It seems like once a week, Funko announces yet another batch of their iconic FunKo Pop! figures. Ok, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but the truth is Funko Pop figures are everywhere these days and their meteoric rise to collectible stardom is undeniable. With vinyl adaptations of more than 1000 characters from popular culture, there are some surprising voids in the Funko Pop line. These are the 10 sets of Pop! figures we wish Funko would make.
Funko Pop! Home Alone
Maybe the wet bandits broke into Funko headquarters and stole the prototypes for this long overdue set of Pop! figures. That’s the only possible explanation I have for them not adding these to the Pop! Movies line. I want to walk into a store, buy them in cash, and tell the cashier “Keep the change, ya filthy animal!
Funko Pop! The Sandlot
Knowing that Funko has never made anything for The Sandlot is like finding out someone doesn’t know who Babe Ruth is. You’re killing me Smalls!
Funko Pop! Indiana Jones
It’s ironic that Funko, a company that creates so many of the objects we treasure, has never made a Pop! figure for the greatest treasure hunter in pop culture: Indiana Jones. The most perplexing part of this oversight is that Lucasfilm, the owners of both Indiana Jones and Star Wars, was acquired by Disney in 2012. Funko has manufactured Pop! Disney and Pop! Star Wars figures for years, including figures using the likeness of Harrison Ford. This makes an unknown licensing issue an unlikely obstacle. Indiana Jones needs to become a permanent addition to the FunKo archive.
Funko Pop! The Jetsons
Even though Funko has produced Wacky Wobblers of the show’s main characters and Pop! figures of other Hanna-Barbera favorites, we have yet to see a set of Pop! figures of America’s first futuristic family, The Jetsons.
Funko Pop! Jumanji
Twenty years ago, we watched as Alan Parrish and Sarah Whittle played a game. A game with drums. Despite its enduring appeal, there have never been many collectibles produced for 1995’s Jumanji. Funko has the opportunity to change that with a set of Pop! Jumanji vinyl figures. It’s your turn, Funko.
Funko Pop! The Terminator
He may have said "I’ll be back" in The Terminator (1984), but in reality, The Terminator never left. The film and its four sequels have resulted in thousands of collectibles, from eerily detailed sixth scale figures to hand-numbered screen printed posters. Although they’ve created a set of ReAction Figures, Funko has yet to release a line of Funko Pop! figures for one of the biggest science fiction franchises of all time.
Funko Pop! Nintendo
Growing up, I spent countless hours playing my Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy. As consoles advanced, I upgraded to Sega Genesis, Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, and eventually, the Xbox 360. Still, there’s something about your first love. The first video game I ever played was Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. on NES. Like many franchises, the Nintendo universe is full of beloved characters that would make fantastic Pop! figures. So, why hasn’t it happened? The popular theory is that there’s a licensing issue. In other words, Nintendo hasn’t granted FunKo permission to turn its characters into vinyl collectibles. This is also plausible due to Nintendo’s recent entry into the toy market with their amiibo brand.
Funko Pop! Hook
Sure, I can forgive Funko for not making Pop! figures for Jumanji, but how can they forget 1991’s Hook? As a 90s kid, I might be biased, but for a company so adept at tapping into our nostalgia, it amazes me that they haven’t given the Funko Pop! treatment to one of Robin Williams most memorable roles. Funko has lost their marbles if they don’t remember The Lost Boys.
Funko Pop! Jurassic Park
There’s been some fantastic collectibles made for the Jurassic Park franchise since its debut in 1993, everything from Kenner action figures to exceptional prop replicas, but we want more! If Steven Spielberg can make us believe dinosaurs were alive again, certainly FunKo can find a way to make vinyl figures of John Hammond and the people he almost (or actually) killed. The park is open, and so are our wallets.
Funko Pop! The Wonder Years
Maybe with a little help from my friends, Funko will remember The Wonder Years, the comedy-drama centered on the suburban family life of a boy named Kevin Arnold. The Wonder Years has always been one of my favorite TV shows. Watching reruns throughout the 1990s, I felt like I was growing up alongside Kevin and his friends. The show’s nostalgic appeal and the coming-of-age story would make the perfect addition to the Pop! Television line.
Although I have dozens of Funko Pop figures in my collection, I don’t consider myself a Funko collector. Afterall, most of the Pop! figures I have are limited to the Funko Pop! Star Wars line. However, if the Everett, Washington-based toy manufacturer makes these sets, I might become a full-blown "Funko Funatic".
