For anyone growing up in 1990s America, whether as a child or the parent of one, the odds were that you at least heard of the unbelievably bonkers collectors' craze that was Beanie Babies. The simple yet cute little animal beanies that shook the toy industry to the core for several years became a landmark in consumer pop culture, and years later we can't help but look back on just how unique it all truly was for its time. While documentaries have sprung up here and there to analyze the history of the toy, from its meteoric rise to its gradual fall out of popularity due to a number of factors like mass-counterfeiting, there hasn't been a truly unique feature project to yet fully encapsulate all that was the out-of-control Beanie Baby explosion. That is, until now of course. Apple Studios has put together a new dramedy film based on true events called The Beanie Bubble, which takes an eccentrically colorful dive into one of the world's most popular collectibles through the lens of its mysterious creator, Ty Warner. As if we couldn't get excited enough, per a report from Deadline, the official theatrical and streaming release dates for the film have dropped, along with a few new images to give audiences a firsthand look.
The Beanie Bubble, based on the 2015 non-fiction book The Great Beanie Baby Bubble by Zac Bissonnette, is set to be an entirely unique dramedy film, based on true events of the Beanie Baby craze of the 1990s and all those involved who made it skyrocket into historical consumer lore. The feature is the directorial debut of Emmy nominee Kristin Gore, who also wrote the script, and Damian Kulash Jr. Starring in the film are Zach Galifianakis (Baskets) as the enigmatic, almost Wonka-esque creator of Beanie Babies, Ty Warner, Elizabeth Banks (Brightburn) as Robbie, Sarah Snook (Succession) as Sheila Warner, and Geraldine Viswanathan (Cat Person) as Maya.
What to Expect From The Beanie Bubble
Kristin Gore's script asks the question of: Why, in the 1990s, did the world suddenly start treating the stuffed animals known as Beanie Babies like gold? Zach Galifianakis portrays a struggling toy salesman named Ty Warner who embarks on a creative collaboration with three women that almost overnight turns into the biggest toy craze in the world. The film also pays special attention to all of the unsung heroes who made the Beanie Baby a reality, from the concept of stuffing the animals with pellets to the iconic heart-shaped tags adorned with each one's unique name and a light-hearted poetic rhyme. Amidst a collector's fever dream and unfettered success, it's always important to remember who and what is most important in life.
The Beanie Bubble will premiere in select theaters on July 21st before coming to Apple+'s streaming platform a week later on July 28th. Check out all three promotional images below.