Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet – $5.3 million
While 1965’s Forbidden Planet didn’t become as iconic as Star Wars, it did inspire its droids, and that makes it a firm favorite amongst collectors. It also explains why Robby the Robot – one of the first movie robots to display a personality – sold at auction for an eye-popping $5.3 million.
James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger – $4.6 million
Classic cars often go for millions of dollars without having appeared in movies, so it’s not at all surprising that the Aston Martin DB5 driven by James Bond in 1964’s Goldfinger sold for $4.6 million in 2010. Another DB5 used in the Sean Connery era of Bond movies was stolen in 1997, never to be seen again.
Marilyn Monroe’s dress from The Seven Year Itch – $5.6 million
There are few more iconic shots in the history of cinema than Marilyn Monroe’s dress billowing in the draft of an air vent. While anything worn by Monroe is going to be worth a pretty penny, the fact that the dress she wore in The Seven Year Itch also appeared in such a legendary scene helped it fetch $5.6 million at auction.
Sam’s piano from Casablanca – $3.4 million
Movie props are often enormously valuable to their collectors, but they don’t usually offer much in the way of functionality. Sam’s piano in Casablanca, on the other hand, is both a piece of Hollywood history and a fully functional musical instrument, which helps explain how it sold for $3.4 million at auction.
The Batmobile from Batman – $4.6 million
A movie prop that you can play is pretty cool, but one that you can drive is even better. Built on top of a Lincoln Futura concept car, the Batmobile was used in both the 1960s Batman TV series and subsequent film, and in 2013 it sold for a whopping $4.6 million at auction. Sadly, the ejector seats and flamethrower were both disabled prior to the sale.
Steve McQueen’s driving suit from Le Mans – $984,000
In 1971, an extraordinarily lucky 12-year-old boy won a newspaper competition and was awarded the driving suit worn by Steve McQueen in Le Mans. The winner held onto his prize for decades, finally selling it for $984,000 in 2011, which was only slightly less than the movie’s iconic Porsche 911 sold for.
The Maltese Falcon statue from The Maltese Falcon – $4 million
The Maltese Falcon statue is described in the film as “the stuff that dreams are made of,” and in 2013 it made one collector’s dreams come true when it was sold at auction for just over $4 million. The sale perfectly illustrates the subjective value of movie props, as the 45-pound statue is made out of solid lead.
Darth Vader’s helmet from The Empire Empire Strikes Back – $1 million
To say that collectors have a soft spot for Star Wars memorabilia would be a dramatic understatement, so it should come as no surprise that one fan paid $1 million dollars to get his hands on Darth Vader’s helmet from The Empire Strikes Back. While other Vader helmets have also sold for large amounts, the fact that this one features in the “I am your father” scene made it extra valuable.
The dance floor from Saturday Night Fever – $1.2 million
The brightly colored dance floor that appears throughout Saturday Night Fever spent several years installed at the 2001 Odyssey Disco Club, where much of the movie was filmed. After the club shut down, the dance floor was auctioned off, and it’s sold several times since, most recently going for $1.2 million in 2017.
Ruby Red Slippers from The Wizard of Oz – $2 million
When it comes to movie props, it doesn’t get much more recognizable than the iconic Ruby Red Slippers from 1939’s The Wizard of Oz. In 2012, the slippers went for $2 million at auction, and their purchaser then generously donated them to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
R2-D2 from the original Star Wars trilogy – $2.76 million
Even in a franchise as packed with iconic characters as Star Wars, R2-D2 stands out. The lovable droid is easily amongst George Lucas’ most popular creations, and that popularity has serious value. In 2017, the modular R2-D2 costume used in the original trilogy broke the record for the most expensive piece of Star Wars memorabilia, selling for $2.76 million.
Audrey Hepburn’s dress from My Fair Lady – $3.7 million
Given that it’s one of the most recognizable outfits worn by one of the most recognizable movie stars in one of cinema’s most recognizable movies, it’s no surprise that the dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady is one of the most expensive props ever sold. In 2011, the dress went up for auction, and – despite being valued at around $200,00 – it sold for $3.7 million.
Costumes from The Sound of Music – $1.3 million
The Sound of Music is one of the most famous movies of all time, and its props are predictably valuable. In 2013, the dress worn by Julie Andrews during the picnic and singing lesson scene sold at auction for a cool $1.3 million, and the curtain costumes worn by the children were thrown in for good measure.
