The Rarest and Most Expensive Star War Toys for Collectors

Given how popular Star Wars is to generations of fans, it will come as no surprise that the toys hold more than sentimental value: particularly the legendary line of action figures from Kenner that began in 1978. Over 40 years of plastic creates quite a supply, but not all of it is created equal. Some of the most expensive toys ever are based on beloved Star Wars characters, like Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, but others are lesser-known. And don’t forget the toys based on iconic Star Wars vehicles.

Certain action figures from the 1970s and 80s have aged gracefully, granted they remain inside their original packaging. Special Action and Double Telescoping figures are some of the rarest, most costly Star Wars figures available, but finding them at reasonable prices can be difficult. Tastes come and go, and sometimes unique circumstances can boost a given price far higher than it merits. Yet collectors and aficionados often embrace all of that as part of the fun.

Updated on July 23, 2024, by Christopher Raley: Star Wars toys and other merchandise are as iconic as the films themselves. As the first movie to execute a merchandising coup, Star Wars is legendary for that alone. This list has been updated to reflect current prices, as well as adhere to new CBR formatting standards. It also includes five additional rare toys.

20 Vintage Blue Snaggletooth’s Character Design Was Retconned

This Minor Figure Forecast a Trend Of Merchandising Every Character

Blue Snaggletooth is an early and classic example of what makes Star Wars toys so rare and unique. Originally included exclusively with a Cantina Adventure Playset that kids could only get at Sears, he was rendered as a tall alien wearing a blue jumpsuit. However, a glance at the film shows a different type of character.

Kenner realized Snaggletooth was tiny and red, and when he showed up on a single card in 1979, the Blue Snaggletooth was revised out of existence. Consequently, he sports a retconned character design that is highly sought after in his mint box that he came in as part of the set.

19 The Return Of the Jedi AT-AT Is a Rare Find

This toy Is Normally Associated With The Empire Strikes Back

When the All Terrain Armored Transport (AT-AT) appeared in The Empire Strikes Back, it was the first entry in a movie that leveled up the cool spaceships and vehicles that Star Wars fans fell in love with in the initial film. Their charge on the Rebel outpost on Hoth made them legendary for fans of the Star Wars universe.

Less famously, it is an AT-AT in The Return of the Jedi that lumbers up to the Empire’s shield generator outpost and delivers Luke to Darth Vader. Never one to miss out on a merchandising opportunity, Kenner created an AT-AT specifically for Return of the Jedi and it came in a box that sports a forest background.

18 Less-Produced Double-Telescoping Luke Skywalker Are Incredibly Rare

The Young Jedi In Training Initially Had A Long Lightsaber

Many of the most expensive Star Wars toys are products of production oddities or extreme scarcity. Luke Skywalker is one of the former. By far one of the most produced figures in the line, when Luke Skywalker first shipped in the Early Bird kit meant to tide anxious fans over, he came with a lightsaber that extended out of his arm to recreate the light-up effect.

The initial saber telescoped twice, but the construction was complicated and Kenner feared the pieces being lost, so it was reduced to just once. Some versions of this figure shipped on single cards. While this figure can be found for less than a grand, a sealed version still in the box will cost closer to four thousand.

17 Luke’s Land Speeder Is Sonic Controlled

Whatever That Means, It Still Sounds Cool

The merchandising from the original Star Wars film was quick to capitalize on the unique ships and vehicles that appear in the film. From the grand scale toys like the Death Star playset to the vehicles like Luke’s Land Speeder, having the action figure and the ship that goes with it was the Holy Grail of birthday lists everywhere.

The Sonic Controlled Land Speeder came with a remote that looked like R2-D2 and could move the speeder forward, backward, and left and right from up to 16 feet away. Its wheels were hidden and had some sort of cushioning so that the speeder would bounce along like it was floating. This toy was available in the 1978 JC Penny Christmas Catalog.

16 R2-D2 Is Worth Money In Or Out Of the Box

The Iconic Droid Will Always Be In Demand

The iconic Star Wars droid R2-D2 was one of the most popular toys because it was also one of the most popular characters in the film. The droid pair of R2 and C-3PO made for a classic comic foil in the tale of fantasy and adventure. 3PO was the straight man and R2 was the snarky jokester mouthing off with comebacks that the audience surmised through 3PO’s indignant responses.

R2 was a mischief-maker, but he often got the heroes out of trouble, so no toy collection would be complete without him. Of course, collectible toys are always worth more in the box, but a good condition R2-D2 will still bring money out of the box. Still, buyers could get close to five thousand dollars if they have an R2DR action figure in the box.

15 Lego’s Ultimate Collector’s Millennium Falcon Is Now A True Collectible

Kenner Is Not the Only Star Wars Merchandise

Of all the ships in the Star Wars franchise, the Millennium Falcon was instantly iconic and remains so to this day. Seeing Han Solo race off in a super-powered freighter was enough to drive every kid’s imagination wild. So it comes as no surprise that the Falcon became a popular toy. But Kenner wasn’t the only company, in the long run, to cash in on it.

