40 years ago, the 1979 Kenner ALIEN action figure was released to the public. It was available this time of year for Christmas shoppers to purchase as gifts for children “AGES 5 AND UP”. These toys were in abundance, everywhere. They were often stacked high in pyramids and prominently displayed at aisle ends throughout the US and other countries. The exact number of ALIEN toys Kenner made is unknown. No actual sales or production target figures were ever released to the public. We know one thing is certain. They made a lot. …and I mean A LOT.
Kenner made so many of these toys, you can still buy them today, 4 decades later. Sure, many of them a little worse for wear and you may have to pay more than US$14.95 which was their recommended retail price when new, but you can still purchase one on eBay. Each of these items pictured above are all for sale right now.
Searching on eBay for kenner alien 1979 will reveal at least a dozen are currently listed. It has been 40 years since this toy was released and you can still always find about a dozen on the service at any time, testimony to the huge numbers of this audacious toy Kenner actually manufactured. Loose ones are expensive. Boxed ones are even more so. This is a toy with an unparalleled reputation that can never be equaled or matched on the simple grounds not only was it the first toy released based on an R-rated movie but it was also intended for children. A double whammy of reputation that ensures to this day the Kenner ALIEN is something unique throughout the entire toy industry. What’s more, it cannot be done twice. Ever. Such an amazing Christmas gift to the young ones of the time.
So why not shout yourself a very special piece of movie and toy history and buy yourself a lovely old Kenner ALIEN toy in need of a new home and some children to frighten? Every household should have one! I’m sure that was Kenner’s intention when these things were made – it appears they made enough of them to go around. There’s nothing quite like it – marketed at children and failing miserably in stores 40 years ago – this is one Christmas present people don’t forget about easily. Go on. Do it. You know you want to.
Merry Christmas and Happy 40th Anniversary, Kenner ALIEN action figure.
-Windebieste.
I order the 40 anniversary I can’t wait for the delivery I been looking at the mail carrier every day I doubt it will be here before Christmas but keeping my fingers crossed I lost all my Aliens collection and hoping to start a new one thanks for all the information and happy holidays!