The world of Star Wars merchandise is worth billions of dollars – but to the franchise’s stars, it was often a source of amusement. “It’s very funny,” commented Carrie Fisher. “Harrison [Ford] used to get so upset: ‘Mark [Hamill] gets to be a puzzle, why don’t I?!'”
But among the toys and trinkets that Fisher found the most ridiculous was the Princess Leia PEZ dispenser. Nevertheless, Star Wars PEZ remain some of the most treasured memorabilia on the market. Here are some of the highest-value pieces.
Yoda (White Head) – $234
Yoda is among the most intriguing characters in the Star Wars universe. “He’s a mystery character,” creator George Lucas has noted. “He’s a magical character. He has no background. He comes and he goes. He’s the subversive secret mysterious stranger that enters the film and then exits at the end.”
The white-headed Yoda PEZ, with a red stem, reportedly sold for $233.92 after receiving six bids in an online auction of November 2012.
Clone Trooper – $165
The clone troopers – an army of perfect replicas of Jango Fett – develop twice as fast as regular humans. George Lucas celebrated the chance to give individual clone troopers their own personalities and alliances in the 2008 show The Clone Wars.
In February 2023, a giant clone trooper PEZ sold for $164.50 after receiving five bids online. The original item was manufactured in 2009.
Darth Vader (Clear Stem) – $106
Considered to be one of the most iconic villains of all time, it’s no surprise that Darth Vader was an absolute hero of Star Wars merchandise. Among his many PEZ iterations was a clear stem, also seen on PEZ dispensers featuring Finding Nemo characters.
This clear stem Darth Vader PEZ sold for $105.50 in 2019. Labelled as a ‘prototype’, it attracted eight bids before it was sold online.
Death Star – $106
The Death Star’s noise is every bit as memorable as its appearance: sound designer Ben Burtt took recordings from machinery in the Mount Palomar Observatory to create the space station’s rumblings.
One Death Star PEZ dispenser, with a grey model and orange stem, managed to fetch $105.50 in an online auction in 2017.
Princess Leia – $81
Despite Carrie Fisher’s jokes about the notorious Princess Leia PEZ dispenser, she nevertheless was willing to sign one in 2008.
This item, which once lived at the Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia, sold for $81.01 in 2020, four years after the beloved actress’ death.
Darth Vader (Prototype) – $68
PEZ created their first Star Wars line in 1997. Rather than depicting human faces, the creators chose Yoda, Chewbacca, C-3PO, a Stormtrooper, and of course, Darth Vader for their initial set.
This Darth Vader PEZ prototype, which is entirely white, made $67.66 after collecting four bids online in 2018.
Chewbacca (Chrome) – $64
Behind-the-scenes footage, released in 2016, revealed that Chewbacca actor Peter Mayhew wasn’t attempting any growls on-set. Instead, he spoke in a gruff English accent. In the final cut, sound designer Ben Burtt provided Chewbacca’s voice by recording a wide range of animals.
This chrome edition of the Chewbacca PEZ dispenser earned one lucky seller $64 in a deal struck in 2011.
C-3PO (Metalized) – $50
This dark metallic iteration of C-3PO is among the more unusual figures on this list. In 2016, it sold for an impressive $50 after attracting just one bidder.
“This dispenser has been vacuum-metalized and is for collectability only,” the caption card reads. “It is not intended for food consumption.”
Yoda (Crystal Head) – $40
First introduced in The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda was a striking character, not least because of his strange speech patterns. But Frank Oz, the voice of Yoda, only has just one reply to the countless fans who approach him with their impressions: “People don’t understand, anyone can do a voice. It’s not the voice – it’s the soul.”
This translucent Yoda PEZ dispenser, in pristine condition, sold for $40 on eBay earlier this year.
C-3PO – $36
Actor Anthony Daniels, who played C-3PO, was troubled on his first day on set, as he stood in the blazing sun of the Tunisian desert. According to his memoirs, he began to think, “What on Earth have I got into?” The actor grew to love his character, using mime techniques to develop an emotional range behind the masked face.
C-3PO remains a highly popular figure among PEZ collectors, and this golden 2005 figure sold for $36 earlier this year.