By the time the prequels came out, Lego had leveled up its ability to design and recreate Star Wars ships and vehicles in the fashion of the little brick. Of all the toys it produced, the Millennium Falcon was one of its most popular. Several versions have made it to market, with the Ultimate Collecteor’s edition becoming a true collectible.

14 Vinyl Cape Jawa Had Its Cape Replaced Early Into Production

The Jawa Eventually Got An Upgrade On The Cape

Initial-run action figures are among some of the rarest and most expensive toys. Few figures hold more mythical status among Star Wars collectors than the vinyl cape Jawa. The value of this little guy is debatable. It could be worth around five grand in the box. But it’s worth noting that one sold at an auction in 2018 for more than $21,000.

When the Jawa debuted in 1978, he came with a vinyl plastic cape like the other figures in the line. Kenner saw it and thought it made the figure look too cheap for the two-bucks-and-change asking price. They quickly swapped out the vinyl cape for a cloth one, early enough in the run that many never realized the vinyl version existed. After the fact, that seemingly cheap vinyl cape turned out to be worth far more than Kenner ever might have realized.

13 Slave I Was a Unique Star Wars Ship

Boba Fett’s Ship Is As Iconic As the Millennium Falcon

When Slave I first appeared in The Empire Strikes Back, it was near the end of the film, and audiences were starting to feel ominous as if this movie wasn’t going to turn out well for the heroes. As the Millennium Falcon flies out of the trash left behind by the Imperial Fleet, Slave I and the mysterious bounty hunter Boba Fett follow close behind Solo’s classic ship.

Owning a Slave I ship as a toy was like a schoolyard street credit of the highest order. Boba Fett’s ship is unique in the Star Wars catalog of ships because it eschews the airplane-style configuration of most of the other spaceships and, instead, is more like a rocket, with a platform-like cockpit and crew quarters that rotates into position. Naturally, “Carbonite Han” was sold separately.

12 Droids’ Boba Fett Disappeared Faster Than the Show

The Character Appeared in One Episode

The short-lived Droids animated TV series is something of a curiosity in Star Wars lore: airing for just 13 episodes, plus an hour-long special in 1986. But it’s also a charming throwback to a much earlier period in the franchise’s history. The animation studio — Canada’s Nelvana — had already made a big impression with its Boba Fett animated short: perhaps the only saving grave of the infamous Star Wars: Holiday Special. Naturally, the bounty hunter made a return visit for a notable episode of Droids.

That’s led to a surprisingly pricey variation on Boba Fett, one of many to mark the toy line over the years. In this case, it’s no different than the traditional Boba Fett figure, but the Droids-specific packaging is hard to find. It came and went with the series, making this particular action figure highly coveted among collectors.

11 Purple Lightsaber Vader Predates Mace Windu by 20 Years

Darth Vader Had a Brief Color Upgrade

The initial run of Kenner’s line was infamously glitchy, which led to some oddities that weren’t repeated. Among them is a singular box design featuring Darth Vader wielding a purple lightsaber. The design was finalized before the character became synonymous with the Sith’s red lightsaber, which means that at least one print run went out with Vader wielding a purple lightsaber.

The comparative rarity of the print run has boosted the resale value among collectors. It’s particularly notable when combined with the double-telescoping lightsaber. Even those without that, however, are sufficiently hard to find (as well as hard to afford) to leave this for serious collectors only.

10 Death Squad Commander Got a More Kid-Friendly Name

This Character’s Initial Name Was Too Dark For Kids

Among the earliest figures in the Kenner line was someone referred to as “Death Squad Commander:” Imperial officers working on the Death Star who wore mushroom helmets with their faces visible. Normally, the figure would merit much mention, especially with both Darth Vader and the far more visible Stormtrooper available at the same time.

However, Kenner quickly realized that “Death Squad Commander” was a little too dark for a children’s toy. They subsequently renamed it “Star Destroyer Commander,” which is what most of the existing copies are labeled as. The original packaging is exceedingly hard to find, with the price going up accordingly.

9 Yakface (The Power of the Force) Is Highly Sought After

It Is Especially Valuable With The Collector’s Coin

Yakface was meant to be offered on a card in the United States but never was. In 1985, the line wound down with a lack of interest from kids way more into G.I. Joe and Transformers. Yakface never made it to shelves, except overseas, probably because this character briefly appeared in Return of the Jedi and made minor appearances in future Star Wars novels and comics.

For that reason, this figure is highly sought after by fans around the world. If he’s on the card, particularly with the collector’s coin that was included with the Power of the Force line, then Yakface instantly shoots up in price. This easily makes it one of the most expensive Star Wars toys.

8 Star Wars Droids: Vlix Wasn’t Available In the US

Vlix Was Only Available In Brazil

Many collectors only found out about Vlix as they went back to finish their collections as adults. But they didn’t miss him as kids because he was never available, at least not outside of Brazil. Vlix was intended to be part of the second wave of Star Wars figures dedicated to the Droids animated series, but the line was canceled before it appeared.

