Sideshow Collectibles Premium Format figures

Premium Format: a Sideshow range launched in 2003

Sideshow Collectibles unveiled its first Premium Format Figures in early 2003. At the time, the company was mainly known for its 1/6 scale Sixth Scale articulated figures, but its teams wanted to develop a much larger format that would allow greater attention to sculpting, clothing and accessories.

The first project developed according to this new philosophy was Frankenstein, inspired by Boris Karloff in the Universal classic. Sideshow worked with Greg Mowry of Geppetto Productions to combine sculpting, an internal structure and a weathered fabric costume in a piece approximately 1/4 scale. This first creation laid the foundations for what would become one of the manufacturer’s signature ranges.

Characters from horror movies, James Bond, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings and many other licences would later join the collection.

What is a Sideshow Premium Format statue?

Premium Format™ is the name given by Sideshow Collectibles to its major collection of 1/4 scale statues.

The concept is to use this large format as a genuine “canvas”, giving sculptors, painters and costume designers much more room to refine the proportions, portraits, textures, clothing and environment surrounding the character.

Sideshow aims to create a true representation at one quarter of the character’s actual size. A hero standing around 1.80 m tall would therefore measure approximately 45 cm at 1/4 scale when depicted standing upright.

The overall height of the statue can nevertheless vary considerably depending on the pose or base. A composition incorporating a large environment, a raised weapon or special effects can easily exceed 50 or 60 cm.

It is therefore always advisable to check all three dimensions — height, width and depth — before deciding where to display a Premium Format statue.

What materials are used for Premium Format statues?

Polystone is one of the materials most closely associated with the range.

It is a composite material made from resin and mineral fillers, providing a certain density while allowing the fine details of the original sculpture to be reproduced very accurately.

Depending on the product, Sideshow may also use polyresin or other resins, fabrics, acrylic for certain transparent elements, vinyl, metal or various plastics and technical materials.

A Premium Format statue is therefore not necessarily made from a single material.

Some statues are entirely sculpted in polystone or polyresin, while others combine sculpted elements with fabric clothing, metal accessories or transparent components.

What is the difference between Premium Format and Premium Format Mixed Media?

Historically, many Premium Format statues already used mixed media, particularly fabric clothing. The term Premium Format has therefore never automatically meant an “entirely sculpted statue”.

Since 2025, Sideshow has distinguished certain pieces much more explicitly:

Premium Format™ Figure
→ fully sculpted version.

Premium Format Mixed Media™ Figure
→ version combining sculpted elements with real clothing or other materials.

Some creations are therefore offered according to two different approaches: one version with a fully sculpted costume and another using genuine fabric clothing.

This is not a hierarchy of quality. They are primarily two different aesthetic and technical interpretations of the same type of collectible.

Why does Sideshow use fabric on some Premium Format statues?

Fabric makes it possible to reproduce certain costumes in ways that would be difficult to achieve through sculpting alone.

At 1/4 scale, Sideshow’s teams have enough space to recreate stitching, layered garments, textures and the natural drape of clothing with considerably greater realism than at smaller scales.

This approach is particularly well suited to characters wearing capes, coats, dresses, tunics or costumes made up of several layers.

Some garments may also incorporate internal metal wiring, allowing collectors to make slight adjustments to the shape of a cape or section of fabric.

Mixed media can therefore require a little more work during setup: clothing may need to be repositioned or carefully shaped after unpacking.

Are Premium Format statues articulated?

No. A Premium Format is fundamentally a fixed-pose statue.

The main pose is determined by the artists during the design stage in order to preserve the proportions, balance and overall composition.

Some releases may nevertheless offer several display options through interchangeable portraits, alternate arms or hands, different weapons, optional accessories or repositionable environment elements.

Fabric parts fitted with internal wiring can also be shaped slightly.

Why are some Premium Format statues fully sculpted?

A fully sculpted design allows the sculptor to control every fold, every texture and every movement of the costume with precision.

A garment can therefore appear to be made from fabric while actually being reproduced entirely in polystone or polyresin.

This technique is particularly suitable for highly dynamic compositions where real fabric would be more difficult to keep in exactly the position envisioned by the artist.

It also makes it possible to maintain a highly consistent appearance between the prototype and the final product without relying on the manual positioning of clothing.

How is a Premium Format statue created?

Creating a Premium Format statue involves several different areas of expertise.

The design establishes the pose, attitude and overall composition.

The sculpt may be created using traditional techniques, digitally or through a combination of both methods.

The paintwork defines the colours, shades, textures and material effects.

When a fabric costume is used, “cut & sew” specialists develop the patterns, select the fabrics and adapt the tailoring to 1/4 scale.

Industrial development must then transform the artistic prototype into a product that can be reproduced consistently throughout the entire production run.