The car from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – $805,000
In 2011, director Peter Jackson snapped up the car from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for $805,000 at an auction. The vehicle was actually expected to go for over $1 million, but perhaps offers were kept down by the fact that the car doesn’t really fly.
The Cowardly Lion costume from The Wizard of Oz – $3 million
While not nearly as recognizable as the Ruby Red Slippers, the Cowardly Lion costume worn by Bert Lahr in the 1939 version of The Wizard of Oz sold for significantly more at auction. The costume – which is made from the skin and fur of a real lion – sold for just over $3 million in 2014, maybe because those materials are hard to ethically come by today.
Audrey Hepburn’s dress from Breakfast at Tiffany’s – $920 million
For some reason, when the iconic Givenchy dress that Audrey Hepburn wore in Breakfast at Tiffany’s went on sale in 2006, it was only estimated at £50,000. Inevitably, collectors thought it was worth significantly more, and after an intense bidding war, the dress sold for £462,000, equivalent to about $920,000.
The Aston Martin from No Time to Die – $3.3 million
While not the most recognizable Bond car, the Aston Martin DB5 from 2021’s No Time to Die still sold for $3.3 million at a charity auction. The price was inflated by the fact that, unlike most Bond cars, some of the gadgets on the vehicle – such as the rotating number plate – are actually functional.
E.T. mechatronic from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – $2.5 million
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was made long before CGI was widely used in cinema, so the movie’s titular extraterrestrial was brought to life via a complex mechatronic. In 2023, the mechatronic – which was operated by a team of 12 animators – went to auction, where it fetched a tidy price of $2.5 million.
Judy Garland’s dress from The Wizard of Oz – $1.5 million
While no one was surprised that the Ruby Red Slippers from The Wizard of Oz went for $2 million, even Bonham’s Auction House was taken aback when it managed to sell the dress worn by Judy Garland in the movie for $1.5 million. Even though the dress isn’t as celebrated as the shoes, it was still snapped up by an eager collector of movie memorabilia.
Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber from the original Star Wars trilogy – $450,000
Wielded by both Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars movie, the first lightsaber to appear in the franchise was always going to be worth top dollar. Made out of the tube from an old Graflex camera and a wooden pole covered in luminous paint, the lightsaber sold for $450,000 in 2018.
The submarine car from The Spy Who Loved Me – $864,000
Perhaps hinting at Elon Musk’s plans for Tesla, in 2013 the tech billionaire paid $864,000 for the amphibious Lotus Esprit from 1997’s The Spy Who Loved Me. After the sale, Musk joked about his disappointment that it didn’t really turn into a submarine, suggesting he might make the necessary upgrades himself.
Han Solo’s blaster from Star Wars: A New Hope – $1 million
While not quite as iconic as the lightsaber wielded by Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars movies, Han Solo’s blaster actually managed to command a higher price. In August 2022, the blaster – which is built on top of a disabled Mauser pistol – sold to a diehard Star Wars fan for $1 million at auction.
T-800 from Terminator 2: Judgement Day – $488,000
Terminator 2 boasted revolutionary CGI, but it also featured some pretty impressive mechatronics. In 2007, a collector paid just shy of $488,000 for the human-sized T-800 endoskeleton that is used to great effect in the movie’s apocalyptic opening. Experts reckon that the prop would sell for at least twice that sum were it to go on sale today.
Kate Winslet’s red dress from Titanic – $330,000
One of the most acclaimed movies of all time, 1997’s Titanic was always going to result in some extremely valuable memorabilia. In 2012, the red dress worn by Kate Winslet’s character Rose when she first meets Jack, played by heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio, went under the hammer, securing a price of $330,000.
Wilson from Castaway – $308,000
Wilson, Tom Hank’s volleyball companion in 2000’s Castaway, proves that even inanimate objects can make compelling characters. A truly classic piece of movie memorabilia, Wilson – who is now somewhat distorted due to the amount of time spent in water during filming – sold for $308,000 in 2021.
Laser gun from Blade Runner – $270,000
Another movie firearm wielded by Harrison Ford, the laser pistol used by Deckard in 1982’s Blade Runner sold for $270,000 in 2012. While Blade Runner wasn’t a huge success when it was released, it’s since come to be regarded as one of the best sci-fi movies of all time, hence the value of its props.
