Nike Honors Space Jam History with New Air Jordan 11 Holiday Release
Beaverton, Saturday, 11 July 2026.
Nike will release the Air Jordan 11 Retro “Monstars” for Holiday 2026, featuring a green design honoring the green-screen filming technology of the 1996 film Space Jam.
A Nostalgic Nod to Mid-90s Cinematic Innovation
The upcoming Air Jordan 11 Retro “Monstars” (also known as the “Green Screen” colorway) pays direct tribute to the behind-the-scenes filmmaking techniques of the mid-1990s [1][2]. During the filming of the 1996 movie Space Jam, live-action footage of Michael Jordan was blended with traditional animation to create the final basketball sequence against the alien “Monstars” [2]. To simulate the towering height of his animated opponents, Jordan had to post up against actors wearing full green-screen suits while standing on stools [2]. The sneaker’s design directly reflects this green-screen filming process, which allowed Jordan to share the court with cartoon characters like Bugs Bunny without modern artificial intelligence [2].
Premium Pricing and Nike’s Retail Strategy
The “Monstars” release is slated to debut during the highly competitive Holiday 2026 shopping season [1][2]. It will be made available in unisex sizing at a retail price of $255 [2]. This pricing is highly strategic, aligning with a broader premium pricing structure that Nike’s Jordan Brand has recently implemented [3]. For instance, on July 9, 2026, reports highlighted this shift toward higher price points for premium retro models [3]. This trend was also visible in the scheduled July 10, 2026, release of the Air Jordan 7 ‘Miro’, which carried the same $255 retail price tag [3].
Double-Play on the Space Jam Anniversary
The Holiday 2026 release of the “Monstars” colorway coincides with the 30th anniversary of the original Space Jam film [1]. To mark this milestone, Jordan Brand is executing a dual-release strategy [1]. In addition to the novel “Green Screen” concept, Nike is also bringing back the classic “Space Jam” Air Jordan 11 later this year [1]. The classic “Space Jam” retro (Style Code: CT8012-900), designed by Tinker Hatfield, is scheduled for a global release on December 12, 2026, via Nike SNKRS and select retailers [3].