'Thunderbolts*' starts strong at the box office, but 'Sinners' remains 2025's biggest success story
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Florence Pugh in "Thunderbolts*."
Marvel's Thunderbolts* looks to top the box office this weekend, bringing in $31.5 million on its opening day.
SEE ALSO: 'Thunderbolts*' end-credits scene, explained: Who are the New Avengers?
That opening gross puts the MCU antihero team-up movie on track for a domestic opening weekend total somewhere between $70 million and $75 million. While sizable, that's still on the lower end of Marvel openings. It's also not as much as this year's other MCU offering, Captain America: Brave New World, which drew an $88 million opening weekend before grossing a disappointing domestic total of $200 million overall.
A smaller opening may not be a problem for Thunderbolts*, though. The movie's grab bag of heroes may not have the same name recognition as Captain America: Brave New World, but stronger reviews than recent MCU projects and more positive word of mouth could propel it to longer legs. (Thunderbolts* currently has an audience Cinema Score of A-, compared to Captain America: Brave New World's B-.)
Speaking of legs, Ryan Coogler's Sinners continues to kill it at the box office, raking in $9.5 million on Friday, May 2, a 27% fall from the week prior. That puts it on track for a $33 million third weekend, even after losing IMAX screens to Thunderbolts*.
If Sinners continues to perform at this level, it won't be long before it takes Captain America: Brave New World's spot as the second-highest-grossing film at the domestic box office. A Minecraft Movie still comfortably sits in the number one domestic spot, while the Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 is the highest-grossing film globally (Sinners currently ranks fifth globally).
Still, the fact that an original, R-rated film continues to hold strong at the box office even without premium screens proves that Sinners is on track to be 2025's biggest box office success story.
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Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Congratulations Are Pouring In For Sophie Cunningham Tonight
Congratulations Are Pouring In For Sophie Cunningham Tonight originally appeared on The Spun. Congratulations are pouring in for WNBA star Sophie Cunningham on Sunday evening. Cunningham, 28, is in her first year with the Indiana Fever. She was traded from the Phoenix Mercury to the Indiana Fever this offseason. Cunningham, who starred collegiately at Missouri, has been a key guard for the Fever, also serving as Caitlin Clark's quasi enforcer. Advertisement The former Phoenix Mercury guard took Jacy Sheldon to the ground during a game last weekend. Sheldon, who starred collegiately at Ohio State, had hit Clark in the eye earlier in the game. Cunningham has made it clear that she will stand up for Clark if the referees choose not to. Cunningham has since been blowing up on social media. She's hit one million followers on Instagram and has become one of the most-followed players in the sport. SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 19: Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) looks on before a WNBA game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Indiana Fever on June 19, 2025 at Chase Center in San Francisco, CA. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Cunningham is starting to profit off of her following, too. The Indiana Fever guard announced a new endorsement with Ring on Sunday evening. "On the court, I protect my team. At home, @ring protects me. 💙 #ad," she announced. Advertisement WNBA fans love to see it. "Yes girl 👏," one fan wrote. "I wonder how jacy basketball brand deal shoe sales are doing right now, I'm about to buy a second ring cam," one fan added. "Get that bag Sophie! Me and the kids are proud of you! 😍🥹😄," another fan added. "I love that things are going so great for you. It's like you became America's sweetheart overnight. Movie actress in the future? You never know. Congratulations on all your well deserved success," one fan added. "Buying a ring camera in Seattle bc of this ad. Thanks soph! 😆," one fan added. It's cool to see that Sophie Cunningham is starting to benefit from her following in a major way. Advertisement Congratulations Are Pouring In For Sophie Cunningham Tonight first appeared on The Spun on Jun 30, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Roberto Baggio interview – ‘To entertain people… that's what I lived for'
