You Simply Will Not Believe These 8 R-Rated Movies Received Kid-Oriented Toy Lines

The 1980s experienced a boom in action figure toys, largely thanks to the popularity of Kenner’s Star Wars line. Before Star Wars, most action figures were about the size of Barbie dolls. Kenner changed things up by creating 3 ¾-inch figures, which quickly became the standard size for the entire industry.

The popularity of Kenner’s Star Wars toys encouraged other companies to create their own action figure lines. Some, like Hasbro’s GI Joe: A Real American Hero, made figures the same size as the Star Wars ones, while others, like Mattel’s Masters of the Universe, went with larger figures. These lines also became popular and inspired even more companies to join the market. By the mid-1980s, LJN had released Thundercats, which was another big hit. However, other toy lines like Centurions and Sky Commanders weren’t as successful.

As a lifelong movie and toy collector, I remember how Star Wars toys completely changed the game. Before that, companies like Kenner and Mego were already dipping their toes into making toys based on films and TV, but Star Wars proved just how huge that market could be. Suddenly, everyone was scrambling to find the next big franchise, and it led to some really unexpected choices. In fact, some toy companies started licensing movies that definitely weren’t made for kids – movies that often earned their R-rating! It was wild to see them get toy lines at all. I’ve put together a list of eight of the most surprising examples.

8. Over The Top

Did the World Really Need Action Figures Based on an Arm-Wrestling Movie?

By 1987, Sylvester Stallone was a major Hollywood star. He’d first become famous with Rocky, then starred in the hugely popular Rambo series, along with films like Cobra, making him one of the most sought-after and highest-paid actors in the industry. This meant expectations were high for his new film, Over the Top. Unfortunately, the movie, directed by Menahem Golan, wasn’t a success with audiences or critics. Over the years, though, it has surprisingly gained a dedicated cult following.

Despite the film Over the Top not being a massive blockbuster, toy company LewCo decided to create a line of action figures anyway. The collection featured Sylvester Stallone’s character, Lincoln Hawks, and other figures were also produced. These were unusually large for the time and included a unique arm-wrestling feature. To complete the play experience, LewCo also made a miniature arm-wrestling table. They went even further, creating a kid-sized wrestling table and even toy dumbbells.

The movie Over the Top wasn’t successful in theaters, which led to its toy line being quickly discontinued and barely advertised in the US. The film’s production company, Cannon, overestimated Sylvester Stallone’s ability to attract viewers, and the toy company, LewCo, may have underestimated how popular the toys would be. LewCo soon went out of business, and now Over the Top action figures are quite valuable and can fetch high prices from collectors.

7. David Lynch’s Dune

While Not Rated “R,” Dune Is Not Kid-Friendly Either

David Lynch’s film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune is now a beloved cult classic, but when it was first released, it didn’t connect with audiences. Lynch was so disappointed with how the movie turned out that he asked for his name to be removed from the credits and largely avoided directing large-scale films afterward. However, that doesn’t mean Dune is a bad film. It contains truly memorable scenes that are strikingly imaginative and stay with viewers long after they’ve seen it.

When the movie Dune came out, it was expected to be a huge hit like Star Wars, so a line of toys was created. LJN, the company behind many WWE figures, made action figures of the main characters, including Paul Atreides, Lady Jessica, Gurney Halleck, and Baron Harkonnen. They even made a Sandworm toy! Unfortunately, the movie wasn’t popular with audiences, so the toys didn’t sell well and are now quite valuable to collectors, fetching high prices at auctions.

While not rated R, David Lynch’s Dune isn’t a movie for children. It features disturbing visuals and a slow pace that might bore younger viewers. Beyond that, some characters, like Baron Harkonnen, have complex and mature themes that would make them unsuitable for toys aimed at kids. Though McFarlane Toys now makes Dune toys based on the recent remakes, these are clearly designed for adult collectors.

6. Terminator 2: Judgment Day

One of the Best Action Movies Ever, Terminator 2 Inspired an Amazing Toy Line

I still remember when Terminator 2: Judgment Day came out in 1991 – it was incredible! It didn’t just make Arnold Schwarzenegger an even bigger action star, but it really established James Cameron as a director to be reckoned with. What I loved is that it wasn’t just a rehash of the first movie; it actually improved on it, which rarely happens with sequels! The whole film is this thrilling, fast-paced chase to prevent a new, more powerful Terminator from changing the future. And the special effects? They were groundbreaking – truly pushing the boundaries of what was possible with computer-generated imagery.

Even though Terminator 2 received an R rating, Kenner still created a line of action figures based on the movie. The toy line was released in three waves, including a special “3D” series. While most of the figures were different versions of the T-800 or T-1000, a John Connor figure was also included. The line also featured vehicles not seen in the film, like the “Heavy Metal Cycle.” One of the coolest parts of the Kenner Terminator 2 line was the Bio-Flesh Regenerator playset, which is still remembered as a classic toy.

The Terminator 2 action figure line by Kenner was popular, but it didn’t last very long. Although the movie offered plenty of possibilities for figures, there’s a limit to how many different versions of the two Terminators a company can create. A smaller part of the line, called “Future War,” introduced a villain named “Cyber Grip,” one of the few characters Kenner made who wasn’t one of the Terminators themselves.