A Premium Format statue is therefore the result of collaborative work, rather than simply the sculpture of a single artist.

The difference between prototype photos and the final statue

The photographs used when a Premium Format statue is announced show a prototype.

Sideshow always states that the product shown is a prototype and that the final production version may differ in certain respects.

The prototype serves as the artistic reference from which mass production is developed.

Production must then reproduce the sculpting, paintwork, assembly and, where applicable, clothing across several hundred or several thousand pieces. Slight variations in paint, texture or fabric positioning may therefore occur.

What does Collector Edition mean?

The Collector Edition is generally the standard version of a Premium Format statue when an Exclusive version is also available.

It is sold by Sideshow but can also be distributed by official retailers around the world such as Myth Factory.

This is therefore generally the version available from distributors and specialist retailers.

It includes the statue and all accessories provided as part of the product’s standard configuration.

What is a Sideshow Exclusive Edition?

The Sideshow Exclusive Edition is a variant sold directly through Sideshow’s online store and generally includes an additional element that is not supplied with the Collector Edition.

This may be an alternate portrait, interchangeable hand or arm, weapon, environment accessory or another display option.

The main statue is generally no different in terms of sculpting, materials or paintwork.

The appeal of the Exclusive therefore lies in the additional accessory or display option, rather than in superior manufacturing quality.

Are Premium Format statues limited editions?

Yes. Premium Format statues are generally released as Limited Editions.

The number of pieces can nevertheless vary considerably depending on the character, licence and version.

Some statues have been limited to a few hundred pieces, while others have had edition sizes of 750, 1,000, 1,250 or more.

There is therefore no standard edition size specific to Premium Format.

When an edition has an announced edition size, each piece receives an edition number corresponding to that production run.

Does a statue’s edition number affect its quality or value?

Not in terms of manufacturing quality.

The edition number simply identifies the individual piece within the announced production run.

A low number does not mean that the statue was produced earlier than the others with greater care, nor that it has received better-quality paintwork.

Some collectors may place particular value on number 1, the final number in the edition or a number with personal significance, but this mainly relates to the secondary market and individual preferences.

The expected quality remains the same throughout the entire edition.

How are Premium Format statues assembled?

Because of their size and fragility, Premium Format statues are generally delivered in several separate parts that need to be assembled after unpacking.

The body, base, portraits, arms, weapons, capes or various environment elements may all be separate pieces.

The system varies depending on the model. Sideshow notably uses sculpted sockets, mounting pegs and magnets to secure certain parts or make interchangeable elements easier to use.

It is always advisable to consult the assembly instructions or videos available for the specific release and never to force a part when its correct orientation is unclear.

Is a Premium Format statue fragile?

Yes, like most large resin or polystone statues.

Polystone can reproduce very fine details and provides substantial weight, but thinner elements — fingers, weapons, hair, clothing edges or effects — may be sensitive to impacts.

Some Premium Format statues can also be quite heavy.

It is therefore important to provide a stable surface, furniture capable of supporting the weight of the piece, sufficient depth and enough space to assemble the statue comfortably.

Heavy components should always be handled with both hands.

For some statues, width and depth can actually be more challenging than height when finding a suitable display space.

How should a Premium Format statue be maintained?

Sideshow recommends keeping its collectibles in a stable environment, protected from direct sunlight, excessive heat and major fluctuations in humidity.

For dusting, a clean microfibre cloth or soft brush is generally suitable.

A slightly damp microfibre cloth can be used when necessary, but aggressive cleaning products should be avoided to prevent damage to paintwork or materials.

It is also strongly recommended to keep the original box and internal packaging.

This packaging remains the safest solution for transporting or storing a statue made up of numerous separate components.

Do fabric costumes age differently from fully sculpted statues?

Yes.

Mixed media introduces materials that may age differently from polystone.

Real fabric can retain more dust, react to humidity or gradually lose colour when exposed to UV light for prolonged periods.

Faux leather and other synthetic materials may also age differently depending on their composition and storage conditions.

A Premium Format Mixed Media statue therefore generally requires slightly more care than a fully sculpted statue.

Can Premium Format statues include light-up features?

Yes, although this is not standard across the range.

Some releases incorporate LEDs or other light-up features when these contribute to the representation of the character or environment.

Lighting can, for example, be used to reproduce flames, energy effects, a glowing object or part of the environment.

These features are specific to each product and are not a mandatory characteristic of the Premium Format range.

Which licences have been adapted into Premium Format statues?

The Premium Format catalogue covers a significant part of the history of Sideshow Collectibles.

Major licences represented include Marvel Comics, DC Comics and Star Wars, from the original trilogy through to more recent productions.

The Lord of the Rings, Universal Monsters, various horror licences, movies, television and video games have also inspired numerous Premium Format statues.

Sideshow also develops its own original universes, including Court of the Dead.