It was the week before Lionel Messi's 38th birthday. His wife, Antonella, must have been wondering what to get him. Then a gift arrived — early and unexpected — a special one that, judging from the boyish grin on Messi's face, made him feel like a kid again. Waiting for Messi at Inter Miami's Florida Blue training facility was Roberto Baggio. He was in town for the Club World Cup, and when the opportunity presented itself to visit Messi, the hour in the car from Miami Beach to Fort Lauderdale, the grind of the Florida traffic, didn't matter. Advertisement When Baggio played, he played for one reason and one reason only. It wasn't for the money or the fame. He had a different motive. 'To entertain the people,' he says. 'That's what I lived for. That was my dream. For the people to enjoy themselves. That was the mentality I had when I was 10, 15, when I was 20 until I retired.' Messi has given Baggio the same feeling he gave supporters. And so, when they met, it wasn't so much a meeting of two legends — it was a mirror, the smile of one reflected in the other. Baggio had brought Messi one of the Italy jerseys he wore at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. 'When he saw it, he got emotional,' Baggio says, happy and incredulous. 'He caressed it, and folded it. It was a beautiful thing to see.' Baggio was moved too. Within an hour, the photo Messi posted on his Instagram had been liked a million times. The caption was arguably as expressive and effusive as the Argentine has ever been off the pitch. 'What a wonderful visit! Thank you, Roberto, for this special and meaningful gift and for the lovely chat we shared. You are a crack and a football legend. It will always be a pleasure to welcome you whenever you want to come and see us.' That's Baggio — someone the stars of the game are starstruck by. Someone who has never considered himself a star, even if his star shone the brightest in the galaxy of 90s Serie A. The world-record transfer fee Juventus paid Fiorentina in 1990 didn't change him; nor did the goal he scored against Czechoslovakia at the World Cup that summer, one of the greatest in the history of the competition — an exhilarating, socks-down dribble from the sideline of the halfway line. A goal that features on every montage in the run-up to the tournament, alongside those of Pele and Diego Maradona. Baggio, an icon of the game, one of them. Advertisement 'Thanks, but I don't see it,' he says. And it isn't false modesty. It isn't an act. When his daughter Valentina remarks that Messi's post has gone viral, Baggio understands — but apparently without understanding why. The love for him in real life, not just the flourish of heart emojis online, comes as a surprise. 'I don't know what to say to you. It's hard to recognise myself among them. I've never felt that way. I've always felt like one of the billions of people walking this earth. I was lucky enough to play football and do what I love. But I don't feel like them.' The great American novelist John Updike once observed that fame is a mask that eats the famous — and Baggio wears no mask. Celebrity has never appealed to him. It never changed him. 'Maybe it's best to be unaware of it,' he says. 'Maybe an awareness of it would change you. I don't want to change.' He still lives in the countryside where he grew up near Vicenza. Around the table, his family speak the local dialect of the Veneto region. At 58, he says: 'I am the same person I was when I was 10. I'm passionate about the simple things in life.' He hunts. He carves duck decoys. At heart, he's always been a country boy. The supercars thundering past Miami Beach contrast with the FIAT Panda he has at home and the tractor he rides around his estate. He is a man of nature. 'I'm fortunate enough to live in a place with lots of greenery,' he says. 'So I devote myself to its upkeep, mowing the lawn, doing maintenance and pruning the plants. I have to say that this takes my mind off things. It's like the physical exertion of training.' When Baggio made his final appearance for Brescia at San Siro — the Scala del Calcio — in 2004, he described retirement as a kind of deliverance. He suffered a career-ending injury as a teenager, but refused to let it end his career, finding strength through the Buddhism he discovered in a record shop while recuperating in Florence. Advertisement 'I wouldn't be the person I am if I hadn't taken this path,' he says. 'I'm 100 per cent sure of that. I practise every day. I know that when I practise (Buddhism), it brings out a part of my life that's positive and beautiful. It transforms everything I do during the day.' The application, the discipline, the serenity from the recitation of the daimoku helped Baggio overcome. Long surgical scars still trace like fault lines on his knees. When his friend and former team-mate 'Peppe' Guardiola first introduced Baggio to Messi after a Champions League game in 2010, Guardiola told him: 'I was lucky enough to play with (Baggio) when I was 31 after he'd had six or seven knee operations. He was the best player I ever played with.' The toll football took on Baggio's body was great. The price of entertaining the people and doing what he loved was high. 'I would finish training and go home,' he says. 'It was an hour's drive from Brescia to my house, and when I got back after an hour with my leg bent, I couldn't straighten it. My wife, Andreina, knew. She would come down to help me, and I would stretch to be able to walk again. In the end, finishing playing was a liberation for me, a joy.' Baggio was 37 when he called it a day. He had already prolonged his career longer than expected. He'd played for each of Italy's big three — Juventus, Inter and Milan — but his club was always his country. His willingness to take his talent to Bologna and Brescia to give himself the best chance of making World Cup squads was a transcendental choice. It is particularly stark today, when so much of the narrative around the national team is about players pulling out, turning down call-ups, and leaving the impression that representing Italy is maybe not the greatest honour of their careers. Moving abroad would have ruled Baggio out of contention for Italy, so he never did. Serie A's status as the best league in the world at the time meant anything else was considered inferior, a step down. Advertisement But what if he'd played elsewhere? 