It’s time to go through those closets and attics! Toys from the 1990s that were stashed away can now fetch you millions of dollars! A study from TheToyZone reveals that thanks to the billion-dollar “Barbie” movie, the resurgence of ’90s memorabilia as collectibles has sparked a renewed interest in these nostalgic items.
With Mattel’s announcement of a series of classic toy-themed movies, ranging from Barney to Magic 8 Ball, the spotlight has turned to the forgotten toys of the ’90s, now deemed potential treasure troves. This era’s toys are attracting attention not just for their sentimental value but also for their rising market value, fueled by ’90s kids who now possess the disposable income to indulge in nostalgia.
Pokémon cards were all the rage for kids growing up in the ’90s and now a rare card is worth millions of dollars. Logan Paul bought a Pikachu Illustrator card for a staggering $6 million, albeit before the “Barbie” movie came out. Other cards are selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Charizard and Blastoise cards sold for $420,000 and $350,000, respectively.
Remember those Nintendo video games you constantly played as a teen? Those games now sell for tens of thousands of dollars. For instance, a “Mario Kart 64” cartridge from 1997 fetched $21,000, making it the priciest vintage Nintendo game sold. “Kid Dracula,” a Game Boy video game from 1993, sold for $20,400. “The Flintstones” even made the list, as the 1994 Super Nintendo Entertainment System game went for $19,999. It’s not just video games that are going for big bucks. A sealed Nintendo 64 system sold for $250,000 on eBay.
The study also highlights the De Beers 40th Anniversary Barbie as the most expensive ’90s Barbie doll, which sold at an astounding $85,000. The iconic doll proves timeless, with certain models like the Millennium Bride Barbie appreciating in value.
Action figures from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise have seen values soar, with the Scratch The Cat figure selling for $10,000 due to its rarity. Scratch The Cat only appeared in video games and not many toys were made in the character’s image. The Undercover Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figures also have been selling for thousands of dollars.
Even Nerf blasters and Super Soakers are selling for hundreds of dollars. Someone bought the Ultimate Bazooka Rocket Blaster for $699.99.
As Mattel explores film adaptations of other iconic toys, the ’90s nostalgia market shows no signs of slowing down. For collectors and enthusiasts, even the smallest accessory or forgotten toy could turn into a significant investment, echoing the sentiment that ’90s toys are not just playthings of the past but valuable assets of the present.
Methodology and Sources
For this analysis, TheToyZone researched well-known toy lines to discover the ‘90s models with the highest resale values. TheToyZone used “sold” rather than “for sale” prices and focused on sales of specific models, ignoring bundle sales. The data is correct as of January 2024.
Sources used:
- For Nintendo games, TheToyZone used the “graded price” of different games on PriceCharting.com.
- For Pokémon cards, we used the most recent sale prices for the rarest ‘90s cards (as sourced from PriceCharting.com).
- For Barbie, we considered only the highest-value Barbie models as sourced from BarbieDB.com.
- For electronic toys, we used the “graded price” of different toys as sourced from PriceCharting.com and Mavin.io.
- For action figures and playsets, we used the “sold” prices as sourced from WheelJacksLab.com and Mavin.io.
- For blasters, we used the “sold” prices as sourced from Mavin.io.
Matt Higgins contributed to this report.