A toy projectile launcher for launching projectiles, e.g, toy foam darts, from a detachable hopper. An agitating member inside the hopper enables the orderly descent of the projectiles within the hopper. A hopper cover has a collapsible ceiling with nested members and a ceiling plate to maintain the projectiles toward the bottom of the hopper. First and second catches coupled to the ceiling plate respectively engage openings in hopper walls to prevent the ceiling plate from collapsing into the cover when the hopper cover is closed. Where there are multiple vertically-spaced-apart openings in the hopper walls, the first and second catches may disengage from respective first openings, and then engage lower, second openings in the hopper walls, as the number of projectiles in the hopper drops and the ceiling plate descends in the hopper. A rotating gear advances projectiles from the firing chamber to flywheels for launch.