'I always turned down teams outside of Italy,' he says, 'because I dreamed of getting back into the national team and playing a World Cup in Japan (in 2002). I passed on it. There were opportunities but I always put them to one side. If you're asking me whether I would have liked to play at the Bombonera, I'll tell you: 'Of course'. Of course I would have done, if I had been able to.' This summer, Baggio attended both of Boca Juniors' Club World Cup games at the Hard Rock Stadium. He has been a fan of theirs for years. It's a passion his family shares. Going to watch Boca is like being at a concert where there happens to be football. 'I was given a CD in Argentina,' Baggio says. 'It has songs from the 'Doce' (Boca's ultras define themselves as the 12th man). They're from 25 years ago, not today. The songs are beautiful and take you to another place. When you hear them, they make you want to sing even if you don't know the words or the meaning behind them. 'I used to put the CD on when I took Valentina and Mattia (one of Baggio's two boys) to school because I wanted them to rush off through those school gates like a shot, happy and excited. I made them sing along and they would go to school with a smile on their faces that would make your head spin. It was like medicine, truly joyful.' Argentina holds a special place in Baggio's heart. He has a ranch in La Pampa. It is somewhere he can get lost in and find stillness. 'There's a purity in the air,' Baggio says. 'It stays with you. The flavours. The smells. It's a place that obviously reminds me of many wonderful evenings with my father, my father-in-law, my brothers and friends, sitting in front of the fireplace with an 'asado' (barbecue). It's a place I loved coming to, especially when I was playing, because it's a place where I could escape from the world, get away from everything. There, I could clear my mind and relax because I was cut off from the world I lived in for 11 and a half months of the year.' Advertisement It's where he spent what remained of the summer after the 1994 World Cup — when Baggio, the Ballon d'Or holder at the time, took over like Pele in 1970, Maradona in 1986, Zinedine Zidane in 1998, Ronaldo in 2002 and Messi in 2022. Without his goals in the knockout stages, Italy probably would not have made it all the way to the final in Pasadena. Arrigo Sacchi's Italy did not, to the great frustration of the media, play like Arrigo Sacchi's Milan. The style of play fell below expectations. Baggio did not. He got Italy back into the round of 16 game against Nigeria and scored the winner in extra time. This led to FIFA president Gianni Infantino's one run-in with the Swiss police. Infantino, then 24, got into his car with some friends and drove around town, beeping their horns, twirling their flags and singing songs in celebration. They were asked to desist and go home. They didn't and Infantino, a law student at the time, argued why it was one rule for the Italians and another for the Swiss, whose fans had been just as boisterous after Switzerland beat Romania earlier in the competition. Baggio entered a state of grace in that tournament. He prevented the quarter-final against Spain from going into extra time with an 88th-minute clincher. His double in the semi-final against Bulgaria set up a re-run of the 1970 World Cup final between Italy and Brazil, a game between the most successful nations from Europe and South America — a classic. The heat of an American summer, as the 32 teams involved in the Club World Cup have found, was debilitating. 'The entire World Cup, not just our matches, was affected by the heat,' Baggio says. 'It was mind-boggling. We had to exert ourselves beyond the limits of what was humanly possible to be able to play. But despite everything, we were driven by passion and the desire to achieve results, and many Italians who lived there as immigrants were proud of us. We felt it as a team. It was an extra push to overcome the obstacles.' Advertisement The weather. The coast-to-coast travel. The hurt. Franco Baresi came back 25 days after tearing his meniscus. He played, by his estimation, the best game of his career against Romario. Baggio too was a doubt and gave his all to make the difference against Brazil in a final that, perhaps unsurprisingly given the conditions, came down to a shootout. Baresi missed. Daniele Massaro missed. Even if Baggio had scored his penalty, it probably would not have mattered. The next one for Brazil, if converted, would have won it regardless. Baggio, meanwhile, lost more than a game that day. The Ballon d'Or went to Hristo Stoichkov. The FIFA World Player of the Year award ended up in the hands of Romario. The World Cup was lifted by Dunga, his old Fiorentina team-mate. The penalty itself made little sense. Baggio always went low. It went high. He always scored. Just not this time, of all times. 'If I had had a knife at that moment, I would have stabbed myself,' he says. 