Blockbuster franchises and toy lines go together like bread and butter, and that was especially true in the 1980s. Given that Star Wars tells a sprawling story that spans countless planets, cultures and alien races, it’s not surprising that kids swarmed to their local toy stores, in order to take home their favourite characters and act out their own legendary battles between Jedi and Sith.

In the decades since the original trilogy was released, some of these toys have only become more sought-after. Dedicated collectors will now spend up to $250,000 on select Star Wars toys, with many more retailing for between $5,000 and $10,000 on the resale market. These are the rarest Star Wars toys out there.

1978 blue Snaggletooth, $350

The original Star Wars trilogy was such a pop-cultural juggernaut that demand for Star Wars-related action figures was insatiable, as fans wanted more characters to play with than just the main gang. As a result, by 1985 toy company Kenner had released over 100 action figures, with many of them depicting characters that appeared in just one scene.

The most famous of these tertiary figures was Snaggletooth, the Snivvian male who encounters Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi in Mos Eisley. Though in the film Snaggletooth is short in stature and wearing a red uniform, the rushed-out toy line featured a full-size Snaggletooth in a blue jumpsuit. This error was corrected in later versions, making the original more valuable by comparison. 1978 Snaggletooths now sell for around $350.

1978 vinyl cape Jawa, $25,000

Despite never having any understandable dialogue and their ways and culture remaining something of a mystery, Jawas have been a huge part of Star Wars mythology right from the beginning. It’s no surprise, then, that Jawas have a significant amount of merchandise to their name, the rarest of all being the Kenner 1978 Jawa action figure, one of the 12 original Star Wars figures released by Kenner.

The value lies in the toy’s vinyl cape, as later editions replaced this with a sewn-on cloth cape, in order to make up for the fact that the Jawa figure was the same price as all the other characters sold, despite being half the size. The vinyl cape Jawa has been known to fetch up to $25,000 at auction when kept in mint condition in its original box.

Double telescoping lightsaber Obi-Wan Kenobi, $148

The first time Kenner released action figures of Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader, all three were equipped with DT (double telescoping) lightsabers, meaning their lightsabers had the ability to extend out not once, but twice, allowing for a longer lightsaber in a smaller base. The downside to this design was it increased both production time and cost, and so it was eventually scrapped in favour of single telescoping lightsabers.

Though all three DT figurines are rarer than their ST counterparts, the DT Luke Skywalker is the most common of the trio, since it was released earlier and in production for longer, leaving less demand for the toy on the resale market. However, if kept in the original packaging a DT Obi-Wan Kenobi sells on average for $148.

1983 Yak Face, $1,000

Perhaps the strangest Star Wars action figure to become sought after by collectors is Yak Face. Otherwise known as Saelt-Marae, the character first appeared in Return of the Jedi, and was one of the last characters to be turned into an action figure by Kenner. Though Yak Face made it onto shelves in Europe and Canada, it never hit stores in America, as Kenner canned the Star Wars toy line due to struggling sales just before Yak Face was due to be released.

Though Saelt-Marae is not exactly a beloved character, the fact that the Yak Face figure was never available to purchase in America has made the toy a must-have for Star Wars collectors in the US. As a result, a Yak Face in mint, out-of-the-box condition or still including its original packaging can resell for between $500 and $1,000.

1980 Medical Droid FX-7, $12,000

Maybe the most tenuous thing to be turned into a toy as part of the original Kenner Star Wars line is The FX-7 medical droid. The FX-7 appeared on screen for just 20 seconds during Empire Strikes Back, helping to heal Luke Skywalker after Han Solo brought him back from Hoth.

The original FX-7 medical droid was released twice, first on a TESB 31 backing card in 1980, and then again on the Tri-Logo ROTJ backing card. As a result, there is often a lot of confusion around this figurine on the resale market, with some selling for as little as $5 on eBay, while others sell for up to $12,000 at auction.

1988 Glasslite Vlix, $60,000

If you’re a casual Star Wars fan but not a dedicated collector, then you may not know the name Vlix Oncard. The droid is an Annoo-dat Blue who worked as the head of security for the infamous Fromm Gang, and was part of the planned line-up for the second round of droid action figures to be released in 1988.

However, a lack of demand meant that the Droids toy line was put to bed after just one round of toys was released, and so the Vlix action figure never officially hit shelves. Still, one of these figures later showed up in Brazil, indicating that a few prototypes made it out into the world. In 2022, a Vlix figure without its original packaging can fetch between $5,000 and $20,000, while one still in its packaging can sell for up to $60,000.

1980 small head Han Solo, $2,500

To coincide with the release of The Empire Strikes Back in 1980, a new Han Solo action figure was released in America. Unfortunately, it didn’t take Star Wars fans long to realise that something was off: the head on this particular run of Han Solo dolls was far too small for the body. As a result, it was quickly pulled from shelves.

However, like many other retro toys with endearing imperfections, the ‘small head’ Han Solo figure soon became adored by fans and desired by collectors. Nowadays, the smalled headed Han Solo is one of the most valuable action figures of the central cast on the market, often selling for around $2,500.