The Tramp’s cane from Modern Times – $350,000
There are few icons of cinema as instantly recognizable as Charlie Chaplin, the actor who dominated the silent era with his gift for slapstick physical comedy. In July 2013, the cane carried by The Tramp – easily the most famous of Chaplin’s characters – sold at auction for $350,000.
An X-Wing model from Star Wars: A New Hope – $2.4 million
In June 2022, a miniature X-Wing model sold at auction for $2.4 million. This particular model happened to be the only surviving X-Wing from the original film, since all the others were destroyed with pyrotechnics during filming. This obviously drove the price up.
Buddy’s costume from Elf – $235,000
Elf is one of the most beloved Christmas movies of the last few decades, but auctioneers were still surprised at how much Buddy’s costume went for in 2021. The outfit – which still has a Mr. Ferrell label attached – sold for $235,000, almost ten times more than it was originally valued.
Indiana Jones’ fedora from Raiders of the Lost Ark – $524,000
When it comes to desirable Indiana Jones props, the whip is always going to come out on top. That said, the trademark fedora is still a legendary piece of movie history, as evidenced by the fact that it sold for $524,000 at a London-based auction in 2018.
The axe from The Shining – $175,000
The “Here’s Johnny” scene from 1980’s The Shining is one of the most frequently quoted and referenced moments in movie history. The axe, which is actually made out of foam and resin, that Jack Nicholson used to smash through the door before delivering the iconic line went up for auction in 2022, fetching $175,000.
The glove from Edward Scissorhands – $65,000
Tim Burton’s gothic masterpiece Edward Scissorhands starred Johnny Depp as the titular character, and the bladed gloves he wore in the movie went up for sale in 2022. The prop benefitted from increased interest in Depp-related memorabilia after his highly publicized trial, more than doubling its initial valuation of $30,000.
Superman costume from Superman III – $200,000
Superman costumes worn by Christopher Reeves have a history of fetching high prices at auctions, with the suit worn by the actor in 1978’s Superman selling for $115,000 in 2007. That record was smashed in 2018 when the costume Reeves wore in Superman II sold for $200,000.
Xenomorph suit from Alien – $126,000
The original Alien movie is often held up as an example of how practical effects can rival CGI. Particular praise was directed towards the Xenomorph, which was designed by Swiss artist H.R. Giger. In 2007, the suit that brought the fearsome alien to life was sold for $126,000 at auction.
Marty’s hoverboard from Back to the Future – $500,000
In 2021, the hoverboard ridden by Marty McFly in 1985’s Back to the Future sold for a hair over $500,000. While it doesn’t actually hover, the prop is still an absolutely iconic piece of movie memorabilia, and the fact that it’s also signed by Michael J. Fox certainly factored into the price.
Sting from the Lord of the Rings trilogy – $156,000
Memorabilia from The Lord of the Rings trilogy is unsurprisingly valuable. In December 2013, Sting – the sword wielded by Frodo throughout the movies – was sold at an auction for $156,000. While the sword doesn’t actually glow blue in the presence of goblins, it’s still a neat centerpiece for someone’s collection.
The Joker’s suit from Batman – $125,000
While numerous actors have had a go at playing the Joker, Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of the character in 1989’s Batman is considered one of the best. The purple suit worn by Nicholson in the movie went up for sale in 2023, with a private collector snapping it up for $125,000.
Space suit from 2001: A Space Odyssey – $370,000
In July 2020, one of the space suits used in Stanley Kubrick’s sci-fi masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey sold for $370,000 at auction. The suit had four different layers of paint, which could be used to work out which scenes it had been used in. One layer of beige paint suggests that it is the suit worn by Dave Bowman when he disconnects HAL-9000.
Willy Wonka’s outfit from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory – $73,800
In 2012, the outfit worn by Gene Wilder in 1971’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory sold for just under $74,000 at auction. It remains to be seen whether Johnny Depp’s costume from the 2005 remake will one day be able to command a similarly high price, but – given how widely loathed that film was – it’s not likely.
John Travolta’s white suit from Saturday Night Fever – $260,000
Few costumes are as immediately recognizable as the white three-piece suit worn by John Travolta in 1977’s Saturday Night Fever. In 2023, the outfit went up for auction – along with a note from Travolta himself stating that it was the actual suit he wore in the film – and it quickly sold for $260,000.