'If I had had a gun, I would have shot myself. At that moment, I wanted to die. That's how it was.' Baggio has had to carry that moment ever since. There is scant consolation in Brazil's goalkeeper Claudio Taffarel claiming a higher power whispered to him seconds before Baggio's penalty. The same goes for the belief among his team-mates that the great Ayrton Senna — who visited the team before he died at the San Marino Grand Prix in May — lifted the ball up and over the bar. Divine interventions against the Divine Ponytail. But Baggio did not die on his feet in Pasadena. He played another 10 years. The fans didn't forgive him because there was nothing to forgive. If anything, they loved him harder because Baggio played to make them forget their own problems. And so they forgot Pasadena. They forgot it when he gave Bologna what, until recently, was the best season in a generation… when he qualified Inter for the Champions League with an epic display in a play-off against Parma… and when he combined with Andrea Pirlo and Guardiola at Brescia. Those were the best days of a fanbase's lives. And when Baggio retired in 2004, it felt like something ended in Italian football. It wasn't Sunday anymore, as the pop star Cesare Cremonini sang. Italy won the World Cup two years later — but it coincided with the Calciopoli scandal. And while the national team and representatives of Serie A have recently rebounded, 'calcio' misses Baggios. Genius cannot be mass-produced. Italian football was spoiled through the 1990s and 2000s with Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero. Three once-in-a-generation players played in the same generation — or thereabouts. Their absence on the pitch is keenly felt. Italian football needs them. After retiring, Baggio did his coaching badges. 'But I never took this thing seriously,' he says. Guardiola would like him on his staff if, one day, he comes to work in Italy. Instead, Baggio briefly worked for the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) as the head of its technical department. It produced a 900-page report on the reform of youth development in Italy. Advertisement 'The important thing was that we wanted to educate people to be people first and footballers second,' he says. 'Not everyone will become a player, but everyone will be a person. That was the basis.' The FIGC largely ignored it. And Baggio left in 2013. He was out of football for a long time, until very recently. Then Infantino invited Baggio to the 2023 Under-20 World Cup in Argentina. Italy's former coach Luciano Spalletti invited him and other great No 10s to visit the squad before last summer's European Championship. Serie A followed by making him an ambassador. It was Baggio who brought out the trophy at the Coppa Italia final, which his old team, Bologna, won for the first time in 51 years. This week, he has been in New York at a community project aimed at getting kids from the Bronx into football. So, between working the land in his beloved Veneto, Baggio still follows the game? 'Absolutely,' he says. 'I always watch lots of highlights on YouTube; the Italian, Argentine, English and South American leagues, both Brazilian and Argentine, sometimes Chilean or Paraguayan. Maybe there are people I know, like Martin Palermo, who coaches Club Olimpia (in Asuncion). I like to check out how he's doing, if he's doing well. I'm more attached to my friends. I always follow them.' And they follow him. The original Ronaldo caught up with Baggio at the Club World Cup, as did other legends of the game. Current players, not just Messi, but Paul Pogba and Paulo Dybala, wanted a selfie with him. One of the most cherished shirts in Dybala's collection at home is a Baggio-Brescia jersey. Many wondered why he was no longer involved in football. Could he not be tempted to return? For now, Baggio is happy to be back on the scene in his ambassadorial roles. 'I have to tell you that at a certain point in my life, I thought it was time to enjoy my family, to be close to them, to enjoy the simple things and do, above all, what I haven't done for almost 40 years. So I chose freedom. And that's priceless.' And as the smile on Messi's face showed, a meeting with Baggio is too.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Kids Loved This Toy the Year You Were Born
From plastic potato heads to robotic hamsters, the most popular toy the year you were born says a lot about the trends and culture of that moment in time. Some toys took off thanks to blockbuster movies or Saturday morning cartoons, while others gained traction through viral internet fame or playground buzz. Whether techy, cuddly, or totally unexpected, these popular toys captured kids' imaginations — and parents' wallets — year after year. This list rounds up the most iconic, in-demand toy for each year from 1950 through 2025 (so far!). Some have become enduring childhood staples, like LEGO, Barbie, and Nintendo. Others were short-lived sensations that came and went in a flash. (Remember Pogs?) Whether driven by innovation, celebrity tie-ins, or good old-fashioned fun, each toy earned its moment in the spotlight. So whether you're feeling nostalgic for your own childhood favorite or just curious about what your kids are obsessed with now, scroll through