The 1997 Stormtrooper Star Wars PEZ Dispenser Is the Imperial Classic Every Collector Needs
A Long Time Ago in a Candy Aisle Far, Far Away
If you were haunting toy aisles in 1997, you probably remember that electric feeling when Star Wars merchandise flooded stores ahead of the Special Edition theatrical releases. For us candy dispenser collectors, one of the most exciting additions that year came in the form of five iconic characters rendered in classic PEZ form. Today I want to spotlight one of my absolute favorites from that debut wave: the 1997 Stormtrooper Star Wars PEZ Dispenser by PEZ Candy under the Lucasfilm license.
This dispenser holds a special place in the history of Star Wars collectibles. It was part of the very first assortment PEZ produced for the franchise, and getting the Stormtrooper in that lineup was a perfect choice. These faceless soldiers of the Empire are among the most recognizable figures in pop culture, and seeing that iconic white-and-black helmet rendered in compact PEZ form was genuinely thrilling for fans at the time.
The Sculpt and Details
The dispenser head faithfully captures the classic Stormtrooper helmet design. The white molded plastic is clean and smooth, with the characteristic black striping painted across the brow and chin areas. The dark eye lenses and the ventilated mouthpiece area are rendered with the kind of detail that lets you instantly identify this as the Empire's foot soldier and not just a generic sci-fi helmet.
The dispenser rides on a standard PEZ white stem. It was sold both loose and on blister card packaging, with the blister card versions including three rolls of candy. The original retail packaging featured bold Star Wars branding that was tied directly to the Special Edition re-release era, making those carded examples especially desirable today.
There is something deeply satisfying about a Stormtrooper PEZ dispenser. The helmet was already a design icon, but seeing it miniaturized and turned into a functional candy dispenser feels exactly right. It is utilitarian, slightly absurd, and completely charming - just like the best PEZ has always been.
Part of the Original Star Wars Five
The Stormtrooper was one of five characters in PEZ's inaugural Star Wars wave. The full set included Darth Vader, Yoda, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and Stormtrooper. As a group they represent a brilliant cross-section of the original trilogy: a hero, a villain, an icon of the dark side, a lovable droid, and the faceless army that makes the Empire feel genuinely threatening.
Collecting the complete 1997 set has been a goal for many PEZ enthusiasts and Star Wars fans alike. Each character was given care in the sculpting, but the Stormtrooper stands out for how recognizable it is even at this small scale. You could pull it out of a pile of random dispensers and identify it immediately.
Collector Notes
- Released in 1997 as part of the first Star Wars PEZ assortment
- Licensed by Lucasfilm; produced by PEZ Candy
- Available loose or on blister card (blister card includes 3 candy rolls)
- Now retired and no longer in regular production in the original 1997 format
- Carded examples in near-mint condition command a premium among both PEZ and Star Wars collectors
- A natural companion piece to the other four characters in the debut wave
For display purposes, the 1997 Star Wars five make a striking row. I like to group them by affiliation - the Imperial side (Vader and Stormtrooper) on one end, the Rebel and Force side on the other, with C-3PO in the middle since he technically served both. It sounds silly but it looks great on a shelf and never fails to start a conversation at collector meetups.
Whether you are a dedicated PEZ head, a Star Wars collector, or someone who just has warm memories of finding these in checkout lanes circa 1997, the Stormtrooper dispenser is an easy piece to love. It is a small artifact from a big moment in pop culture history, and it does its job beautifully.
