If you’ve ever sat through a Despicable Me marathon, you know the drill. Gru walks into a coffee shop, gets annoyed by the line, and—zap—everyone is a human popsicle. It’s the ultimate wish-fulfillment tool for anyone who’s ever been stuck behind a slow walker. Naturally, every kid (and let’s be real, many adults) wanted a freeze ray despicable me toy the second the credits rolled.
But here’s the weird thing. If you go to a big-box store right now, you’ll see shelves groaning under the weight of Fart Blasters. They’ve got Fart Blasters that shoot fog rings, Fart Blasters that smell like bananas, and even mini ones for "stealth" pranks. But the Freeze Ray? It’s a ghost.
Finding a high-quality, standalone Freeze Ray toy in 2026 is actually a bit of a scavenger hunt.
The Disappearing Act of Gru’s Signature Weapon
Most people assume that because the Freeze Ray is Gru's most iconic gadget, it would be the most common toy. It isn't. In the world of toy manufacturing, "gross-out" humor sells faster than "cool" sci-fi tech. Moose Toys, the current master toy licensee as of Despicable Me 4, leaned hard into the flatulence side of the franchise. Their "Ultimate Fart Blaster" is a tech marvel with 15 sounds and scent-infused fog.
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The Freeze Ray, meanwhile, has mostly been relegated to the world of action figure accessories or park exclusives.
If you want a freeze ray despicable me toy that you can actually hold and "fire," you usually have to look backward. Thinkway Toys, the original genius company behind the early movie merch, produced a few versions. They had a "Young Gru" figure that came with a spring-loaded Freeze Ray, and a larger deluxe Gru figure from the Despicable Me 3 era that included a blaster firing plastic "ice" projectiles.
What’s Actually Out There?
Honestly, the market is a bit of a mess. You’ve basically got three tiers of Freeze Rays:
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- The Universal Parks Exclusive: This is the "holy grail" for collectors. It’s a full-sized prop toy sold at Universal Studios (specifically near the Minion Mayhem ride and Villain-Con areas). It usually features lights and sound effects. It feels substantial, not like a cheap piece of molded plastic that’s going to snap if you sneeze on it.
- The Action Figure Add-ons: These are tiny. We’re talking three to six inches. Companies like Mattel and Thinkway have bundled these with Gru figures for years. They usually "fire" a little blue plastic dart. They’re fun for a desk, but they aren't the roleplay experience most fans are looking for.
- The DIY/Etsy Community: Because the official supply is so weirdly low, there’s a massive secondary market for 3D-printed replicas. Some of these are incredibly detailed, designed for cosplayers who want the exact taper of the barrel and the specific shade of "Dr. Nefario Blue."
Why the Fart Blaster Won the Toy War
It’s simple math. A Freeze Ray is a light-up stick that goes pew-pew. A Fart Blaster is a cultural phenomenon. When Moose Toys took over the license for the 2024 and 2025 windows, they saw the data. Kids find "stinky" rings of fog hilarious.
The Freeze Ray is more of a "legacy" item. It’s sophisticated. It’s what Gru uses when he’s being a serious supervillain. But in the toy aisle, sophistication loses to a banana-scented fart cloud every single time.
That said, the lack of a mass-market, "extreme" version of the Freeze Ray is a massive missed opportunity. Imagine a toy that used cold-mist technology or even just high-intensity blue LEDs and a haptic rumble motor. It would fly off the shelves. Instead, we’re left hunting on eBay for 2017 Thinkway stock.
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What to Look for When Buying
If you’re hunting for a freeze ray despicable me toy for a gift or a collection, don't just click the first link on Amazon. You’ll probably end up with a knock-off that smells like industrial glue.
- Check the Brand: Look for Thinkway Toys or Moose Toys labels. If it’s a park exclusive, it might just say "Universal Studios."
- Scale Matters: Many listings are "Gru with Freeze Ray." If the price is $15, you’re buying a 4-inch plastic man, not a blaster you can hold.
- The "Ice" Darts: If you buy a used version that fires projectiles, make sure the "ice" darts are included. They are notoriously easy to lose under the sofa, and finding replacements is nearly impossible without buying a whole new set.
The Verdict on the Freeze Ray
Is it still worth getting? Absolutely. There’s something inherently more "classic" about the Freeze Ray. It represents the early days of Gru—the guy who stole the moon, not just the guy who deals with diaper changes.
If you can find the Universal Studios version, grab it. It’s the only one that really captures the "heft" of Dr. Nefario’s engineering. Otherwise, you’re basically looking at a history lesson in toy licensing.
Your best bet right now is to keep an eye on secondary markets like Mercari or eBay for "New in Box" Thinkway stock from the Despicable Me 3 era. Those toys were built to last, and the light-up features on the blasters still hold up well by today’s standards.
Don't settle for the first cheap plastic imitation you see. A real supervillain deserves better than that. Start by searching for "Thinkway Gru Deluxe Figure" rather than just the gun itself; you’ll often find the blaster tucked into the packaging of older action figures for a much better price than the "rare" stand-alone props.