The eagerly anticipated Star Wars and Frozen films are expected to help drive the UK’s £1 billion Christmas toy market this year, experts predict.

DVD releases of Toy Story 4 and Avengers Endgame are also predicted to influence sales, alongside perennial favourites Barbie, Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol, the Toy Retailers Association said.

The annual top 12 Dream Toys list, unveiled at St Mary’s Church in Marylebone in London, includes the Frozen 2 Into the Unknown Elsa Doll (£39.99) and the Toy Story 4 True Talkers (£17.99) figures.

The list, compiled by leading retailers and toy experts, is notable for the number of licensed products, from the Fortnite Battle Royale Collection Battle Bus and the Harry Potter Invisibility Cloak to the Star Wars Yoda from Lego and the Frozen 2 Magic Ice Walker.

Ayva Eiman, seven ,and Josh Wilcock, eight, play with a Nerf Elite Fortnite SP-L Hasbro toy
Ayva Eiman, seven, and Josh Wilcock, eight, with a Nerf Elite Fortnite SP-L Hasbro toy (Aaron Chown/PA)
DreamToys list 2019
A Toy Story 4 True Talkers Forky toy (Aaron Chown/PA)
Peter Olunloyo, eight, plays with a Harry Potter Knight bus toy by Lego
Peter Olunloyo, eight, plays with a Harry Potter Knight Bus toy (Aaron Chown/PA)
Ro and Ra play with Blume Dolls by Skyrocket
Ro and Ra play with Blume Dolls (Aaron Chown/PA)

The trend for “surprise” and “reveal” toys remains strong, with LOL Surprise! still the most popular collectable for a second year in a row.

The most expensive toy in the top 12 is the £99.99 LOL Surprise! 2-in-1 Glamper.

Frederique Tutt, global analyst for The NPD Group’s toy division, said: “Christmas is worth £1 billion to the UK toy industry, that’s 30% of annual revenue being generated in the last few weeks of the year.

“With Star Wars Episode 9 and Frozen 2 at the cinema and the DVD release of Toy Story 4 and Avengers Endgame, we expect more than £1 out of £10 to be spent on film-related toys. These mega-movies will give a real boost to toy sales before the end of 2019.”

DreamToys list 2019
The LOL Surprise! 2-in-1 Glamper (Aaron Chown/PA)
Charlie Bonnet-Davies, 10, and Mofe Akinsanmi, six, play with an Imaginext DC Super Friends Transforming Batmobile
Charlie Bonnet-Davies, 10, and Mofe Akinsanmi, six, with an Imaginext DC Super Friends Transforming Batmobile (Aaron Chown/PA)
Fiona Mah, 10, and Gwen Macdonald, eight, play with an Owleez by Spin Master Toys
Fiona Mah, 10, and Gwen Macdonald, eight, play with an Owleez (Aaron Chown/PA)
Liana Pierce, seven, plays with a Peppa Pig Peppa’s Stage playset
Liana Pierce, seven, plays with a Peppa Pig Peppa’s Stage Playset (Aaron Chown/PA)

He added: “In 2019 so far, we’ve seen licences drive toy sales, particularly Fortnite and movies, and to date they account for 23% of the market overall.

“We’re expecting more of this to the end of the year, with some massive franchises due for release, including Star Wars and Frozen.”

The top 12 list, in alphabetical order, is:

– Barbie Dreamplane Playset £79.99
– Blume Dolls £9.99
– Frozen 2 Into the Unknown Elsa Doll £39.99
– Harry Potter Knight Bus £34.99
– LOL Surprise! 2-in-1 Glamper £99.99
– Nerf Elite Fortnite SP-L £19.99
– Owleez £49.99
– Paw Patrol Mighty Pups Super Paws Mighty Jet Command Centre £59.99
– Peppa Pig Peppa’s Stage Playset £39.99
– Rizmo £59.99
– Ryan’s World Super Surprise Safe £44.99
– Toy Story 4 True Talkers £17.99