Plastic Army Men have been around since the 1950s. They are molded out of green or tan plastic and stand about 2 inches tall. One of the earliest manufacturers was the Louis Marx and Company who sold battleground play sets. For example, one set was World War II Americans against Germans. The men often came molded with different accessories including rifles, machine guns, pistols, grenades, flame throwers and bazookas.

These toys saw a decline in the United States during the Vietnam Era, but popularity has increased recently. No longer made in the United States, they are usually made more cheaply in China and do not included the elaborate accessories.

The toy became popular again after they were featured in the 1995 Disney movie, Toy Story.