‘The Beanie Bubble’ streams on Apple TV+

Category: Television and Streaming

If you had a Beanie Baby, raise your hand. Actually, my hand is down. I’m one of the few people who never had a Beanie Baby. But back in the day they were the talk of the town. The Beanie Bubble tells the story of Ty Warner and his toy empire – the rise and the fall!

The movie is about Ty (Zach Galifianakis) and his relationships (business and personal) with three women: Robbie (Elizabeth Banks), Sheila (Sarah Snook), and Maya (Geraldine Viswanathan). It paints Ty Warner as an egotistical, maniacal, scheming, cheating man who only wanted to make billions of dollars and be famous. That is something he achieved.  However, in truth, it was the three women who were the foundation of his company, in different ways and at different times. But did he acknowledge that? No. Did he cheat them out of their due? Yes. 

It is an interesting story of how a small toy company that produced floppy plush cats became a gigantic empire with countless stuffed animals that were money makers for not only Ty but also for the owners of the toys because the secondary market flourished.

This was the time when the Internet was an infant. It was Maya who took the company online and raised its profile. It was Robbie who managed the business deals. And it was Sheila who stood by Ty, along with her two daughters, until it was clear he was a good-for-nothing cheating liar. And that’s putting it mildly.

The movie is intriguing. It is a lesson in business,  capitalism, and greed. It is a blast to the past looking at the various Beanie Babies. Although I never had one myself, I saw them everywhere and they are still around. So, fess up – how many did you have?

The Beanie Bubble is streaming on Apple TV+. The movie is rated R for language (lots of F bombs). 

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.