for a playful walk down memory lane — and find out what was hot the year you were Little People first appeared in 1950 as part of the Looky Fire Truck. These small, peg-shaped characters became a staple in toddler toys and helped children develop imagination and storytelling through simple, durable Potato Head has the distinction of being the first toy ever advertised on TV. Kids originally used real potatoes to create goofy characters using the included plastic parts, making it a wildly novel and customizable toy when it on the original Slinky craze, Slinky Dog debuted in 1952 as a pull toy with a coiled metal body. It charmed kids with its springy, bouncing motion and wagging tail as it rolled across the not widely sold until later, early development of Chatty Cathy began around 1953. The talking doll amazed kids by saying recorded phrases when you pulled a string, a pioneering feature that made it one of the first interactive marketed and sold as a wallpaper cleaner, Play-Doh later sold as a colorful modeling compound in the '50s. Its fun texture and bright colors made it a hit with kids for creative Putty was actually invented during World War II, and became a favorite toy by the mid-1950s. It could bounce, stretch, break, and even lift comic strips off newspaper pages, captivating kids with its oddball, hands-on started out as a stop-motion TV character before he became a bendable green toy figure. Along with his horse Pokey, Gumby became a 1950s icon that encouraged imaginative their reusable vinyl stick-ons and bold, colorful backgrounds, Colorforms let kids create endless scenes and stories... with no mess. From basic shapes to licensed characters, these peel-and-stick sets sparked imagination and became a staple in mid-century playrooms.A simple plastic ring became a full-blown national obsession in 1958. The Hula Hoop, popularized by Wham-O, had kids spinning, twirling, and competing in backyard battles across the country. At its peak, millions were sold each month, proof that the best toys don't need the iconic Barbie made her debut in 1959, it was nothing short of a revolution in the doll world. With her glamorous outfits, high heels, and grown-up lifestyle, Barbie offered a new kind of imaginative play — one where kids could dream big about grown-up life. She wasn't just a doll; she was a fashion model, astronaut, doctor and more paving the way for decades of role play and reinvention (not to mention a blockbuster movie decades down the road).Part toy, part drawing tool, Etch A Sketch let kids create art with just two knobs — no pencils or paper needed. The red-framed screen felt like magic, erasing instantly with a quick shake. It became an instant classic and a must-have for budding artists or everyday its smiling face, spinning dial, and wobbly wheels, the Chatter Telephone made talking on the 'phone' endlessly fun for toddlers. It encouraged pretend play and early communication skills. Plus, pulling it around by its string made it feel like a friendly little their wild hair and wide-eyed grins, Troll dolls were weird, whimsical and wildly popular. Originally created by a Danish woodcutter, these quirky little figures became a surprise hit in the U.S., sparking a full-blown craze that would return again and again over the decades (eventually as a huge movie franchise).Baking got kid-sized with the Easy-Bake Oven, which used a simple lightbulb to 'cook' mini cakes and cookies. It gave kids a taste of independence in the kitchen... and a warm, sweet treat to show for it. The nostalgia factor to this day? Still piping as the first 'action figure,' G.I. Joe marched onto the scene in 1964 and redefined toys marketed to boys in that era. With movable joints, military gear, and a backstory for every figure, G.I. Joe sparked a new kind of imaginative play centered around adventure, bravery, and buzzy board game turned the seriousness of surgery into silly fun. Players used tweezers to remove tiny 'ailments' from Cavity Sam without touching the edges, or risk setting off that iconic red nose and startling buzzer. Operation combined laughter and anticipation with a steady-hand challenge that kids turned math concepts (boring for kids!) into mesmerizing art (super fun for kids!). Using gears, rings, and colored pens, kids could draw endless looping patterns and intricate designs. It was part creativity, part precision and totally captivating once you started let kids create glowing masterpieces by plugging colorful pegs into a backlit screen. Whether following a template or freestyling, the result was pure magic, especially when the lights dimmed. It was creative, calming and just the right amount of retro-futuristic sleek, die-cast vehicles from Mattel featured flashy designs and ultra-fast wheels, turning any floor or track into a high-speed racetrack. Kids raced, collected and customized them — fueling a craze that's still going strong the Apollo 11 mission captured the world's imagination, Snoopy suited up in his own space gear. Released to celebrate the moon landing, the Snoopy Astronaut doll let kids bring home a piece of history with their favorite beagle leading the and sold as the 'world's first indoor ball,' the original Nerf Ball was soft, squishy, and safe to toss around the house — no risk of broken lamps