1. E.T. Cereal
When E.T. mania swept the nation, it seemed like everything with that little alien’s face on it would sell. General Mills thought a cereal shaped like tiny peanut butter and chocolate-flavored “E.T. pieces” would be a hit, but kids weren’t impressed. Parents said it tasted more like sweetened cardboard, and the novelty wore off fast. Even tie-ins with toys inside the box couldn’t keep it on shelves for long.
It’s funny because the movie itself was about love and wonder, but the cereal left most families shrugging. Collectors today love finding an unopened box, but at the time, it just felt like one of those cash-grab tie-ins. By the mid-’80s, it had disappeared quietly. All that was left were commercials trying way too hard to make the cereal look magical.
2. Ghostbusters High-C Shoes
In the height of Ghostbusters fever, someone thought kids would want sneakers branded with the ghost logo. The shoes were flashy, but they weren’t exactly built for comfort or durability. Parents complained about the price compared to better-known brands like Nike or Reebok. The glow-in-the-dark accents sounded cool but peeled off after a few weeks.
It was one of those products that looked better in ads than in real life. Kids liked showing them off once or twice, but nobody wanted to wear them every day. Soon, stores had stacks of unsold pairs sitting in the clearance aisle. The only ghosts left were the ones haunting shoe racks.
3. Tron Arcade Cabinets for Home
Disney really believed Tron would change the way kids looked at video games. They even marketed miniature arcade cabinets so you could bring the neon glow home. Unfortunately, the graphics weren’t anywhere near as advanced as what was seen in the film. The cabinets were bulky and way too expensive for most families.
The movie later gained cult status, but at the time, kids were more interested in their Ataris and Nintendos. The tie-in arcade machine ended up being more of a collector’s curiosity than a plaything. Many parents regretted shelling out the money when interest fizzled so fast. It became another reminder that Hollywood hype didn’t always translate into living rooms.
4. Howard the Duck Action Figures
The film may have been a notorious flop, but the toy line was already in motion before anyone knew how poorly it would land. Kids were confused about who the audience was supposed to be—were these toys for children or adults? The figures sat unsold because no one really wanted to play with a sarcastic humanoid duck.
Even though Marvel was behind it, the whole concept just felt off. Retailers tried marking them down, but they still gathered dust. Parents didn’t see the appeal, and kids preferred sticking with their Transformers or He-Man figures. The toys eventually became a quirky collectible for fans of so-bad-it’s-good cinema.
5. Back to the Future Dehydrated Pizza Kit
In Back to the Future Part II, we watched in awe as Marty’s mom popped a tiny pizza into a hydrator and it grew instantly. Companies rushed to capitalize with dehydrated pizza kits, but the results were far less glamorous. The crust was hard, the toppings tasted stale, and the whole “just add water” gimmick never worked as advertised.
Kids begged for it because of the movie, but one taste was enough to kill the excitement. Parents, already skeptical, didn’t want to waste money on something barely edible. The kits disappeared quickly, remembered more for their disappointment than convenience. The dream of futuristic meals was left to sci-fi instead of supermarkets.
6. Rambo Bubble Gum
Turning one of the most violent action heroes into a kid-friendly bubble gum seemed like a stretch, but that didn’t stop marketers. Packs of Rambo gum came with temporary tattoos and images of Sylvester Stallone’s tough guy character. The problem was, the gum lost its flavor in seconds and felt chalky.
Parents weren’t thrilled about their kids chewing gum tied to a war movie either. The novelty wore thin quickly, leaving the gum to languish on store shelves. It’s one of those products that makes you wonder who approved it in the first place. Clearly, not every blockbuster character translated well into playground merchandise.
7. The Last Starfighter Board Game
With the movie all about video games, a tie-in board game seemed like a safe bet. But sitting around rolling dice just didn’t capture the excitement of the film’s space battles. The gameplay was slow, confusing, and far less fun than firing up an actual console.
Kids who loved the movie were let down, and parents complained about spending money on a game that barely got played. It quickly wound up in closets and garage sales. While the film itself became a beloved cult classic, the board game was almost instantly forgotten. Today, it’s more of a trivia piece than a memory of fun nights with friends.
8. Gremlins Canned Pasta
If you grew up in the ’80s, you probably remember how every kid’s movie got some sort of food tie-in. For Gremlins, it was canned pasta shaped like Gizmo and the mischievous creatures. The problem? They looked nothing like the characters and tasted bland even by canned pasta standards.
Kids might have begged for it once at the store, but it didn’t become a repeat purchase. Parents weren’t impressed either, and the novelty wore off fast. It wasn’t long before Chef Boyardee went back to their usual offerings without the Mogwai flair. The pasta ended up being another reminder that not every character should be edible.
9. Batman Cereal
When Tim Burton’s Batman came out in 1989, merchandise flooded every aisle. One of the strangest was the Batman-shaped cereal. It came in a black box with neon lettering that screamed cool, but the cereal itself was just generic corn puffs. To make matters worse, the flavor wasn’t memorable and the texture was oddly gritty.
The cereal disappeared almost as quickly as it arrived. Kids were more interested in keeping the box than actually eating what was inside. Collectors today love the packaging, but few remember enjoying the actual product. It was style over substance in the purest form.
10. Masters of the Universe Soda
Mattel and Coca-Cola teamed up to create a soda based on Masters of the Universe. It had names like “Power Punch” and “Skeletor Citrus Blast.” Unfortunately, the flavors were overly sweet, artificial, and didn’t stand out against regular sodas like Coke or Pepsi.
The tie-in barely lasted a summer before fizzling out. Kids were curious, but once they tried it, there wasn’t much reason to buy another can. Retailers had cases left over, and it was quietly discontinued. These days, the cans are more valuable as retro collectibles than the drink ever was as a beverage.
11. Supergirl Perfume
In the wake of the 1984 Supergirl movie, a perfume was launched that was supposed to capture the essence of the heroine. The scent was marketed to young girls, but it had a sharp, overpowering smell that nobody seemed to like. The packaging looked flashy, but the actual fragrance was disappointing.
Most kids had no interest in wearing perfume tied to a movie anyway. Moms who bought it once didn’t come back for more. Within months, it was pulled from shelves and became one of the stranger footnotes of superhero merchandising. The movie itself didn’t perform well either, which certainly didn’t help.
12. The Goonies Candy Bars
With a movie centered on kids hunting for treasure, it made sense to market candy. The Goonies bars were filled with peanuts, caramel, and chocolate, but they weren’t unique enough to stand out in a crowded market. The tie-in didn’t taste bad, but it also wasn’t anything special.
Kids already had their favorites like Snickers and Milky Way, so they didn’t switch loyalties. The bars quietly disappeared without much fanfare. Today, the idea of The Goonies getting their own candy seems fun, but at the time, it just wasn’t strong enough to survive. It was another case of movie magic not translating to snacks.
13. Rocky IV Workout Gear
After Rocky IV hit theaters, companies tried to cash in with branded workout gear for kids and teens. The line included cheap gloves, headbands, and even a punching bag. Unfortunately, the products were flimsy and broke easily, making them more frustrating than inspiring.
Parents realized quickly that it wasn’t real fitness equipment, just overpriced toys. Kids, meanwhile, were disappointed when their training gloves ripped after one use. It didn’t take long for the line to vanish from stores. Rocky may have inspired people to work out, but the tie-in gear didn’t pack the same punch.