Despite this, Vlix was produced by Brazilian distributor Glassite, making him one of the rarest and most sought-after Star Wars toys no one has ever heard of. While a cheaper figure pops up now and then, Vlix is one of the most expensive Star Wars toys, potentially setting fans back upwards of around $28,000.

7 Anakin Skywalker Was Released As The Original Force Ghost

The Power of the Force Character Was Replaced In The Film

Anakin Skywalker’s original ghost form in Return of the Jedi has become a rarity for most versions of the film. The official cut was digitally updated to replace actor Sebastian Shaw — who originally played Anakin — with Hayden Christensen following the release of the prequels. The change caused an uproar among fans, particularly because of the way Christensen’s Force ghost was so young, while Obi-Wan’s and Yoda’s were so much older.

A very early version of Shaw’s Anakin was released in 1985 under the original “The Power of the Force” banner. It comes with a commemorative coin like the other figures in the line, and the Christensen replacement has juiced its already rare status into the stratospheric.

6 This Boba Fett Action Figure Is Hard To Come By

This Particular Action Figure Is a Prototype

This Boba Fett figure is one of the most expensive Star Wars figures out there, having recently sold for just over $10,000 at an auction. Produced by Kenner, other sealed copies of this figure online can be found for at least $3,000, making it one of the more expensive Star Wars offerings.

Reproduced versions of this figure by Hasbro, previously Kenner, started circulating in 2010. Without the original packaging, it’s harder to tell the difference between the vintage original Boba Fett action figures and the 2010 lookalikes. This makes the prototype version even more sought-after.

5 FX-7 Once Triggered a High-Priced Bidding War

The Medical Droid Is Common In Video Games

Few entries in the line have generated less interest than FX-7, also known as “the medical droid in The Empire Strikes Back who wasn’t 2-1B.” Besides showing just how diverse Star Wars’ canonical action figures can be — FX-7 is only on the screen for a few seconds — there didn’t seem to be anything unusual about the character or its tiny plastic duplicates.

In 2014, however, a bidding war resulted over the Palitoy variation of the figure. The British company produced the licensed figures in the UK. Speculation holds that it was the last figure needed to complete the respective bidders’ set, which would both track with FX-7’s barely-there status in the series and the relatively (though not unusually) difficult prospect of finding a figure for sale. In any case, the two bidders pushed the final price up somewhere in the neighborhood of $12,000.

4 Double Telescoping Darth Vader’s Are Very Valuable

The Initial Versions Never Made It To Market

Like Luke Skywalker, the initial versions of Darth Vader came with the double telescoping lightsaber feature. Unlike Luke, next to none of these made it to market. The change was made before production on the single-carded figures ramped up, making this Sith Lord figure beyond expensive.

Examples of this figure are extremely rare and require very high-level authentication as fakes have unfortunately become a factor in the collecting hobby. A carded version of a double-telescoping Darth Vader is one of the most expensive Star Wars toys out there, and can easily set collectors back close to $25,000.

3 Only Two Bib Fortuna Figures Have Been Professionally Graded

This Return Of The Jedi Character Is Very Rare

Bib Fortuna was a member of the cruel Jabba the Hutt’s crime faction. Only two 1983 Bib Fortuna Star Wars figures have ever been professionally graded, making this one of the rarest Star Wars figures in terms of quantity. This figure was produced by Kenner, as most others at the time, and its first appearance was the back of the Return of the Jedi 65 card.

These prototypes are, surprisingly, larger and more detailed than the final versions eventually sold on store shelves. While there are still a few expensive Star Wars toys that will set collectors back even further, the 1983 Bib Fortuna figure prototype is still a very impressive item to have.

2 This Obi-Wan Kenobi Is A Rare Star Wars Toy

This Kenobi Features A Double-Telescoping Lightsaber

Like the fan-favorite Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader before him, the double-telescoping variant of Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi is so rare he is the stuff of legends. It’s difficult to ascertain who is rarer, Vader or Obi-Wan, but a helpful guide is that a carded example of Obi-Wan sold at auction in 2018 for over $76,000.

This puts this particular Obi-Wan into the category of the serious collector. Only a few examples are thought to still exist. Should a person decide to invest in one, the rather short length of the thin portion of the saber — that needle-like piece sticking out — is a good hint that the figure is the legitimate double telescoping version.

1 Only Two Dozen Rocket-Firing Boba Fett Prototypes Were Made

This Action Figure Had a Utility That Others Didn’t

Almost everybody says they had one, but no one did. Kenner intended for Boba Fett to include a rocket-firing backpack when it mailed it to kids in a little white cardboard box, but after an unfortunate accident involving another toy company, they abandoned the idea.

Still, around two dozen or so prototypes in various stages of production – some painted, some just cast in blue plastic – survived. The rocket-firing Boba Fett is the most expensive Star Wars toy of them all, selling for more than $200K at auction. With Boba Fett having become one of Star Wars’ most popular characters, it’s only fitting he would be valued so highly among collectors.