Barbie dissed: Lego is now the top-selling toy

Move over Barbie: There’s a new top dog in the toy world. Denmark’s privately owned Lego A/S has edged out Mattel, maker of the Barbie doll, as the largest toy company in the world, based on sales over the first half of 2014. The company’s $2 billion in sales over the first half of the year triples its 2008 numbers. Part of the spike comes from “The Lego Movie,” which grossed $468 million in box office receipts this year. Barbie sales have dropped for eight straight quarters.

It is too early to say if the strong performance will be reflected in the full year results. The majority of Lego sales to consumers happen in the second half of the calendar year in a short time span of a few weeks leading up to the holiday season.

John Goodwin, chief financial officer

Mattel bought Canadian Lego rival Mega Brands—which makes plastic building blocks directly in competition with the Danish group’s products—for $460 million in February.

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