LEGO Reviews Disney43227

Villain Icons

Name: LEGO Villain Icons 43227
Brand: LEGO
SKU: 43227
Rating: 4.69 (345 reviews)

82 · HIGHLY RECOMMENDEDINVESTMENT GRADE: A20231,540 pcsHigh agreement · 91%

Expert reviews

3analyzed

Owner ratings

345

Consensus

BUY

BrickScore

Highly Recommended

Owners

Synthesized Verdict

"With a BrickScore of 81.6 and owner ratings of 4.69 out of 5 from 345 buyers, Villain Icons earns its Highly Recommended tier as a masterclass in nostalgic display design, anchored by the iconic VHS tape build and secret villain compartments. The only meaningful criticism is the incomplete villain lineup, which left multiple reviewers hoping for a sequel set."

Reviewers are overwhelmingly enthusiastic about Villain Icons (43227), with the nostalgic VHS tape centerpiece and cleverly hidden minifigure compartments drawing near-universal praise. Owner ratings back this up emphatically: 4.69 out of 5 across 345 ratings, with 97% of LEGO.com buyers saying they would recommend it and a value-for-money score of 4.49 out of 5. A recurring note is the strong nostalgia appeal for anyone who grew up watching Disney movies in the late 1900s, with the DOTS-style villain art panels and secret compartment design standing out as design highlights.

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LOVED (6)

01The VHS tape build, described as the standout centerpiece that looks remarkably realistic
02Hidden minifigure compartments throughout the build, one per villain section
03Strong nostalgia factor for adult Disney fans from the VHS/late-1900s era
04DOTS-style art panels for Jafar and Maleficent
05Enjoyable, multi-hour build experience that rewards exploration
06Extensive, intricate detailing that surprises builders throughout

CRITICIZED (4)

01Incomplete villain roster: Ursula, Captain Hook, Queen of Hearts, and Hades are absent despite being fan favorites
0212 stickers required, which some builders find frustrating to apply perfectly
03At least one reviewer reported hazy or chipped bricks out of the bag, raising brick quality concerns
04High price point of $129.99 for a display-focused set with limited playability

What reviewers are saying

"so there's four iconic Disney villains and minifigure form too that are included in this set and are also exclusive"

Solid Brix Studios

"If you're a Disney fan, this set is for you and you probably don't need to think about it much more"

The Brothers Brick

"Lego Disney Snow White in the Seven Dwarfs Cottage I absolutely love this set now when you look at it I think this might be a sleeper and I'm serious"

Wolf of Bricks

"I loved a lot about this set. Mainly to do with the build. However I'm just not convinced of its display worthiness."

Rebrickable Reviews

Ecosystem

Disney 100 CMF Minifigures — Complements CMF collection perfectly as these villain figures are exclusive to this set; reviewer wishes this set came with matching Disney 100 tiles like the CMFs have

76391 Hogwarts Icons — The reviewer notes this set is obviously similar to Hogwarts Icons, both being 18+ Adults Welcome sets with good introduction to advanced building techniques and strong parts value. Disney is noted as a significantly larger fandom than Harry Potter, suggesting higher potential appeal.

LEGO Ideas Pop-up Book — The reviewer mentions that LEGO has shown a book build that's finished on all sides with the Pop-up Book, implying this set's book (Beauty and the Beast) could have been designed similarly for more display flexibility.

Hogwarts Icons Collectors' Edition — Although clearly inspired by the Hogwarts Icons Collectors' Edition, this set doesn't get close to that set's high bar.

DisneyTier 2Investment Grade

By Reviewer · 4

Avg score

Consensus

BUY

Solid Brix Studios

Expert Video Source

BUY

"so there's four iconic Disney villains and minifigure form too that are included in this set and are also exclusive"

Key Pros

✓Exclusive minifigures with great printing and dual molding
✓Incredible Easter egg design with multiple hidden compartments
✓Functional storage for actual VHS tapes and books

Key Cons

✕Minifigures do not come with Disney 100th anniversary tiles to match other Disney CMF figures (can be sourced from BrickLink/eBay)

JUMP TO REVIEW

The Brothers Brick

Expert Video Source

BUY

"If you're a Disney fan, this set is for you and you probably don't need to think about it much more"

Key Pros

✓Exceptional minifigures with strong character likenesses
✓Excellent thematic execution tied to iconic Disney villain scenes
✓Lovely display aesthetics with varied build types

