How Star Wars Action Figures Became the Toy World’s Most Powerful Force

7 Films, 140 figures and millions of blissful collectors

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A long time ago, in a shopping season far away, Kenner made toy history. Yes, this is a story about Star Wars action figures. But first it's a story about how they almost didn't happen.

It was Christmas 1977, and Star Wars was on its way to becoming the top-grossing movie in history. Over at Kenner Toys, executives were in a panic. The company had negotiated the license to produce action figures of the film's characters, but the deal had been signed late, and the figures weren't ready.

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