Editing Action figure (section)

=== 2000s onwards ===
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[[File:Paul Stanley Action Figur3.jpg|thumb|150px|[[Paul Stanley]] action figure made by [[McFarlane Toys]]]]
The adult collector market for action figures expanded with companies such as [[McFarlane Toys]], [[Palisades Toys|Palisades]], and [[National Entertainment Collectibles Association|NECA]]. These companies have given numerous movie characters, musicians, and athletes their very first highly detailed figures. The [[Cinema of Fear]] action figures were sold together with plush dolls, "screen grab" dioramas, and limited edition toys based on [[New Line Cinema]]'s horror franchise. These kinds of action figure are mainly intended as statuesque display pieces rather than toys. Child-oriented lines such as the [[He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2002)|Masters of the Universe revival]] and [[Justice League Unlimited]], however, still evoke adult collector followings as well. Comic book firms are also able to get figures of their characters produced, regardless of whether or not they appeared in movies or animated cartoons. Examples of companies that produce comic figures and merchandise almost exclusively include [[Toy Biz]] and [[DC Direct]].

Adult-oriented figure lines are often exclusive to specific chain stores rather than mass retail. Popular lines often have figures available exclusively through [[mail order|mail-in]] offers and [[Fan convention|comic conventions]], which raises their value significantly. Ploys such as packaging "errors" and "short-packed" figures have also been used by toy companies to increase collector interest.