Image via Complex Original
Welcome back to the Space Jam. Tomorrow, the LeBron James-fronted sequel to the cult classic movie from 1996 is finally hitting theaters. To mark the occasion, they have made, well, everything. There’s no other way to really say it. There is a lot of Space Jam: A New Legacy merch out there, nearly 200 different collabs and a Looney Tunes shop stocked with over 1,000 items (including this absolutely perplexing nod to the Matrix series) if you want to get a bit more specific.
There are the obvious things—sneakers and apparel from Nike, action figures, and an array of graphic T-shirts that will populate the shelves of major retailers like Target and Walmart. But then there’s also some obscure things, like Apotheke candles, dog leashes, and sour gummy sneaker candy by Trolli.
“The goal was to touch into some nostalgia brands and those we knew this generation could relate to, and that could offer something unique as it relates to the IP,” president of WarnerMedia Global Brands and Experience Pam Lifford told WWD when discussing the large amount of collaborative partners for the movie. “Because it’s a global film, we had the ability to do that deep and broad. Our goal is not just to create stuff, it has to be meaningful and additive to the IP and complementary to each other.”
Some of it is worth collecting. Some of it is OK to leave alone. It can be a lot to sift through though. So we decided to highlight some of the better Space Jam: A New Legacy merch out there. Check out our picks below.
Nike
Price: $10-$200
Where to Buy It: Nike.com and other select retailers (July 16)
Nike didn’t get in on the fun with any Space Jam merch of its own back in 1996, but this time around the sportswear giant didn’t disappoint. Of course, there’s the shoes. Along with releasing the LeBron 19 that LeBron laces up in the film at some point in the near future, there are also plenty of Tune Squad-inspired LeBron 18 Lows, Air Force 1s, and even Converse Chuck Taylors. We’re focusing on apparel right now, though. Graphic T-shirts sporting an animated LeBron in his signature Dunkman pose or Bugs Bunny beside Nike’s “Just Do It” slogan seem like options that could age well and become good vintage pieces down the line. The best items for many will be the Tune Squad and Goon Squad jerseys, though. Whether you are in need of some new shorts for the summer, want to secure an early Halloween costume, or just looking for a solid piece of memorabilia to commemorate the film, you cannot go wrong with a LeBron James Tune Squad jersey.
New Era
Price: $38.99
Where to Buy It: NewEraCap.com
Fitteds are having a moment right now. So you know New Era had to cook up some limited edition designs for the new Space Jam. Each cap features a cream crown and blue brim. The logo on the front sees Bugs Bunny spinning an NBA team logo on his finger like a basketball, while a dunking silhouette of Bugs is used for the side patch. The obvious choice here would be the Lakers option since that’s the team that LeBron James currently plays for, but we totally understand if you opt to go with your favorite team too. All 30 NBA franchises are represented with this collection. We kind of wish that there were some team caps for the Tune Squad and Goon Squad to choose from, too, but these will have to suffice.
Diamond Supply Co. x McDonald's
Price: $50-$160
Where to Buy It: DiamondSupplyCo.com
Depending on your age, you may remember the Space Jam toys that came with Happy Meals back in the ‘90s to accompany the first film’s release. The fast food giant is doing the same thing this time around, but also decided to create some of its own Space Jam: A New Legacy merch. For the special capsule, it tapped Diamond Supply Co., a brand that also is likely to drum up some nostalgia for people who were into streetwear in the late 2000s and ealy 2010s. The result is a series of graphic T-shirts and hoodies displaying an image of the Tune Squad, basketball shorts that place the official Tune Squad logo next to the Golden Arches, and a series of jerseys for team members like Bugs, Lola, and Sylvester. We know Mickey D’s has been hopping into its merch bag as of late. Here is just another example of one of its offerings that you should be going after.
Bape
Price: $115-$205
Where to Buy It: Bape stores and Bape.com
Bape has always had a tendency to highlight big pop culture figures with its collabs over the years. Look at past capsules with Sesame Street or Star Wars as great examples. So, it isn’t too surprising to see the Japanese streetwear brand release its own Space Jam: A New Legacy collab. Various graphic T-shirts depict Looney Tunes characters like Bugs Bunny and Taz dressed in blue camo uniforms beside an Ape Head logo made to look like the hardwood floor of a basketball court. The standout item was a pair of blue ABC Camo shorts complete with a Bugs Bunny x Bape logo on the right leg. Most of these items have sold out from Bape’s website, but if you are in close proximity to a Bape flagship store it might be worth paying a visit to check on the in-store stock if you are looking for something a bit more exclusive to celebrate the new movie.
Funko Pop!
