Updated
Updated · The Verge · Jul 15
Home Depot Debuts $179 6-Foot Mixologist Animatronic as 12-Foot Skelly Gets 2026 Upgrade
Updated
Updated · The Verge · Jul 15

Home Depot Debuts $179 6-Foot Mixologist Animatronic as 12-Foot Skelly Gets 2026 Upgrade

3 articles · Updated · The Verge · Jul 15

Summary

  • $179 buys Home Depot’s new six-foot “John the Last Call Mixologist,” a Halloween animatronic bartender that stirs a drink and delivers five prerecorded lines.
  • The figure arrives as part of the retailer’s 2026 Halloween rollout, which includes nearly 30 new decorations and an upgraded 12-foot Skelly.
  • That refreshed Skelly costs $379 and adds app-controlled talking, voice modulation, servo-driven movement and LED eye animations.
  • The launch builds on Skelly’s viral popularity since 2020, with online and app sales for the new collection starting July 16.

Sources

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The Verge17h ago
Home Depot Unveils $179 "John the Last Call Mixologist" for Halloween Collection
The Verge17h ago
Home Depot Upgrades 12-Foot Skelly Skeleton with Talking and Enhanced Animations
Nerdist8h ago
Home Depot's Annual Halloween Collection Got an Upgrade - Nerdist
9 Sources

Insights

With talking skeletons and AI parrots, is high-tech Halloween decor replacing creative, homespun traditions for families?
Home Depot's giant skeleton is now a viral star. Is this a replicable marketing strategy or just lightning in a bottle?
Beyond the sticker price, what is the environmental cost of our giant, electronic Halloween decorations?

Sources

9 total
Left67%
Center17%
Right17%
The Verge17h ago
Home Depot Unveils $179 "John the Last Call Mixologist" for Halloween Collection
The Verge17h ago
Home Depot Upgrades 12-Foot Skelly Skeleton with Talking and Enhanced Animations
Nerdist8h ago
Home Depot's Annual Halloween Collection Got an Upgrade - Nerdist
Show all 9 sources