The 10 Best-Selling Christmas Toys of All Time!
Every Christmas season marks a peak in toy sales and gives rise to blockbuster products. Many of these toys have left a lasting mark on history, and some are still popular on store shelves today. Let's take a look at the ten best-selling Christmas toys of all time. Do they bring back any of your own childhood memories?
(Mr. Potato Head, Barbie, G.I. Joe, Nerf Ball, Care Bears, Tickle Me Elmo, PlayStation 2, Bratz, Harry Potter Toys, Nintendo Switch)
December 25th is Christmas Day in the West. Each year, the holiday ushers in a surge of toy sales and introduces sensational new products that make their mark on toy history. The popularity and longevity of some of these toys are so great that they continue to be sold today.
Here's a look at the ten best-selling Christmas toys of all time—see if any of your childhood favorites made the list.
01. Mr. Potato Head
Mr. Potato Head came from a simple concept: a set of plastic eyes, a mouth, and other facial features that could be stuck onto a real potato to create a face. First manufactured and sold by Hasbro in 1952, it pioneered the practice of advertising toys on television. Its appearance in Pixar's hit animated film Toy Story boosted its popularity to new heights, and as a result, the product is still sold today.
Its iconic status was cemented for years by the large statue of the character that stood outside Hasbro's headquarters.
In 2021, responding to a market trend toward gender-neutral toys, Hasbro officially dropped the "Mr." from the brand name, which is now simply "Potato Head."
02. Barbie
Since her debut at the New York Toy Fair in 1959, Mattel's Barbie has reached the age of 65. With over a billion dolls sold in more than 150 countries, she is not only one of the best-selling toys in history but also a true pop culture icon.
Although she has faced various controversies, one of the secrets to her enduring success is her ability to evolve and stay on top of the latest trends. Her influence on girls in the United States and around the world extends far beyond the toy aisle.
03. G.I. Joe
Developed by Hasbro to compete with Mattel's Barbie for the boys' market, G.I. Joe created and defined the "action figure" category. Driven by advertising and incorporating elements from real-world wars and military operations, the soldier-themed figure became a massive market success.
By the 1980s, it had become a full-fledged intellectual property, appearing frequently in TV shows, comic books, and video games.
Since its debut in 1964, the G.I. Joe line has sold over 400 million action figures, making it one of the most popular and best-selling toy lines in history.
04. Nerf Ball
When people think of Nerf today, they often think of the brand's line of dart blasters. However, its very first product, launched in 1969, was a foam ball—the world's first ball designed for indoor play. At the time, the hard balls children played with would often break furniture or windows and were noisy.
Parker Brothers (now part of Hasbro) designed the soft, quiet Nerf ball as an alternative, and it quickly became a hit. Its success spawned a whole line of products, including Nerf footballs, frisbees, and blasters, marking the beginning of a renowned brand. The original ball is still sold today.
05. Care Bears
The Care Bears first appeared in 1981 as characters on American Greetings cards. Each bear had a unique "belly badge" that represented an emotion or duty, and they caused a market sensation. A toy line was launched in 1983, and its popularity soared with the release of a namesake animated series in 1985. The Care Bears became a major IP, with licensed merchandise spanning books, apparel, and more. The toy line alone has generated over $2 billion in global sales.
06. Tickle Me Elmo
Elmo is a beloved character from the highly popular children's educational IP, Sesame Street. The Tickle Me Elmo plush toy was a sensation because of its interactivity: when you tickled Elmo's belly, he would wave his arms and giggle, delighting children. When the product launched in 1996, it sold over a million official units that year alone—along with millions of counterfeits—creating a shopping frenzy.
Similar Elmo toys have been released every few years since. This year, Just Play launched its own version of the Tickle Me Elmo plush, adding more interactive spots, such as his feet.
07. PlayStation 2
Released by Sony in 2000, the PlayStation 2 (PS2) was the first video game console to support DVDs. Its advanced graphics, extensive game library, and DVD playback functionality made it an instant hit, attracting a wide audience beyond just gamers. The console remained in production until 2013, boasting a library of over 3,800 games and selling more than 155 million units worldwide. It still holds the record as the best-selling video game console in history.
08. Bratz
In 2001, MGA Entertainment's Bratz dolls defeated traditional dolls like Barbie to become the new queens of the market, thanks to their
bold and edgy design featuring oversized heads, almond-shaped eyes, and fashion-forward clothing. At their peak in 2005, annual sales exceeded $2 billion. The brand later fell into a prolonged copyright battle with Mattel and faded from the spotlight for a time. Today, riding a wave of retro-cool nostalgia, Bratz are making a major comeback.
09. Harry Potter Toys
Although the Harry Potter film series concluded years ago, the IP's influence remains as strong as ever. According to a report by CNBC, the franchise had generated over $25 billion in sales by 2017 alone. Licensed products such as action figures, wands, and LEGO sets have been top sellers since they first hit shelves in 2001. According to Adobe Analytics, Harry Potter LEGO sets were one of the best-selling toys of 2024.
10. Nintendo Switch
Released in 2017, the Nintendo Switch quickly won over gamers with its unique hybrid design that functions as both a home console and a portable handheld device. It also features a rich game library with blockbuster titles like Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and the free-to-play Fortnite, attracting millions of players worldwide.
As of May 2024, the console has sold over 146 million units. As long as it remains in production, it is on track to potentially surpass the Sony PS2 as the best-selling video game console of all time.