or bruised siblings. It kicked off the iconic Nerf brand and proved that foam could be seriously fun.'Weebles wobble but they don't fall down!' These egg-shaped figures with weighted bottoms were a toddler favorite in the early '70s. No matter how far you tilted them, they always bounced back, making them endlessly entertaining and nearly impossible to to learn and play but full of surprises, Uno quickly became a family game night favorite. The colorful cards, wild rules and satisfying 'Draw Four' moments made it a hit across generations and a staple in every toy drawer even to this Alive brought pretend play to a new level with a doll that could eat, drink and even needed a diaper change. Kids loved the lifelike caregiving experience while parents loved watching their little ones eager to take on Magna Doodle debuted in 1974, captivating kids with its mess-free magnetic drawing magic. Using a special magnetic pen children could sketch pictures or write messages that appeared like magic on the screen — then swipe the slider to erase it all instantly. Its simplicity and reusability made it a go-to toy for car rides, classroom fun and creative play at home. It was durable, portable, and endlessly sounds like a joke — and that's because it kind of was. Created by advertising executive Gary Dahl, the Pet Rock was literally a smooth stone sold in a cardboard box with breathing holes and straw bedding. Marketed as the ideal low-maintenance companion, the novelty toy became a full-blown craze in the mid-'70s. Kids loved the silliness of having a 'pet' they didn't have to feed, walk, or clean up after. At its peak, more than a million Pet Rocks were sold, proving that with the right spin, even a rock could become a national Armstrong could stretch, twist, and bend like no other toy. Filled with a mysterious goo and encased in a muscular latex body, Stretch could be pulled up to four feet and still snap back to shape. Kids loved testing his limits, and Stretch Armstrong was unlike anything else at the Star Wars hit theaters that year, its impact was masssive. Kenner's action figures let kids bring the epic saga home, fueling an unprecedented demand for the tabletop playthings. They quickly became coveted collectibles and launched a new era of movie its flashing lights and catchy tones, Simon challenged players to memorize and repeat increasingly complex sequences. It was a game, it was a brain teaser and it became an instant classic — equally fun as it was futuristic (for the time).The Atari 2600 brought arcade action into the living room and helped launch the home video game revolution. With blocky graphics and joystick controls, it introduced classics like Space Invaders and Asteroids and changed how kids played colorful puzzle cube took the world by storm in 1980. Simple in appearance but devilishly tricky to solve, the Rubik's Cube challenged kids (and adults) to twist their way to victory and kicked off a worldwide brainteaser blue and irresistibly collectible, Smurfs figurines were based on the beloved Belgian cartoon. These hand-painted PVC figures came in endless variations and kids loved building their own Smurf villages and hunting for rare their colorful bodies, brushable manes and sweet names like Cotton Candy and Blue Belle, My Little Pony figures galloped straight into kids' hearts. Each pony had its own personality and symbol, making them endlessly collectible and perfect for imaginative their pudgy cheeks and yarn hair, Cabbage Patch Kids sparked a full-blown holiday shopping frenzy in 1983. Each one came with a unique name and its own 'adoption papers,' making them feel one-of-a-kind — something kids (and parents, forced to scour stores) couldn't get enough instantly captured '80s imaginations with their ability to shift from vehicles into heroic robots. Led by Optimus Prime and Megatron, the battle between Autobots and Decepticons played out in toy form, comics, and a hit animated series. Their unique 'more than meets the eye' gimmick made them endlessly fun to play with, and turned them into a pop culture juggernaut still going strong decades moving eyes and a mouth that 'read' stories aloud via cassette tape, Teddy Ruxpin felt like a magical storytelling companion. Kids were mesmerized by the animatronic bear who quickly became the year's most talked-about (and hardest to find) this futuristic game, players wore sensor-equipped vests and wielded infrared 'blasters,' scoring hits with light beams instead of foam darts or water. It felt like real-life sci-fi action inspired by the popularity of Star Wars and the arcade its rubbery strands and satisfyingly squishy feel, the Koosh Ball was a toy and stress reliever in one. Easy to catch and fun to fling it became a hit in classrooms and living rooms (and on office desks) 1988, the Nintendo Entertainment System had become a full-blown cultural force. Though it debuted earlier, this was the year titles like Super Mario Bros. 2 and Zelda II cemented the NES as the console to own. With its simple controller, iconic 8-bit graphics and awesome game library, the NES defined a whole generation of home Nintendo Game Boy forever changed how (and where) people played video games. This pocket-sized device brought portable gaming mainstream, with its grayscale screen, swappable