The Toys That Built America (Seasons 1–3)

The Toys That Built America (2021) is a History Channel documentary series you can watch online on iFILM. Each episode takes one iconic toy — Monopoly, Barbie, G.I. Joe, Hot Wheels — and traces who invented it, how it got sold, and why it ended up reshaping American culture and commerce in ways nobody anticipated.

The backdrop is bigger than playtime: the series maps toy industry history against the Great Depression, World War II, the postwar consumer surge, and the Cold War. Collectors, entrepreneurs, and historians explain the economics behind each craze, with toy expert Jordan Hembrough and TV personality Adam Richman among the contributors. Less nostalgia piece, more business story — and the business turns out to be genuinely fascinating. Stream all episodes of The Toys That Built America online on iFILM.