NPD data released, as Episode VIII confirmed for December 2017 arrival.
Toys based on Star Wars: The Force Awakens notched up $700 million in the US last year, according to new figures by the NPD Group.
The success of the franchise contributed to a 6.7% growth for US toy sales overall (to $19.4 billion), marking one of the strongest performances the industry has seen in a number of years.
Star Wars was the number one property for the year, with toys based on The Force Awakens bringing in more sales and contributed more growth than Jurassic World, Minions and Avengers combined.
In addition, Star Wars was the number one ‘absolute dollar growth contributor’ to three super categories: action figures, vehicles and all other toys.
However, the number one selling toy for 2015 was actually the Shopkins 12 pack assortment from Moose Toys, NPD said.
The news comes as Disney and Lucasfilm confirmed the release date for Star Wars: Episode VIII. The movie was originally due for release in summer 2017, however it will now hit cinemas on December 15, 2017.
The Force Awakens was the first Star Wars movie to premiere outside of the traditional summer blockbuster window.