MTV 7-Inch Mini Rig 1983, $7,155

Out of all the retro vehicles Kenner produced as part of their Star Wars range, the MTV 7-Inch Mini Rig has remained the most valuable to collectors. Within the Star Wars universe, the MTV, which stands for Multi-Terrain Vehicle, was designed for people to navigate the unforgiving Hoth landscape.

The toy, however, was released to tie in with (the Hoth-less) Return of the Jedi. Given that not many of these were made, and that even fewer still exist today in a high level of repair, MTV-7 Mini Rigs can resell for $7,155 when still in their original packaging.

Spanish-language Star Wars figures, $5,000

The older a toy is, the more money it is likely to make; the value will go up if the toy still has its original packaging or is in out-of-the-box condition; and limited edition or anniversary toys will often be worth more as a baseline. The other factor that can increase a toy’s value is regional or national variation.

Star Wars toys with another language printed on the box or label, which hit shelves outside of the US, were often released in much smaller numbers and so are prized by collectors. Any Spanish-language action figure from the early 80s has the potential to sell for up to $5,000, depending on the box quality and popularity of the character.

1978 Unpainted L-Lock Rocket Fire Boba Fett, $236,000

The older a toy is, the more valuable it’s likely to be. However, it’s also true that the more unfinished it is, or the earlier it is in its production journey, the more someone will be willing to pay for a toy at auction. It’s no surprise, then, that the Star Wars toy that broke records on the resale market was the unpainted L-Lock Rocket Fire Boba Fett.

This prototype was a research project to determine the safety and usability of a certain kind of rocket launcher mechanic and was never officially sold. In fact, it never even received a printed facade. All these factors made it the absolute crown jewel for any collector’s horde, leading to a whopping resale price of $236,000.

1978 Death Squad Commander, $6,500

It’s no secret that the bad guys in Star Wars are based on certain historical authoritarian figures. Even so, after Kenner released the Death Squad Commander action figure, the company realised that the name was both loaded and way too dark for kids. As a result, a new label was rushed out renaming the toy the more innocuous Star Destroyer Commander.

If you’re lucky enough to have one of these action figures still in or with its original packaging, and the backing card reads Death Squad Commander, then you’re in luck. Collectors love the toy’s original name and will pay up to $6,500 for a boxed-up action figure still in like-new condition.

1999 C-3PO Lego Minifigure prototype, $3,200

Many different C-3PO action figures have been released since the 1980s, but the most valuable of them all is the Lego Minifigure prototype from 1999, which was unveiled as part of Lego’s line of end-of-the-millennium collectable figures. As you can see, the bright tangerine paint they chose for the body… looks a little much.

The bold choice of colour meant that this version of Lego C-3PO did not stick around for long. However, since this version was already a collectable and released as part of a limited edition Lego toy line, it often sells for over $3,200 on the resale market.

1985 Gamorrean Guard with collectors’ coin, $5,500

The hog-like Gamorrean Guard, first seen patrolling Jabba’s palace in Return of the Jedi, aren’t particularly well-liked within the Star Wars universe or by fans outside of it. Why, then, can boxed-up action figures of these characters fetch up to $5,500 on the resale market?

The answer lies in the commemorative coin that certain editions of the action figure came with. Though entirely worthless from a monetary point of view, the added extra is hugely desirable to enthusiasts, as it’s yet another element that can be collected in conjunction with or independent from the action figures themselves.

1979 Boba Fett, $12,000

Though Boba Fett is best known for his memorable debut in The Empire Strikes Back and more recently the additions to his backstory provided by Disney+ shows like The Book of Boba Fett, his first appearance was actually in the much-maligned Star Wars Holiday Special.

As such, when the first Boba Fett tie-in action figure was released to commemorate his addition to the Star Wars universe in 1979, almost nobody bought it. Nowadays, Boba Fett is a fan-favourite Star Wars character, leaving the surviving 1979 action figures worth a hefty $12,000 each.

1977 Darth Vader’s original TIE Fighter design, $4,000

To make it easier for audiences to know who was piloting what vehicle during the Death Star trench climax of the first Star Wars movie, Vader’s TIE Fighter was equipped with cool curved wings. What you might not know is that in earlier drafts of the movie, Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter had a completely different design, not including the now-iconic curved wings.

Kenner released a toy based on these earlier designs, but an updated version more in line with the movie was quickly put out, thus skyrocketing the value of the original straight-winged TIE Fighter. These days, an original 1977 Vader TIE Fighter can sell for up to $4,000.

1988 TIE Interceptor, $2,151

By 1988, five years had already passed since Return of the Jedi, and Star Wars fans were unsure if George Lucas would ever return to a galaxy far, far away. As a result, it was the perfect time to bring out new toys and merchandise – but of what? A Brazillian toy company had the idea to bring out a TIE Interceptor unlike any seen on screen.

The unique TIE Interceptor combined elements of Darth Vader’s own design with a Star Destroyer, creating an insanely cool looking vehicle that everybody wanted. Add to that the fact that foreign language packaging is always popular with collectors, and the result is a resale price of over $2,000!

