Many of us would love to own a piece of memorabilia from our favourite film or TV show. But spending millions on it? That's a privilege reserved for a few ultra-keen movie buffs, who have the inclination – and the cash – to splash out on props and costumes from their best-loved flicks.
As a new item breaks auction records, read on to discover the jaw-dropping sums people have paid for some of the most famous screen memorabilia, from the original Darth Vader mask to Marilyn Monroe’s iconic white dress.
All dollar amounts in US dollars. Currency conversions correct for time of sale.
The 'wet shirt' costume, worn by Colin Firth's Mr Darcy in the 1995 TV adaptation of Pride & Prejudice, fetched a cool $25,000 (£20k) at auction in March 2024.
The suave period-piece ensemble exceeded expectations. Initially estimated to sell between $8,000 (£6.3k) and $12,500 (£9.8k), it eventually went for double its projected value.
The diner booth, featured in the final episode of The Sopranos, sold for a neat $82,600 (£66k) at an auction in March 2024.
The booth will be instantly recognisable to fans of the gripping crime series. It was prominently featured in the enigmatic finale scene of the show, filmed at Holsten's restaurant in New Jersey. This scene became one of the most talked-about and controversial TV series endings of all time due to its jarring cut-to-black conclusion.
The winning bidder also received the table, divider and family plaque that reserved seats for the Soprano family.
The stylish purple suit worn by Jack Nicholson's villainous Joker in Tim Burton's Batman fetched $125,000 (£108k) when it was sold at auction in 2022.
The bespoke seven-piece outfit includes a suit by Savile Row’s Tommy Nutter, a Dobbs hat, Robot boots and a Christian Dior tie.
The collective value of the stylish attire increased as the hat still had white make-up worn by Nicholson on the brim, while the boots had a dusting of set residue.
In November 2021, Will Ferrell's Buddy the Elf costume from the Christmas classic Elf sold for $235,000 (£204k) at a Prop Store auction in London.
The outfit, which includes labels printed with 'Mr. Ferrell', sold for almost ten times its pre-sale estimate.
Selected for the United States National Film Registry, Saturday Night Fever is often considered one of the defining films of the 1970s.
The white three-piece suit that John Travolta's character Tony wears in the famous dance scene went up for auction in April 2023, along with a certificate of authenticity from Paramount Studios and Travolta himself.
One of just two versions of the costume made for the movie and designed by Patrizia von Brandenstein, the suit sold for $260,000 (£208k) at the Hollywood: Classics and Contemporary auction organised by Julien's Auctions and Turner Classic Movies.
A volleyball from the 2000 desert island film Cast Away sold for $308,000 (£230k) at a 2021 Prop Store auction in London.
Often considered a star of the movie – despite being an inanimate object – the washed-up volleyball was discovered by Tom Hanks' character Chuck Noland, who promptly christened it 'Wilson'.
The battered ball spent a lot of time in the water during filming and had also been intentionally made to look dirty, hence its slightly distorted appearance. It sold for nearly four times its estimate.
The story of the tragic RMS Titanic was given the Hollywood treatment by director James Cameron in 1997. A hit with movie fans around the world, the props that featured in Jack and Rose’s doomed love story are still eagerly sought out by fans to this day – and can comfortably sell for six figures.
A red dress donned by Rose (played by Kate Winslet) during the scene where she first meets Jack (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) went up for auction in 2012.
Nicknamed 'the jump dress' due to Rose wearing it while preparing to throw herself off the boat, the elegant frock fetched an impressive $330,000 (£206k) thanks to its intricate detail and iconic nature.
This lightsabre was used by Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker and Alec Guinness's Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back.
It was made from the tube of an old Graflex flashgun camera. During filming, a wooden pole was placed where the blade was meant to be. The pole was doused in a special projection paint so that the special effects team could add the glow.
The makeshift prop was purchased at auction by Ripley's Believe It Or Not! for $450,000 (£333k) in 2017.
James Cameron's Terminator 2: Judgment Day is considered one of the finest sequels ever made.
The computer-generated imagery, especially that of Robert Patrick's liquid-metal T-1000 enemy cyborg, laid the groundwork for much of the movie magic we’ve come to take for granted in modern blockbusters. However, it's one of the film's animatronic props that has generated the most cash at auction...
This full-scale T-800 endoskeleton, used in the opening scene of the film, sold for $488,750 (£236k) at a Californian auction in 2007. The model has the only real metal feet made for any of the films, as well as light-up red eyes.
The famous fedora hat worn by Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark was sold for $524,000 (£456k) in 2018 via Prop Store in London.
The hat's inner band features Ford’s signature. It was created by the Herbert Johnson Hat Company with input from the movie's costume designer, Deborah Nadoolman Landis, as well as Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.
A bullwhip wielded by Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom fetched a thrilling $525,000 (£417k) at auction in March 2024.
The sale price makes it the most valuable prop or costume from the iconic franchise, narrowly surpassing the previous record set by the aforementioned Raiders of the Lost Ark fedora.
The whip, measuring 10 feet (3m) in length, is crafted from 12-plait tan kangaroo hide and features a leather wrist loop attached to the handle. While it bears signs of wear from production, including a broken and frayed wrist loop, the auction house Prop Store still described it as being in "very fine" condition.
Marilyn Monroe is one of the most iconic movie stars in history, so it's no surprise that costumes and props from her films can sell for big money at auction.
This sequin-studded tiger-print gown, which Monroe wore on the set of The Seven Year Itch, was no exception when it sold at Heritage Auctions in November 2020.
