What do Ron Weasley, Mariah Carey and the Avengers have in common? They all have their likeness commemorated in the form of Funko Pops. These small, big-eyed vinyl figures are adored and collected by many fans around the world. As Funko Pops continue to steal the hearts of fans and collectors, we thought we’d share some lesser known fun facts about these fun figurines.
How It All Started
In 1998, Mike Becker founded a bobblehead company called Wacky Wobblers, and the Big Boy (the coiffed, raven-haired mascot for the Bob’s Big Boy restaurant chain) bobblehead was the first to join the line-up. Since then, the company has expanded to approximately 8,366 designs, ranging from sports icons, Disney princesses, beloved movie and TV characters, and more.
Funko Pop For Breakfast
At one point, Funko Pops didn’t just hold a place in your home as fun decorations, but could be part of your breakfast. In July 2018, Funko released a line of multi-grain cereals called FunkO’s. Boxes featured pop-culture icons, such as the Golden Girls, Elf, and Beetlejuice.
The company approached cereal the same way they do their Funko Pops, releasing limited quantities to increase demand and generate a sense of urgency. Brian Mariotti, Funko’s CEO said, “The sell-through is very quick, and we move on to the next one. That mirrors what we do as a company. We create a sense of urgency around a product.” And in typical Funko fashion, these cereals were going, going, gone, and are no longer on the market.
How To Funko Pop Yourself
You can be a Funko Pop! by creating your very own, customized Funko Pop! Available on the company’s website, you can create and download a rendering of your very own pop. Choose your body shape, face, hair, outfit, and accessories to create your very own one-of-a-kind figurine.
If a digital download isn’t quite what you’re looking for, you can create a physical Funko Pop at the Funko Headquarters, or at Funko Hollywood Stores. Called, Pop! People, and costing $25 a figure, you’re able to create a tiny version of yourself, your friends, or your family. Available with features like pink hair, glasses, and facial hair, you can truly design your very own mini-me, complete with a customized box, to add to your collection.
Funko Hollywood
Funko Hollywood in Los Angeles, California is a haven for Funko Pop! lovers. The 40,000 square foot brick-and-mortar store provides photo opportunities, immersive sets and (of course) merchandise galore. Free to enter, this is a must-visit for collectors and fans.
As you walk from room to room, you are greeted with life-sized Funko Pops of fun characters. Pose with Funko versions of Groot, Mickey Mouse, Harry Potter, and more. Pop lovers are sure to delight in the one-of-a-kind photo experiences, as well as the opportunity to Funko Pop shop-til-you-drop.
The Most Expensive Funko
Yes, you read that correctly. One of the rarest of all Funko Pops depicts the lead character, Alex, from A Clockwork Orange. Limited edition and glow-in-the dark, this Funko Pop has resellers willing to shell out big money to get their hands on one.
In 2016 and 2017, two were sold for over $13,000 and in 2022 one was sold for $32,439. The average value of these Pops are estimated to be more than $26,000. You might be asking yourself why the steep valuation? Well, these are not your average store-bought Pops. They are part of a 2012 collection that did not launch in retail stores due to licensing and copyright issues. All but 24 were destroyed, making them a hard-find and a hot commodity for collectors.
