Fans of the 2008 vampire film Twilight have been treated to news of a new Lego set based around an interesting house that appears in the movie. Although the movie came out 17 years ago, its popularity has only grown since then, prompting the Danish toymaker to release the set.
Lego used to primarily release generic sets that depicted anything from the American Old West to a pirate ship. But that changed in 1999 after the release of a Star Wars Lego set to coincide with the release of Episode 1: The Phantom Menace.
Since then, all manner of films and television shows have been brought to life using the popular bricks. Here are 11 of the best film and television-inspired Lego sets.
Twilight
The newest addition to the large selection of film Lego sets, fans will appreciate this house from the Twilight movies for its detail as well as cool Easter Eggs. All members of the Cullen vampire family, on who are central to the film's plot, are represented in minifigure form, as well as Kristen Stewart's Bella character and her father Charlie Swan in his red pickup truck. The best thing about this release is the prospect that if enough fans ask for it, any film or television show could get its own Lego set.
Batman: The Animated Series
There have been many Batman Lego sets over the years, with each film featuring the Dark Knight receiving the building block treatment. This set released to celebrate the popular animated series is very much a display piece. It doubles as a live portrait of Gotham City featuring the rogues’ gallery of villains and the many vehicles and weapons Batman uses to defeat them. The set successfully translates the memorable art deco design of the show, maintaining a feeling fans know very well.
Harry Potter
The Harry Potter franchise is another that has received many Lego sets, but one stands above the rest. There’s no location in the films that is more significant than Hogwarts castle, the wizardry school where Harry Potter receives his education while preparing for the return of he who must not be named. This massive set features details from every film, even including locations from outside the castle to make it more vibrant.
Jaws
Another set made for a film classic, this time for one that helped create the summer blockbuster. Steven Spielberg’s Jaws is one of those rare gems that gets even better with time and features a great number of scenes. None is more memorable than the shark attack on the boat, which is memorialised in this set. Not as large as most of the sets on this list, this one should be a quick fun experience to build and a great addition to any cinephile’s collection.
Indiana Jones
There are many Indiana Jones sets that could have made it to this list, as they all depict some of the best scenes from the long-running franchise. Taken from Raiders of the Lost Ark's first sequence, featuring the Temple of the Golden Idol, this set is especially great because of the complexity of the scene. Serving as an introduction to the characters in the film, as Indiana Jones enters a temple housing a golden artefact, the set has all the traps and shrubbery, making it a must buy for fans.
Friends
Possibly the most famous American sitcom, Friends has been honoured with two Lego sets. The first is a Central Perk cafe set, familiar to fans as the place Ross, Rachel, Joey, Phoebe, Monica and Chandler met often. But the second and bigger one is the set that has the two apartments that feature heavily in the show. Fans will really appreciate all the Easter Eggs, including the ability to recreate some of the greatest jokes. A great bit of detail is that it features the lights used to illuminate the show’s filming set, breaking the fourth wall in the process.
The Office
Another popular sitcom, The Office Lego set is a brilliant recreation of the paper company’s offices in the show. This set features mini figures of all the characters, with little details that complete their workplace antics. Fans can recreate whole scenes from the show using all the props provided, ensuring hours of fun even after the set is built.
Home Alone
The McCallister home from the first Home Alone film is a location etched into the mind of every person who watched the hit film growing up. The way in which a young Kevin McCallister equips his house to become an agonising series of traps for the thieves attempting to break in, is both hilarious and satisfying. The experience can be recreated with this Home Alone Lego set, which features the entire house and all the traps.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
A film enjoyed both during Halloween and Christmas, this cult classic produced by Tim Burton and directed by Henry Selick has become more and more popular since its release in 1993. The Nightmare Before Christmas Lego set celebrates the film and its beautiful and whimsical gothic style.
Dune
The Denis Villeneuve Dune films contain many locations and vehicles that could be wonderful Lego sets. The most intriguing, though, is the Ornithopter, a flying vehicle that has wasp-like wings on either side. The Ornithopter is used by House Atreides after they land on the desert planet Arrakis and features in many memorable scenes. The Lego set also allows for the wings to be flapped for added effect.
The Lord of the Rings
Also known as the Dark Fortress, Barad-dur is the tower that houses the all-seeing Eye of Sauron in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings fantasy trilogy. This tall set will be the focal point of any collection as it towers above most other sets. Inside the set sits Sauron himself on his throne alongside other characters including Frodo and Smeagol. The Eye, which sits at the top, can be backlit for an even more menacing look.