Price: $11
Where to Buy It: Funko.com and other select retailers
Funko Pops are some of the most collectible items on the market these days. Pretty much any big pop culture entity has its own line of Pops at this point and Space Jam: A New Legacy is one of the latest movies that has gotten its own figures. The vinyl figures have been made to represent Bugs Bunny, Klay Thompson’s Wet-Fire, and Diana Taurasi’s White Mamba characters. There’s even a Target-exclusive set that hilariously sees Bugs and LeBron dressed up like Batman and Robin (a nod to one of the scenes from the movie). Arguably the best one is the standalone LeBron James figure that sees the superstar decked out in his blue and orange Tune Squad jersey. Whether you keep your Pops in the box or take them out to show them off, one of these will be a solid (and inespensive) display piece to add to your work desk, shelf, or collection.
Moose Toys
Price: $9.99-$19.99
Where to Buy It: Target.com, Walmart.com, and other select retailers
Now yes, we’ll get this out of the way in case you are thinking about it. These toys are made for children. That doesn’t mean they aren’t still worth consideration if you are a big movie memorabilia collector, Looney Tunes fan, or LeBron James supporter. Moose Toys made some good ones too. Plenty of people have taken a liking to the talking, 12-inch-tall LeBron James action figure. It makes sense. From a collecting perspective, it definitely feels like one of those toys you will see displayed on the high shelf of a vintage store in a decade or two—the same way you might see something like a talking Master P figure nowadays. There are also two-packs of 5-inch figures available that feature pairings like LeBron and Chronos (Damian Lillard) or Lola Bunny and Wet-Fire (Klay Thompson). Vintage toys from the original Space Jam still pop up from time to time and can sell for good money if they are still sealed in the original packaging. These might not getch quite the same amount in a few years, but you never now. It might not be a bad idea to grab a few of these and hold onto them just in case. Not a collector? Have a son, daughter, niece, or nephew? These would make a great gift too.
Mitchell & Ness
Price: $35-$100
Where to Buy It: MitchellAndNess.com
Mitchell & Ness is stamped as the go-to for throwback jerseys and pretty much any sports-related gear. No, they didn’t release throwbacks of the original Tune Squad and Monstars jerseys from 1996 (man, that would have been pretty cool if they did), but they did drop some new apparel just in time for the new Space Jam. Tie-dyed T-shirts, hoodies, and crewnecks that showcase various members of the Tune Squad are all up for grabs. There’s even special Mitchell & Ness branding inspired by the “That’s all Folks!” message that would pop up on the screen following any Looney Tunes short.
Tommy Hilfiger
Price: $18-$199
Where to Buy It: USA.Tommy.com
One of the more surprising brands to release its own collection of Space Jam-inspired apparel is Tommy Hilfiger. The pairing seems a bit odd until you consider how popular the brand was in the ‘90s when the first film came out. Zendaya, who voices Lola Bunny in the new movie, also has a close relationship with the brand, which may or may not have at least a bit to do with the collab. The recognizable Tommy Hilfiger flag acts as the backdrop for the Tune Squad roster on items like T-shirts, hoodies, denim jackets, caps, and even accessories like pillows. Other items include colorful checkerboard vacation shirts and shorts, packable anoraks, footwear, and even watches with Bugs Bunny’s hand covered in crystals spinning a Tommy basketball.
“The original movie was the first of its kind where we saw sports, entertainment, music, and digital technology come together in such an innovative way,” said Hilfiger in an interview with WWD. “It was certainly a defining moment in the ’90s, but even today the movie is a cult classic that people of all ages enjoy.”
Mr. Brainwash
Price: $1,500-$40,000
Where to Buy It: Bloomingdales.com
Clothes with Looney Tunes on them not fitting into your aesthetic? How about some art to fill that empty space in your game room? One of the more impressive elements of the “It’s Game Time” pop-up currently operating at the Bloomingdale’s 59th Street flagship in New York City is the various work from artist Mr. Brainwash. Select prints are currently available for purchase. Not everyone has the budget to go after the $40,000 oil painting of LeBron James, but two other works, limited to 75 prints each, also feature James painted in Mr. Brainwash’s signature style and take a much lighter chunk out of your wallet. The prints are being sold for $1,500 to $1,700 and feature colorful backgrounds with positive phrases like “Follow Your Dreams” and “Never Never Give Up.” Other items available at the Bloomingdale’s pop-up include candles by Apotheke, swimsuits from Vilebrequin, and even skin care sets from Mario Badescu.
Tomme
Price: TBD
Where to Buy It: TommeStudio.com (July 16)
You may have seen Tomme’s bags on your social media feed in the past. Since 2016, the brand has been selling its unique take on the traditional purse. Each basketball-shaped handbag is handcrafted to add features like leather handles, colorful patterns, and sometimes even fur added. The brand’s latest collab sees the basketball bags covered in the Tune Squad’s color palette, characters like Lola Bunny and Sylvester, and the Space Jam: A New Legacy logo to celebrate the release of the new movie. One of the brand’s bags was even worn by actress Sky Katz at the film’s Los Angeles premiere earlier this week.