Sideshow Collectibles is an American specialty manufacturer of movie, film, television and collectible action figures, statues, and high end pieces. Today, the company has become of one the most popular brands in the growing field of entertainment-based collectibles.
When was Sideshow Collectibles founded?
Founded in 1994, Sideshow started out creating prototypes for a variety of major toy companies; including Mattel, Galoob and Wild Planet. In 1999, however, the company began marketing its own line of collectibles and specialty toy products.
Sideshow’s first wave of toys was the now much-beloved Universal Classic Monsters series, a line of 8″ action figures based on the popular film creatures, which were sold primarily through Toys R Us and a handful of other smaller retailers.
The company later began to refine their production process, using a combination of concept art and digital rendering using a rapid prototyping machine. Afterwards each sculpture was then refined and painted by hand – a process which continues to this day.
With the success of their products and rave reviews from serious collectors, Sideshow quickly pivoted from action figure, and began creating items in the popular sixth-scale format, which were primarily sold through specialty markets. To keep with this higher end feel, the company rebranded from “Sideshow Toys” to “Sideshow Collectibles”, a name which they have since maintained.
With a reputation for detail and quality, Sideshow quickly expanded and secured licenses with numerous major Hollywood and entertainment players, including Marvel, Disney, Lucasfilm, DC and Activision-Blizzard.
Today, Sideshow’s products are primarily currently sold in comic book shops and specialty stores in North America, but the company also maintains a brisk online trade and continues to expand aggressively with new licenses and products. Currently, it’s estimated that roughly 90% of the collectibles Sideshow makes are for licensed film, television, comic book and video game properties.
Are Sideshow Collectibles worth it?
With the explosive growth of the collectables market over the past few years (particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic) many of Sideshow’s statues have seen significant growth in value, particularly for characters with new film or television properties. While Sideshow products can be expensive (with some in the $2,000 or more price range), the limited number of products, their durability and quality means that most are able to grow their value overtime (we cover some of this in our blog post Is Sideshow Collectibles legit?).
Is Sideshow Collectibles the same as Hot Toys?
Hot Toys is also recognized as one of the world’s most popular collectible statue and figure manufacturers. They are, however, a separate company that’s based out of Hong Kong. Sideshow Collectibles has the exclusive distribution rights for Hot Toys in the United States, North and South America, Europe, Australia and throughout some parts of Asia. For this reason, many collectors mistakenly believe that Hot Toys and Sideshow are the same company. Notably, Sideshow is also the official US distributor of Iron Studios statues, figures and toys.
Where are Sideshow Collectibles based out of?
Sideshow Collectible’s head office is located in Newbury Park in California (just outside Los Angeles). While the office appears nondescript from the outside, inside it’s packed with an incredible range of statues, figures and life-sized sculptures. Manufacturing is handled both within their US facility and in overseas locations.
Why are Sideshow statues so expensive?
The simple answer is that you get what you pay for. Sideshow statues are hand painted and require an extensive amount of time and skill to create. The size of the statues, the limited number available and sheer popularity of the licenses involved, all play a factor in determining pricing. Like any piece of art, collectors are paying for both rarity and asthetics. Shipping can also drive up the cost, given the size and protective requirements for packaging. That being said, as noted above, many of Sideshow’s figures end up being a solid financial investment. It’s also worth noting that the company does offer flexible payment plans so you don’t have to break the bank picking up your latest collectible.
See Our Other Sideshow Reviews
Check out the links below for the latest or visit our Sideshow Reviews page.
- Sideshow Captain Marvel Statue Reveal
- Sideshow Batman and Catwoman Statue Reveal
- New Psylocke Statue from Sideshow Revealed
- Moon Knight Statue Reveal from Sideshow
- Sideshow Power Girl Statue Preview
- Sideshow Collectibles Batman Who Laughs Statue Review
- Sideshow Red Sonja Statue Preview
Learn More About Sideshow
Check out the links below visit our Sideshow Collectors Guide.
- Where is Sideshow Collectibles Located
- Is Sideshow and Hot Toys the Same Company?
- Where to Buy Sideshow Collectibles
- Are Sideshow Collectibles a Good Investment?
- Is Sideshow Collectibles Reliable?
- Are Sideshow Collectibles Worth It?
- Is Sideshow Legit: What Collectors Should Know
- What is Sideshow Collectibles?
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