Why a toy company once marketed a terrifying R-rated movie monster to young children.

Marketing an R-Rated Film Where Heads Explode and Everything is Designed to Be Spicy to Children · 20:34 · Video: Today I Found Out · Watch at the source

In short: This video explores the bizarre marketing history of the Alien franchise, specifically a period when executives attempted to sell toys based on the R-rated film directly to children. It is a fascinating look at a corporate miscalculation that produced a legendary collector's item.

The Alien franchise is defined by its R-rated content, featuring a creature known for acid blood and violent, chest-bursting births. Despite this, a commercial once featured a small child praising the alien, leading to the production of a toy line aimed at kids.

The toy failed to sell well at the time, as the source material was inherently unsuitable for its target demographic. However, the surviving figures have since become highly sought-after collector's items, with some selling for over $1,000 on the secondary market.

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