2001 LEGO Sets

In 2001 LEGO proved once again to be a fantastic year for collectors with the release of 347 sets, many highly sought after. This included 58 promotional and special released sets in addition to the 289 retail sets released through LEGO.com, the LEGO store and various other retail channels.

Based on the 347 sets released for that year, the retail value was $5,764.35 with a current value of $37,604.45 for the combined new/factory sealed sets. As of present, the best performing theme for 2001 is currently Pirates which has seen an average annual growth of upwards of 9% to date. With the 56 sets that year, the Duplo theme had the most released sets.

In 2001, LEGO expanded its collector and investment appeal, introducing several highly collectible themes that continue to influence LEGO’s success today. Among the most significant launches was LEGO BIONICLE, which debuted worldwide after its initial European release in 2000. BIONICLE became one of LEGO’s most successful original themes, blending storytelling, action figures, and mechanical builds, setting the stage for LEGO’s expansion into narrative-driven franchises.

This year also marked the introduction of LEGO Harry Potter, coinciding with the release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The theme brought Hogwarts, magical creatures, and iconic characters to LEGO form, beginning a long-running partnership between LEGO and the Wizarding World franchise. Other notable new themes included LEGO Racers, which emphasized fast-paced vehicle builds, and LEGO Alpha Team, an espionage-based adventure theme featuring secret agents, high-tech gadgets, and puzzle-solving elements.

At the same time, LEGO experimented with new play concepts, unveiling LEGO Serious Play, a business-oriented initiative designed to use LEGO for corporate training, problem-solving, and creative workshops. Additionally, LEGO Jack Stone was introduced as a juniorized action-adventure theme, targeting younger builders with larger, simplified pieces.

While LEGO Life on Mars was introduced, it was also discontinued within the same year, making it one of LEGO’s shorter-lived space themes. Additionally, Islanders and Imperial Armada were released as Pirates subthemes, reviving classic elements from LEGO’s maritime adventures.

LEGO also continued to expand its global retail presence, opening LEGO Brand Retail stores in England, Germany, and Russia, while further expanding in the United States. These stores provided an immersive LEGO shopping experience, reinforcing LEGO’s direct-to-consumer retail strategy.