13 Movie Tie-In Products That Had Nothing to Do With the Movie
Some movie merchandise strayed so far from the plot that it felt completely random.
- Chris Graciano
- 4 min read
Hollywood has a long history of slapping movie logos onto products, even when they have nothing to do with the story. From kitchen gadgets to sugary cereals, companies have found ways to stretch the idea of a “tie-in” beyond recognition. Here are 13 movie-themed products that made fans scratch their heads and wonder, “What does this have to do with the film?”
1. E.T. Finger Light Toy
Ted Rheingold on Flickr
The heartwarming story of friendship somehow got reduced to a plastic light-up finger. Kids loved the novelty for a minute, but it completely missed the emotional wonder that made E.T. special in the first place.
2. Jurassic Park Cologne
HarshLight on Wikimedia Commons
A fragrance inspired by dinosaurs sounded bold, until people actually started spraying the cologne themselves. Instead of prehistoric power, it delivered something closer to a cheap aftershave from the clearance aisle.
3. Ghostbusters Cereal
Roadsidepictures on Flickr
The film was about battling ghosts with proton packs, not eating marshmallows for breakfast. The cereal was neon-colored, sweet, and vaguely fruity. Turning ghost-hunting into breakfast wasn’t exactly a natural leap. The bright green milk and neon marshmallows were more unsettling than supernatural, leaving parents wondering who approved it.
4. Terminator Sunglasses for Kids
Simon Greig on Flickr
A movie filled with violence and dark themes somehow inspired children’s shades. They looked cool but had nothing to do with the robotic nightmare future. Selling shades based on a violent cyborg assassin was an odd choice for children’s fashion.
5. Star Wars Toilet Paper
Kristina Alexanderson on Flickr
A galaxy far, far away ended up on bathroom shelves. Printed rolls featured characters and logos, but the connection stopped there. Somehow, the Force ended up in the bathroom. Featuring characters on every sheet, it turned epic space battles into something far less noble.
6. Shrek Ears Headphones
cottonbro studio on Pexels
Instead of swamp jokes and fairy tale fun, you got bulky headphones shaped like ogre ears. They looked goofy but didn’t offer anything special. They promised fun, fairy-tale flair but mostly delivered awkward looks and bulky green ears. Despite the clever idea, they didn’t exactly make you feel like you were “in the swamp.”
7. Rambo Bubble Gum
Chelsi Peter on Pexels
An action film about survival and war somehow became a chewy pink treat. The gum came in collectible wrappers, but the flavor disappeared in seconds. Transforming a gritty war saga into pink, sugary gum was a stretch even for 80s marketing.
8. Batman Potato Chips
Esperanza Doronila on Unsplash
These were just ordinary chips with Batman’s logo slapped on the bag. No special flavor, no Gotham tie-in, just salty snacks with branding. The Batman Potato Chips had Gotham’s hero on the bag but nothing heroic inside. Just another snack pretending to be special thanks to a famous logo.
9. Frozen-Branded Vegetables
PxHere
The marketing team thought they struck gold with a clever play on the word “Frozen,” but that’s where the magic ended. Kids expecting something enchanted instead found a bag of plain peas and carrots that felt more like dinner prep than Disney fun.
10. RoboCop Nintendo Cereal
John Matychuk on Unsplash
Trying to turn a dark, violent sci-fi movie into a breakfast treat was already a wild leap. The cereal’s neon colors and strange shapes screamed chaos, offering more confusion than crunch for anyone expecting something remotely robotic.
11. Titanic Board Game
Mike Mozart on Flikcr
Turning one of history’s greatest tragedies into family entertainment was a marketing iceberg waiting to happen. It promised high-seas adventure but delivered an awkward mix of poor taste and bad timing that sank faster than the ship itself.
12. The Matrix Energy Drink
Oto Zapletal on Wikimedia Commons
The movie was about escaping reality and questioning existence, yet the tie-in was just a sugary canned beverage. It promised “power to hack the system” but tasted like generic soda. The futuristic branding couldn’t mask its bland, chemical flavor that felt more simulation than sensation.
13. Finding Nemo Cheese Crackers
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia Commons
Only a marketing team could turn an ocean conservation story into a snack shaped like sea creatures. They were crunchy and tasty, sure, but the irony of eating cartoon fish made the whole thing feel oddly unsettling.