cartridges, and unbeatable battery life. Bundled with Tetris, the Game Boy became an instant classic, captivating players of all ages and laying the foundation for handheld gaming as we know In 1990, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures were everywhere — from toy store shelves to school backpacks. Fueled by the hit cartoon and live-action movie, the toy line let kids collect all four pizza-loving heroes (Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael), plus villains like Shredder and breakout hit toy brought 16-bit gaming magic to living rooms in 1991 setting a new standard for home consoles. With classics like Super Mario World, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and Street Fighter II, the SNES delivered richer graphics, deeper gameplay and iconic soundtracks. It became a defining game console of the '90s and solidified Nintendo's legacy in the 1992, the Barbie Dreamhouse had evolved into a full-blown pink palace — complete with working lights, a ringing telephone and stylish plastic furniture. This iconic playset gave kids a glamorous space to bring their Barbie stories to life, whether she was hosting a pool party, relaxing in her canopy bed or making calls from her cordless phone. With multiple levels and rooms, the playhouse offered just about endless imaginative possibilities and cemented Barbie's status as a fashion-forward homeowner living her best a movie prop in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, the Talkboy became a real-life sensation in 1993. This silver handheld recorder let kids slow down their voices, record goofy messages and play them back for endless laughs — just like Kevin McCallister did. With its extendable microphone and futuristic design, the Talkboy felt like a gadget straight out of a spy the massive success of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers on TV, the action figures became one of 1994's hottest toys. Kids could collect their favorite Rangers and reenact battles against villains like Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd. With their martial arts poses, morphing accessories, and Zords that combined into Megazords, these toys became a major cardboard discs took schoolyards by storm in the mid-'90s. Kids stacked, flipped, and battled Pogs using heavy 'slammers,' turning recess into a full-on competition. With endless designs to collect, Pogs were as much about trading as they were about Me Elmo became a full-blown cultural craze during the 1996 holiday season. The fuzzy red Sesame Street character would giggle and shake when squeezed, sending kids into fits of laughter — and sending parents into a frenzy trying to find one. Stores sold out within minutes, sparking stampedes and sky-high resale pocket-sized digital pet from Japan required constant care — feeding, cleaning, and attention — or it would 'die,' making it both adorable and anxiety-inducing (an addictive combo). Kids became instantly obsessed, checking on their pixelated pals between classes and taking the responsibility debuted in 1998 and instantly captivated kids with its blinking eyes, moving beak and ability to 'learn' language over time. The furry, owl-like creature spoke its own language (Furbish, of course) before gradually switching to English, creating the illusion of intelligence. Its interactive nature and quirky personality sparked a massive holiday craze making Furby one of the most sought-after toys of the late ' the turn of the new millennium, Pokémon cards turned playgrounds into bustling trading hubs. Based on the wildly popular video games and animated series, the collectible card game let kids battle with their favorite characters like Pikachu, Charizard and Mewtwo. Rare cards became valuable, coveted Razor Scooter burst onto the scene in 2000 and became an instant phenomenon. Lightweight, foldable, and fun to ride, it was the must-have toy for kids (and even some adults) looking to zip around the neighborhood. Its sleek aluminum design and smooth-rolling wheels made it cooler than a bike and portable enough to carry into class or stash under the bed. Razor reportedly sold over 5 million scooters in its first year alone, making it one of the most iconic toys of the dolls hit the shelves in 2001 with a bold, fashion-forward attitude that shook up the doll aisle; they had oversized eyes, glossy lips, and edgy outfits. Characters like Cloe, Yasmin, Jade and Sasha offered a modern alternative to traditional dolls. Bratz quickly became a cultural phenomenon, celebrated for their diverse looks and cool toy combined fast-paced battles with customizable spinning tops. Kids launched their Beyblades into plastic arenas, watching them clash and knock each other out. Based on a Japanese anime, the toy's "Let it rip!" catchphrase became a playground marched onto the scene in 2003 as one of the first mass-market robots to combine real movement, personality and playability. Created by a NASA scientist, this humanoid robot could walk, dance, burp and even grab objects, controlled entirely by a its dual screens, touch controls, and built-in Wi-Fi, the Nintendo DS felt like the future of handheld gaming. From Nintendogs to Mario Kart, it delivered endless fun on the go, and became an instant must-have for release of the Xbox 