Not ‘Wizard of Oz’ Ruby Slippers, These Are the Most Costly Film Props of All Time

Keep in mind the excitement when Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz fetched over $2 million at public sale? Effectively, these aren’t the one props to rake in unbelievable sums. Some screen-used memorabilia have shattered expectations, promoting for hundreds of thousands. These props aren’t simply collector’s objects—they’re items of cinematic historical past that followers and buyers are keen to pay high greenback to personal. 

However what makes them so invaluable? Is it the on-screen significance, their connection to legendary stars, or simply pure nostalgia? Every of them has a narrative to inform, and their value solely will increase as time passes. 

R2-D2 from Star Wars movies

Who knew a 3.5-foot droid might carry such a hefty price ticket? In 2017, an unique R2-D2 prop made up of components used within the Star Wars trilogy and prequels is claimed to have bought at public sale for a jaw-dropping $2.76 million via Profiles in Historical past. The aluminum, metal, and fiberglass building of this R2 unit doesn’t even have inner mechanics, nevertheless it captured the guts and pockets of 1 fortunate collector! The lot had a dome from A New Hope and legs from The Empire Strikes Again. 

Luke’s lightsaber and Vader’s helmet additionally made their means up for public sale as properly, however no gross sales got here near what went below the hammer for R2. Somebody bought themselves the droid they had been actually in search of— for a value that might purchase a small fleet of starships.

Marilyn Monroe’s white costume in The Seven 12 months Itch

Marilyn Monroe’s well-known white costume from The Seven 12 months Itch was appeared to be the best treasure of Hollywood. It bought for a jaw-dropping $4.6 million at a 2011 public sale. The William Travilla designed costume turned a sensation through the unforgettable scene, through which Marilyn Monroe makes an attempt to tame the blowing-out cloth of her white costume below the subway grate. The costume belonged to the huge memorabilia of Debbie Reynolds. 

She tearfully bought the robe after many years of safety. It was initially predicted to fetch round $2 million. Nevertheless it destroyed expectations exhibiting that the legacy of Monroe along with her breezy glamour continues to encourage the followers.

The Wizard Of Oz’s cowardly lion costume

The Cowardly Lion costume from The Wizard of Oz was a legendary collectible. It was worn by Bert Lahr all through the filming, making it much more invaluable. And it was made out of actual lion pelts by MGM’s Gilbert Adrian, the costume was reportedly heavy, scorching, and soaked with Bert Lahr’s sweat throughout filming. 

In 2014, Bonhams bought this piece of movie historical past for a roaring $3,077,000 to a fortunate phone bidder in New York. Given its materials and timelessness, it does come as not a lot of a shock that this fuzzy treasure bought for hundreds of thousands. 

Star Wars: the X-wing mannequin

Greg Jein’s assortment went out with a bang—actually! Following the passing of the legendary mannequin designer in 2022, it took two high-energy auctions in October 2023 to filter out his jaw-dropping memorabilia, tallying to over $13 million! The star of the auctions was a screen-matched X-wing Starfighter from Star Wars: A New Hope, which soared to as excessive as $3.1 million in sale value. 

The filmmakers used this purple chief mannequin within the explosive trench run sequence the place Luke Skywalker attacked the Dying Star, making it vital for any deep-pocketed collector.

Forbidden Planet’s Robby the robotic

The robotic, Robby from Forbidden Planet, within the 1956 traditional, set a historic document as the costliest film prop bought at public sale in 2017 when the 7-foot towering robotic bought for a lumpsum of $5.375 million. The sale value of the robotic was $4.6 million plus the customer’s premium for the public sale home. A value larger than any that has been held together with the The Maltese Falcon statuette or Marilyn Monroe’s costume in The Seven 12 months Itch.

Designed by MGM’s inventive dream crew, together with Robert Kinoshita and Mentor Huebner, Robby was a space-age marvel earlier than his time. They constructed Robby for a jaw-dropping $100,000-$125,000—an enormous a part of the movie’s $1.97 million finances.