1982 Walrus Man / Bib Fortuna, $28,556

Nowadays, after decades of Star Wars being a certified pop-cultural juggernaut, even the most minor characters have a dedicated fanbase, and almost everything is known about them. That wasn’t always true though, as evidenced by Bib Fortuna being marketed as “Walrus Man” in early toy releases.

Of course, collectors are always looking for less popular characters to add to their shelves, since these toys tend to have smaller runs and fewer tend to survive decades later, as they are not as cared for as a general rule. All of that explains how a 1982 Bib Fortuna toy still in its packaging is now worth almost $30,000 on the resale market!

1979 Sonic Controlled Land Speeder, $18,950

Star Wars has lots of awesome vehicles, but most of the absolute coolest are reserved for fighting battles and surviving in the cold vacuum of space. In actuality, the most fun to own would probably be the land speeder, as it would allow you to float through your morning commute just slightly above the traffic.

Due to its popularity and practicality in play, several toy versions of the speeder have been released over the years, but most are not that valuable. However, for a limited time, department store J.C. Penny released a small number of their own speeder toys, which now fetch up to $19,000 at auction due to their rarity.

1980 R2-D2 proposed Kenner figures, $12,920

As any collector or enthusiast will know, the rarest toys are the ones that never even make it to shelves. This 1980 R2-D2 figure may look slightly different from the R2-D2 figurines you remember, and that’s because it didn’t make it past the prototype stage. Despite the box art and full construction, this toy was actually just a one-off, and was never available to purchase.

Instead, this adorable little droid was assembled by a Kenner employee to show his boss, and it has since popped up on the resale market once or twice. However, snagging it takes patience and big pockets, since its value currently sits at almost $13,000.

1979 Death Star Space Station, $12,900

As a general rule, larger toys are more valuable than small ones. Action figures usually fetch lower pricetags than playsets, and a lifesize block of carbonite is always going to be more valuable than the keyring version. This goes some of the way to explaining how a 1979 Death Star Space Station could be worth over $12,000 on the secondhand market.

With that said, there are two other factors that contribute to its value. The first is age: as a toy from 1979, it is over 10 years older than some of the other toys on this list and is therefore more valuable. The second is rarity: not many playsets survive decades without significant breakage or wear and tear, which pushes up the price of good quality listings.

1977 Early Bird Mail Away Kit, $10,120

Though we’re now in a position where there have been three official Star Wars trilogies and numerous standalone titles, there’s no question which trilogy is the favourite. Only one instalment led to an uproar when the tie-in toys weren’t available for the Christmas following the movie, and that was A New Hope.

Thankfully, Kenner came up with a genius solution to their toy shortage, and handed out vouchers at toy stores, so that overexcited young Jedi could send off for their very own pack of action figures to be delivered as soon as they were available. Nowadays, the boxes that have survived the ravages of time are worth over $10,000, making them an excellent investment.

1985 Anakin Skywalker, $7,500

Anakin Skywalker is a weird figure within the Star Wars universe, at least as far as toys go. Though he is technically one of the most beloved and revered villains of all time, all of his epic moments happen when he is going by a different name and wearing a different outfit. Therefore, there isn’t much point in buying an Anakin action figure for play purposes.

Perhaps because of this little wrinkle, not many Anakin Skywalker action figures were sold when compared to the rest of the central cast. This rarity has led to a higher value on the resale market, with some listings featuring the most angsty skywalker of them all selling for $7,500!

2007 C-3PO, $6,200

Lego figures are quite a bit smaller than everyday action figures, so the normal rules of collecting would dictate that they be less valuable. However, Lego has its own legions of dedicated enthusiasts, both inside the Star Wars fandom and outside of it, leading to high demand on all Lego Star Wars figures.

With that said, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why this Lego Star Wars figurine is more valuable than almost any other. Not only was it released to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original movie, but it’s also plated with 14 karat gold, leading to a resale value of over $6,000!

1980 AT-AT, $4,528

No matter what character, location or vehicle you’re looking for, if you search the secondhand market for Star Wars toys, chances are 90% of the ones you’ll come across will be made by Kenner. Kenner created and sold hundreds of action figures and playsets throughout the release of the original trilogy, but very occasionally, other toy companies got in on the action too.

In the case of the AT-AT toy seen above, it was actually produced and issued by Palitoy in the United Kingdom and came with packaging that used British English throughout. This led to it becoming immensely valuable on the resale market, with a minimum price tag of $4,500!

2010 Lego Boba-Fett promotional giveaway figure, $3,500

Boba Fett has been an immensely popular character ever since he had the misfortune of debuting in the Star Wars Holiday Special. As such, he has numerous action figures to his name, as well as popular Halloween costumes, prop weapons and other special commemorative items. With that said, few are as coveted as this 2010 mini figurine.

Not only is this particular Boba Fett solid bronze, but it’s also as rare as you can get, as there are only two in existence as far as anyone can tell. It’s no surprise that the value is estimated to be as high as $3,500!