, most impressive," "You have failed me for the last time," and the classic line, "I am your father!"

But what really made this toy so much fun was it enabled the wearer to speak in Vader's voice.

Pushing a button on the side of the helmet meant the wearer could talk about the weather or what they were up to on the weekend using Vader's familiar mechanical voice. There have been updated versions of this toy over the years but each looks relatively the same and allows you to do your best Vader impression. What's even better is the price, with most retailers selling these Vader masks for around $70 - $80. Not a bad price to pay to tell you parent's you find their "lack of faith disturbing."

12 Worst: The Ice Cream Man

via: mariostoys.blogspot.com

When Hasbro took over Kenner and revived the famous Star Wars figures, they decided that almost anyone who ever appeared in the films deserved a figure. For this reason, a host of minor characters got their own figures, including many who didn't even have speaking parts in the films. Willrow Hood is one such character who got a figure despite only being seen in The Empire Strikes Back for a few seconds.

For those who don't recognize him, you can spot Hood running in the background on Bespin after Lando Calrissian gives the word to evacuate. Fans gave him the nickname of Ice Cream Maker Guy due to the fact Hood is seen carrying an actual real-life ice cream maker. Why he's got an ice cream maker is anyone's guess, but fans took to Hood, with an online petition to get him turned into an action figure running for many years and acquiring thousands of signatures before Hasbro finally released a figure in his likeness.

There's nothing exciting about Hood though, with the ice cream lover wearing a plain orange suit that fails to hide his protruding guts. Once again this was the type of figure collectors loved but casual Star Wars fans weren't overly concerned about. There's even a Lego version of Hood, proving just how popular he became amongst fans despite his action figure being stock standard.

11 Worst: Jet Setting Solo

via: thefw.com

A rouge and a scoundrel, Han Solo is one of the best characters in the Star Wars universe. Along with Boba Fett, he's probably my favorite Star Wars character of all time. Han Solo's portrayal of the smuggler has just the right amount of arrogant confidence to make him instantly likeable, and coupled with Harrison Ford's good looks, makes him a character you can't not like. As a fan of Solo, I remember purchasing many different Han Solo figures but none were as useless as this one. First released in 1996, this figure is best known for featuring a massive jetpack you could attach to Solo's back. Why Solo needs a jetpack when he has the Millennium Falcon at his disposal is anybody's guess, but the lame-looking accessory comes with this release of Solo. The jetpack is bigger than Solo himself and there's no way he could actually stand straight with it on his back. It looks ridiculous and makes no sense. Solo's face also looks a little strange, with his big lips and nose off putting and his dead eye stare making him look like he's just risen from carbonite. Avoid this one at all costs.