Key Cons

✕Beauty and the Beast book and Aladdin VHS case must be built together, limiting display flexibility
✕Bag distribution for first three builds is odd and makes it difficult to split work among family members

JUMP TO REVIEW

Wolf of Bricks

Expert Video Source

BUY

"Lego Disney Snow White in the Seven Dwarfs Cottage I absolutely love this set now when you look at it I think this might be a sleeper and I'm serious"

Key Pros

✓Reviewer absolutely loves it
✓Amazing set quality
✓Excellent price point at $29

Key Cons

✕Upcoming movie quality may be poor

JUMP TO REVIEW

Rebrickable Reviews

Editorial Source

BUY

"I loved a lot about this set. Mainly to do with the build. However I'm just not convinced of its display worthiness."

Key Pros

✓Excellent build techniques and creative builds
✓Little Mermaid VHS cassette is a masterclass in LEGO model design
✓Realistic 1:1 scale VHS replication with authentic hollow quality

Key Cons

✕Display worthiness questionable - much of the ingenuity is hidden
✕Lot of it looks like simple boxes

READ FULL REVIEW

Dimensional Analysis

Investment Layer

Investment score 82

Buy now (4)Wait for sale (0)

Value drivers

Solid Brix Studios: Four exclusive villain minifigures (Evil Queen, Gaston, Jafar, Maleficent) with unique prints, dual molding, and genie variant form the primary collectible value driver

The Brothers Brick: The four minifigures (Evil Queen, Jafar, Gaston, Maleficent) are the primary value drivers, particularly the improved Maleficent and the exceptional Gaston likeness. These figures are exclusive to this set and represent iconic villain interpretations.

Exclusivity

Solid Brix Studios: Set-exclusive minifigures; Disney 100th anniversary collaboration

The Brothers Brick: Licensed Disney set released as part of Disney's 100th anniversary lineup; marketed as an Adults Welcome 18+ set, limiting its general retail availability compared to standard ranges.

Resale

Solid Brix Studios: Strong aftermarket potential given exclusive minifigs, unique theming, and appeal to adult collectors and Disney fans

The Brothers Brick: Not explicitly addressed, though the strong minifigure roster and limited availability (starting June 1st) suggest potential for aftermarket value retention.

Minifigures & Standout Parts

In this set (4)

Gaston

$15

Jafar as the Genie

$15

Maleficent

$12

Evil Queen in Disguise

Standout parts (per reviewers)

Poisoned Apple compartment piece
New printed/sculpted element that opens to reveal Evil Queen minifigure; iconic Snow White symbol
VHS tape holder (The Little Mermaid)
Brick-built VHS with opening compartment revealing film scenes with printed 'footage' inside; includes functional spools
VHS tape holder (Aladdin)
Functional VHS holder featuring printed 2x4 Disney 100th anniversary tile and 4x4 tile with Jafar sticker; brick-built Jafar mural with hidden compartment
Beauty and the Beast book storage
Book-styled storage with enchanted rose Easter egg detail; drawer compartment on bottom to reveal Gaston minifigure
VHS tape holder (Sleeping Beauty)
Dark purple themed holder with 4x4 Maleficent tile, printed Sleeping Beauty tile, brick-built Maleficent, and hidden minifig compartment
Queen of Hearts printed cardValue
Reference to Alice in Wonderland; printed/card piece instead of minifigure

What Owners Say

Disney fans adore the Villain Icons set for its clever hidden compartments, nostalgic VHS tape design, and creative villain-themed details, though a minority of owners experienced structural quality issues with pieces not holding together.

COMMON PRAISE

+VHS tape centerpiece consistently called out as the standout feature, praised for its realistic look and strong nostalgia factor
+Hidden compartments throughout the build that house each minifigure are described as a delightful surprise by nearly every reviewer
+Strong nostalgia value connecting childhood Disney memories to the build experience
+Minifigures praised as well-designed with good detail, and having dedicated storage spots within the model is considered a practical bonus

COMMON COMPLAINTS

−Several reviewers report quality issues with pieces not holding firmly, causing the build to fall apart repeatedly, particularly the VHS tape and the clock element
−Missing minifigures for villains shown in the set, especially Ursula, disappoint many reviewers who feel she was an obvious inclusion
−Stickers disliked by some for imperfect application and clashing with the otherwise clean build
−A small number of reviewers received sets with missing pieces despite sealed packaging

Disney nostalgiaVHS tape centerpieceHidden compartmentsDisplay piece

Buyer Ratings

Amazon4.6

213 reviews

84%