5. The Alien Franchise

Kenner’s Aliens Toys Were High Marks of Action Figures

Ridley Scott’s 1979 film, Alien, proved that outer space could still be a source of great horror. The movie, starring Sigourney Weaver, began a hugely successful series of films and other products that continues today. When the original Alien came out, Kenner briefly released a single action figure of the Xenomorph creature, which hinted at the franchise’s potential for toys.

In 1992, Kenner revisited the Aliens franchise, releasing four series of toys before discontinuing the line in 1995. The story goes that Kenner pitched an animated series to 20th Century Fox, the creators of Alien, but the show never happened. Despite this, Kenner moved forward with the toys, initially focusing on characters and creatures from the 1986 film Aliens, and later expanding to include a wider range of Xenomorphs before the line was discontinued.

Collectors today cherish the Aliens toys made by Kenner. Several of the Xenomorph designs, like the unique “Gorilla” figure, even appeared in other Aliens content. Many of these toys also came with a Aliens comic book from Dark Horse. Despite the Alien films generally being rated for mature audiences, there’s a lot of potential to appeal to younger fans.

4. Predator

If Kenner Made Aliens Toys, It Is Only Fair It Would Do the Same For Predator

The Predator series began in 1987 and is still going strong today. The original movie, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, was a thrilling, suspenseful science fiction story that received an R rating. A sequel featuring Danny Glover, set in a city, came out in 1990. Around the same time, Dark Horse Comics started publishing Predator comics, alongside their Aliens comics.

Following the popularity of their Aliens toy line, Kenner launched its Predator toys in 1994. The Predator collection lasted three releases, ending in 1996, and featured only Predator figures – known as Yautja. Each figure had a unique feature or action. Kenner also created a small selection of vehicles to go with the Predator line.

Dark Horse Comics first combined the worlds of Alien and Predator, and later released comics based on Predator 2. A few years after discontinuing its Predator toy line, Kenner launched Alien: Hive War, a collection sold only at Kay-Bee Toys. This line cleverly blended the two franchises, foreshadowing the crossover movies that would come out in the 2000s.

3. Robocop

Did Robocop Become What It Set Out to Parody?

Paul Verhoeven’s RoboCop exploded onto the scene in 1987 and received a higher “R” rating than any other film mentioned here. Initially, the MPAA gave it an NC-17 rating, which meant Verhoeven had to significantly edit the movie to get it down to an R. Despite the cuts, RoboCop remains extremely violent and features many graphic and disturbing deaths.

Despite the intense violence in the movie RoboCop, Kenner quickly released a toy line called RoboCop and the Ultra Police just one year after the film came out. The line featured different versions of RoboCop, along with villains called the “Vandals,” and even an ED-260 robot. These toys were incredibly popular and let kids in the 1980s collect their own RoboCop action figures.

As many viewers of Robocop recognize, the film cleverly critiques both excessive consumerism and humanity’s inclination towards violence. It’s filled with fake commercials promoting aggressive products and toys. Ironically, the creation of Robocop action figures by Kenner seems to miss the movie’s satirical message.

2. Rambo

A Blood-Soaked Look at PTSD In Veterans Is Hardly Action Figure Material

The 1982 film First Blood, adapted from David Morrell’s novel, kicked off the Rambo series. Both the book and movie realistically portrayed the difficult experiences Vietnam veterans faced when they returned home. The story centers on John Rambo, a veteran struggling with PTSD, who clashes with a small-town sheriff. Rambo manages to fend off an entire police force until a former commander steps in to resolve the situation. While the film was a success, subsequent sequels moved away from the original, more serious themes.

In 1986, Coleco launched a series of action figures called Force of Freedom based on the Rambo movies, at the same time as a cartoon series with the same name. The line included Rambo himself, as well as supporting characters like Colonel Trautman. Coleco also created original characters to expand Rambo’s world, such as KAT, an expert in disguise, and produced large playsets and vehicles, including the massive S.A.V.A.G.E. Strike Headquarters.

It’s not surprising that parents were upset about toys based on the R-rated movie Rambo. The FCC received a lot of complaints from parents and teachers regarding the cartoon created to promote the toys. Consequently, both the cartoon and the toys were quickly taken off the market – within a year.

1. Police Academy

How Did Police Academy Ever Get a Toy Line?

The Police Academy movies started in 1984 and quickly became a popular series, releasing six films throughout the 80s that followed the silly adventures of new police officers. The original movie was known for its crude humor, which hasn’t held up well over time. Later films toned down the adult jokes and focused more on physical comedy and slapstick.

Even with the films’ adult humor, Kenner released three series of Police Academy toys between 1988 and 1990. These included characters from the movies, plus some new ones created by Kenner, along with vehicles and playsets. The toy line was supported by a cartoon series and a comic book published by Marvel’s STAR imprint, which focused on younger readers. It’s surprising that a series like Police Academy got its own toys, comics, and cartoon, considering the movies’ content.

2026-05-02 16:45