<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001523711-17-000021.txt : 20170215
<SEC-HEADER>0001523711-17-000021.hdr.sgml : 20170215
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170215170218
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001523711-17-000021
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20170214
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170215
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170215

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MATTEL INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000063276
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	DOLLS & STUFFED TOYS [3942]
		IRS NUMBER:				951567322
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		333 CONTINENTAL BLVD
		CITY:			EL SEGUNDO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90245
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3102522000

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Dickson Richard
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001482551

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05647
		FILM NUMBER:		17615411

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MATTEL, INC.
		STREET 2:		333 CONTINENTAL BOULEVARD
		CITY:			EL SEGUNDO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90245
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_148719612442092.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-02-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000063276</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MATTEL INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MAT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001482551</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Dickson Richard</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>333 CONTINENTAL BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EL SEGUNDO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90245</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Pres &amp; Chief Operating Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-02-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>I</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3643</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>25.69</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3643.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7936</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Distributions from the Reporting Person's phantom stock account will be in the form of shares of Mattel, Inc. Common Stock equal in value to the value of the phantom stock account.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The phantom stock units will be settled in shares of Mattel, Inc. Common Stock following the Reporting Person's separation from service with Mattel, Inc.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Julie Kwok, Attorney-in-Fact for Richard Dickson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-02-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
