Throwback · Decade Guide

The Hottest Products of the 1980s

Three genuine 1980s phenomena, each with a distinct story: a doll craze that caused real store riots, a toy line whose movie sequel outsold the original by billions, and the handheld that made portable gaming mainstream.

Updated 2026 · 3 picks
1

Sold 3 million+ dolls by the end of 1983 alone — and sparked genuine in-store riots and stampedes over holiday shortages.

2

A strong 1980s toy launch that got dwarfed decades later by its own movie franchise, which generated $3.7 billion in profit from five films alone.

3

Launched in 1989 and went on to sell 118.69 million units combined with the Game Boy Color — the first console of any kind to cross that scale.