What Do Rick and Morty, Jaws, TMNT, Knight Rider, and Forza All Have in Common?

Let's assume you decided to start focusing on the Hot Wheels Retro Entertainment series ten years ago. It seemed relatively easy initially, with only seven sets coming out in 2013, each containing five vehicles. Mattel updated the series name to Hot Wheels Entertainment between 2014 and 2016, then Replica Entertainment, beginning in 2017. With each coming year, the diecast manufacturer released more and more cars.

A quick assessment reveals the entire series contains over 50 sets and about 260+ collectibles. If we were talking about mainline vehicles, that would be fine. Given the right circumstances, you would have spent less than $500 on all of them, give or take. But this is a Premium series we're talking about, and that makes things a bit more expensive.

Not to mention having to face the decision of buying or not buying repeat models based on your approach to collecting. We've seen two sets of the Replica Entertainment series for 2023, with plenty of items that appeal to Batman, James Bond, and Back to the Future fans. And the one you're looking at today is Mix 3 for this year, which is more or less exciting, depending on your point of view.

'94 Audi Avant RS2

The '94 Audi Avant RS2 was an instant hit with Hot Wheels collectors worldwide. Fast station wagons have a unique appeal to them, and there were only so many Hot Wheels Audi castings. Even as we speak, there are just over ten representations of the German brand in Mattel's 1/64th-scale world. But that number will steadily increase over the next couple of years, or at least that's what we think will happen. Even Doug DeMuro bought one of these cars a few years ago, and let's face it, it's a Porsche in disguise.

Mattel launched the Avant RS2 in 2021, which means the current Forza model is the fifth iteration on the market. One of the previous variations was a Super Treasure Hunt, which can cost you up to $70 today. The Forza edition is white with a classic Audi Racing livery and matching Real Riders 10 Spoke Modern wheels. And it's also the first Premium release for this casting, which means it has no chance of becoming a peg warmer at any given moment.

'75 Chevrolet Blazer Custom SUV

The theme for the second item in this new set is "Jaws." Do you remember the last time you watched Spielberg's cult movie? Some will say it gave sharks a bad reputation, making them look like vicious killers in the wild. Others will look at it and absorb the cinematic experience without overthinking it. Either way, the film was a real hit, reaching almost half a billion dollars in gross revenue.

Diehard fans of the movie will instantly recognize the Chevrolet K5 Blazer that Police Chief Martin Brody drove in the film. The cool part about it is that this is a First edition model, which Mark Jones designed. The tan and white color combo features Amity Police Dept. decals, but most collectors will probably gawk at the Off-Road Deep-Dish Real Riders wheels first. Those are wrapped in natural rubber, after all, so the only thing you need now is a miniature shark and pool to have the whole diorama.

KITT

Can you believe that four decades have gone by since the original Knight Rider series? Kids from all across the world dreamed of driving or at least riding in KITT someday, so it's no wonder some of them eventually decided to buy third gen Firebirds at some point. Even if you couldn't afford one, there was always the option of buying a scale model replica, and Mattel was quick to jump on that bandwagon. The first iteration of this Knight Industries Two Thousand casting first appeared in 2012, and Brendon Vetuskey was in charge of the design.

You'll find 14 releases of this model on the market, not counting the 1/43rd-scale and 1/18th-scale models. As you would expect, Hot Wheels tried to alternate between different wheel designs to keep collectors interested, but with a theme like this, you always have to follow specific rules. Fans of the show will quickly discover that there are other KITT-inspired collectibles to look for in Mattel's backyard. And this most recent one could be better.

TMNT Party Wagon

I honestly can't remember the last time I saw an episode of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I was five or six then, and it wasn't my favorite show on Cartoon Network. Still, you don't have to be a fan of the story to enjoy this yellow Party Wagon. In 2019, this casting came out as a San Diego Comic-Con exclusive item, and it could cost you as much as $500 to get a signed version.

You could have bought one in 2020 and 2022, but you'll need help finding significant differences between the latest iterations. The best part about the Party Wagon is that it features moving parts, which isn't quite common with Hot Wheels Premium items, but more of a Matchbox thing.

Rick and Morty Spaceship

"Keep Summer safe." Does that ring a bell? I used to be a big Rick & Morty fan in the show's early days. But, like all good things in this life, it has gone downhill in the past few years. Although the main character in the show, Rick, uses this spaceship quite often, the episode I mentioned earlier is one of the most memorable ones yet. It was gruesome and somewhat horrifying to watch, given the narrative, but indeed not as scary as Jaws.

The Manson Cheung-designed ship first appeared in 2020, with an additional release in 2021. There isn't a noticeable difference between the three iterations; you can pick either one up for $30 or less. If you plan on starting a Hot Wheels Rick & Morty collection, you'll find several other castings, like the 1966 Dodge A100 or the Ford Transit Super Van.

Speaking of the 2023 Hot Wheels Replica Entertainment Mix 3, a case of 10 items will set you back almost $60. If you'd instead not buy the Spaceship, KITT, or Party Wagon, you can always try and find the remaining items and spend much less. That's what I'm going to do anyway.