Via Bloomberg.com:

If kids have only one toy on their wish list this holiday season, odds are it will include a light saber.
Three toys based on Star Wars topped the annual Toy Insider Hot 20 list, making it the only movie franchise with multiple items on the roster. The sci-fi series, which began in 1977, will see a revival this winter when the first Disney-produced film — “The Force Awakens” — opens in theaters on Dec. 18.

The Hot 20 list, which is being released on Thursday, gives a preview of toys with the best sales prospects. Though total retail spending is only projected to grow modestly this holiday season, Star Wars is giving the toy industry a boost.
“The Force is strong this year,” said Laurie Schacht, publisher of the Toy Insider. “‘The Force Awakens’ play set has already sold out. It will be the hard-to-find toy of the season.”
Walt Disney Co., which acquired the rights to Star Wars when it bought Lucasfilm in 2012, is capitalizing on the $4 billion deal with hundreds of new toys. With “The Force Awakens” coming to theaters, Star Wars merchandise sales could reach $3 billion this year — $500 million of that in toys — according to Piper Jaffray.
“The Star Wars franchise has broad appeal across ages and genders,” Schacht said. “Nostalgic parents who grew up with the original trilogy are going to buy Star Wars toys for their kids and start a whole new generation of Star Wars fans.”
The Star Wars-themed items on this year’s list include a Jedi Master Lightsaber, the Millennium Falcon, and Disney Infinity 3.0, which combines a video game with Star Wars action figures.
With its Star Wars and Frozen brands, Disney is the dominant company in the Hot 20 ranking. Its other toys on the list include Doc McStuffins, Frozen’s Elsa and Disney Descendants — the teenage children of Disney heroes and villains.

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