The Maltese Falcon statue

In 2013, the Maltese Falcon statue, famed for its function within the 1941 Humphrey Bogart traditional, fetched an unbelievable $4.1 million at public sale, rising to $4.67 million with the customer’s premium. Nonetheless, the fascinating half is that this: two statues had been created, and just one’s use within the movie is verifiable, making it a collector’s holy grail. None aside from Las Vegas billionaire Steve Wynn bagged the statue. 

The public sale, held by Bonhams in partnership with Turner Basic Films, drew consideration, with bidders pushing the value larger than anticipated. This sale marked a excessive level on the planet of movie memorabilia, however the statue’s origins stay clouded in thriller, as there’s nonetheless debate over whether or not there have been different variations of the enduring prop.

From Casablanca the well-known Sam’s piano

In 2014, an upright piano made well-known within the film for Sam’s well-known rendition of As Time Goes By, bought in a Bonhams public sale at New York’s headquarters to the tune of $3.4 million. It’s small pint-size with merely 58 keys – didn’t distract from its musical significance. The fortunate purchaser additionally got here dwelling with a signed photograph of Dooley Wilson, who performed Sam in one of the vital memorable roles. 

The precise letters of transit bought for $118,750 individually, proving that nostalgia has a value and it not a low one. Some props are priceless, however this one went for hundreds of thousands! 

The My Honest Girl costume of Audrey Hepburn

Again then, Debbie Reynolds bought Audrey Hepburn’s Ascot, Cecil Beaton’s custom-made costume and hat of My Honest Girl, for $100,000. This attractive piece of historical past, which Audrey donned through the unforgettable scene of the Ascot Derby, turned one of many biggest costumes in all of Hollywood. Years later, in 2011, Reynolds bought this treasure, and the costume bought at $3.7 million—37 occasions what she paid! 

The robe, with its intricate lace particulars and enormous matching hat, turned the epitome of class and magic of the traditional cinema. For collectors, this isn’t a fancy dress however a chunk of historical past that they’d like to get their arms on.

Gone With The Wind Finest Image Oscar of David O. Selznick’s

Michael Jackson made headlines in 1999 when he paid a staggering $1.54 million for a chunk of Hollywood historical past Oscar awarded to Gone with the Wind producer David O. Selznick. This 1940 Academy Award had come up for public sale at Sotheby’s, and Jackson outbid all competitors, anticipating it to be an enduring memento of his movie ardour. Nonetheless, the story takes a wild twist. 

After Jackson’s premature dying in 2009, his property reportedly searched in all places for the lacking Oscar. Was it misplaced or did somebody stroll away with it? Regardless of the case, that iconic trophy has remained an elusive treasure, including an additional layer of thriller to Jackson’s already legendary assortment of treasures.

The Do-Re-Mi costume and different costumes from The Sound of Music

Profiles in Historical past bought an unbelievable bounty of memorabilia in 2013 associated to The Sound of Music, together with the well-known costumes worn by Julie Andrews. Among the show-stoppers had been Julie Andrews’s brown costume within the legendary Do-Re-Mi scene, in addition to the yellow shirt and skirt through which she returns after the honeymoon. 

Different collectibles included Kurt’s jacket from So Lengthy, Farewell and the varsity uniforms worn by the Von Trapp youngsters. The public sale additionally included a uncommon doc signed by Maria of the Von Trapp household. Altogether, this stuff introduced greater than $250,000 in value.

It’s wild to assume {that a} tiny piece of metallic or cloth can fetch hundreds of thousands, however that’s the magic of Hollywood. For instance, consider the enduring Wizard of Oz relic being bought for $28,000,000 heavy value. Whereas most individuals could by no means bid hundreds of thousands for a film treasure, it’s thrilling to know the way some folks will cease at nothing to personal a chunk of movie legend. 

How a lot would you pay to personal a chunk of your favourite film? Tell us within the feedback under!