360 marked in a new era of high-def gaming and online multiplayer experiences. With a cool design, a robust library of games like Halo 3 and Gears of War, and the rise of Xbox Live, it became serious gamers' absolute must-have toy. In addition to providing gameplay at home, it also connected players around the world, a feature that set the stage for modern online gaming Nintendo Wii revolutionized gaming in 2006 when it came out with its motion-sensing controls. Instead of traditional button-mashing, players swung, aimed and moved to play — whether bowling, boxing, or battling. The console attracted gamers of all ages and quickly became a household staple, selling over 100 million the music power of an iPod with the touchscreen magic of the iPhone, the iPod Touch was the ultimate tech toy in 2007. Kids and teens were obsessed with downloading apps, watching videos and showing off their sleek new innovative toy combined action figures, trading cards and magnetic pop-up transformations into one thrilling experience. Kids rolled marble-shaped Bakugan onto special cards, causing them to spring open into fierce creatures. Backed by a hit anime series, Bakugan quickly became a must-have collectible and strategic playground robotic hamsters scurried, squeaked and zipped through plastic tunnels, giving kids all the fun of a pet without the mess. Zhu Zhu Pets were an instant hit, flying off shelves during the holiday season thanks to their cuteness and first iPad launched a tablet revolution, and quickly became a must-have for families. With its big screen, intuitive design, and endless apps, the iPad was both a cutting-edge gadget and the coolest toy in the learning with touchscreen fun, the LeapPad Explorer was like a kid-friendly tablet packed with educational games and e-books. Parents loved the focus on reading and math, while kids loved feeling like they had a 'real' device of their brought toys to life... literally. Kids could place real action figures on a "Portal of Power" to transport them into the video game. The mix of physical play and digital adventure made it one of the hottest trends of the simple plastic loom sparked a DIY craze, as kids everywhere used tiny rubber bands to weave colorful bracelets. Rainbow Loom was creative, collectible, and a playground must-have. Plus, it got kids totally hooked on Frozen mania swept the globe, Elsa dolls became the most coveted toy of the year. With her sparkly blue gown and signature braid, the Snow Queen let kids bring the magic — not to mention the earworm — of "Let it Go" app-controlled droid rolled straight out of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and into kids' hearts. With lifelike movements and personality-packed responses, BB-8 felt like your very own robot fuzzy, animatronic creatures hatched from speckled eggs with a little help from their owners, creating a magical unboxing moment. The surprise element — and the cute toys inside — made Hatchimals an instant sellout started as a stress-relief tool turned into a playground craze. Fidget spinners were everywhere in 2017, with kids mastering tricks and showing off colorful designs that spun for minutes at a fun reached new heights with L.O.L. Surprise Dolls, which came hidden inside layers of colorful packaging. Each layer revealed a new accessory or clue, making the big reveal feel like a game. The fun styles, the mystery of it... kids couldn't get enough!These figures' stylized vinyl designs, featuring iconic characters from movies, TV, music, and gaming, became must-have collectibles. The figures' limited editions and convention exclusives fueled frenzied collecting with fans hunting for rare variants and driving August 1 2020, LEGO Super Mario blended physical bricks with a smart interactive Mario figure that collects coins, reacts to enemies, and connects via app. Starter sets, expansions and blind‑bag character packs brought classic video‑game levels to life for fans and designed for sensory relief, Pop-Its became a viral sensation thanks to TikTok. The satisfying 'pop' made them endlessly entertaining and kids collected them in every color, shape and size by Moose Toys, the Magic Mixies Magic Cauldron was the breakout hit of 2022. Kids followed spell books, mixed ingredients, tapped their wands and real mist burbled up to reveal a surprise plush pet amid tons of cool sound their ultra-soft texture, charming names and collectible appeal, these plush pals took over TikTok, filled shelves (and beds) and even made it into McDonald's Happy Meals. Beloved by kids, teens and adults alike Squishmallows turned cuddly comfort into a brought virtual pets into a new era in 2024 with its holographic-style display and tactile controls. Housed in a handheld pod, Bitzee features 15 collectible creatures that respond to swipes, tilts and taps — no screen required. Pets evolve as you play, unlocking outfits, mini-games and new by nostalgia, digital crossovers, and soaring demand, the Scarlet & Violet series has dominated 2025. Sets like SV-151 and Prismatic Evolutions are selling out instantly, with rare cards skyrocketing in value—making this one of the most intense Pokémon trading card booms in years. You Might Also Like 67 Best Gifts for Women That'll Make Her Smile The Best Pillows for Every Type of Sleeper