Designed by renowned Hollywood costume designer Travilla and delivered complete with a handwritten name label, the gown was snapped up for $593,750 (£445k).
The wooden panel from the movie Titanic, which saved Rose's life, sold for a staggering $718,750 (£571k) at auction in March 2024.
In the movie, Jack (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) claims there isn't enough room for both Rose (played by Kate Winslet) and himself to escape the freezing water by climbing on the panel. The infamous scene sparked much debate, with many arguing they both could have fitted. However, director James Cameron explained that Jack's tragic fate was crucial to the story.
The panel, often mistaken for a door, was based on recovered debris from the real Titanic disaster. According to the listing, the prop measures 7.9 feet (2.4m) long and 3.2 feet (1m) wide, suggesting there might have been enough space for both characters after all.
The flying race car driven (and flown) by Caractacus Potts in 1968 musical adventure Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was designed by Sir Ken Adam and manufactured by Alan Mann Racing.
A total of six cars were produced for filming, including an engine-less version for trailers, a model for the flying scenes, a car for the transformations, and a smaller version for driving scenes.
However, only one Chitty Chitty Bang Bang model was a fully functioning, road-worthy car, complete with a genuine UK registration. This was sold for $805,000 (£512k) to Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson in 2011. He reportedly uses it as a fundraising vehicle.
A piece of Star Wars history made waves at auction in 2024, selling for an impressive $843,750 (£671k).
The sought-after item was none other than a C-3PO head from the personal collection of actor Anthony Daniels, known for his portrayal of the beloved droid. This particular prop featured in Return of the Jedi, notably in scenes during the battle in Endor.
Hailed as "one of the most significant artifacts from the original Star Wars film to come to market," a fierce bidding war ensued, with eight Star Wars fans battling it out for the prop. It was ultimately claimed by an anonymous buyer.
Star Wars lovers swarmed to a Los Angeles auction in September 2019 when the Darth Vader fibreglass mask from The Empire Strikes Back went up for sale via auction house Profiles in History.
The mask had an estimated sale price of $500,000 (£388k), so experts were stunned when it sold for nearly twice that, making $900,000 (£698k).
An anonymous buyer is now in possession of the item. We imagine the force is strong with that one...
It's one of the most famous opening scenes in Hollywood history: Holly Golightly – played by Audrey Hepburn – emerges from a bright yellow cab onto a deserted Fifth Avenue in New York. She nibbles a pastry while peering through the window of jewellery store Tiffany & Co., wearing oversized sunglasses and "the most famous little black dress of all time".
The LBD in question, which was designed by the legendary Hubert de Givenchy, was sold via London auction house Christie's for £467,200 ($923,190) in 2006.
When you think of Steve McQueen, perhaps the most iconic images that pop into your mind are from The Great Escape or Bullitt. However, the most expensive prop linked to the so-called 'King of Cool' is the driving suit he wore as Michael Delaney in Le Mans.
The suit was sold in 2011 for $984,000 (£626k). Prior to going under the hammer, it had belonged to Timothy Davies from Wolverhampton, England, who had won it in a newspaper competition as a 12-year-old boy.
The Lotus Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me is one of the more elaborate cars conceived in the James Bond franchise.
The submarine car was designed by Perry Oceanographic and was fully capable of operating underwater. However, actor Roger Moore was not the one who drove it in the sea – rather, it was operated by two scuba divers, with one a retired US Navy Seal.
The unique motor sold for $997,000 (£610k) in 2013, with the buyer none other than the world's richest man Elon Musk.
Never underestimate the dedication of the Star Wars fandom. A gun used by Harrison Ford’s space smuggler Han Solo in 1977’s Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope was expected to fetch between $300,000 (£261.6k) and $500,000 (£436k) at auction in August 2022.
However, the prop smashed the estimates and eventually sold for more than $1 million (£872k).
The Sound of Music was released in 1965 and went on to become one of the highest-grossing films of all time.
The outfits that Maria, played by Julie Andrews, makes from old curtains for the seven Von Trapp children are recognised all over the world – and highly coveted by collectors as a result.
Costume designer Dorothy Jeakins received an Oscar nomination for her work on the now-classic film. Although the iconic Do-Re-Mi outfits were indeed made from real curtains, they sold for $1.3 million (£800k) in 2013.
It’s believed that actress Judy Garland had a total of 10 pinafore dresses made for her role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.
When one of the two that Garland actually wore during filming went up for sale in 2015, it certainly caught bidders’ attention.
The blue gingham dress fetched well over its estimate when it sold for $1.56 million (£1m), and came complete with Garland's decades-old sweat stains around the neck for that extra authentic touch.
Yet another iconic Star Wars prop, this X-Wing fighter craft sold for almost $2.4 million (£2m) in June 2022.
The one-of-a-kind miniature model was used on-screen in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope and is the only pyromodel that survived filming.
The others were destroyed by pyrotechnics during nail-biting scenes in which they faced off against the deadly Death Star.
Sold as part of the Hollywood: Icons & Idols auction held by Julien's Auctions, this original mechatronic for the movie ET The Extra Terrestrial made an out-of-this-world $2.56 million (£2m) in December 2022.
The model, which predates CGI, features 85 points of movement and was operated by a team of 12 animators. Its sale coincided with the film's 40th anniversary, and the auction also included a maquette (draft) model of ET that was made for director Steven Spielberg to approve the final design.
A pricey prop from The Wizard of Oz, the Cowardly Lion costume was donned by Bert Lahr for the 1939 flick.
Crafted from real lion skin and featuring a mane made from human hair, the costume weighed in at almost 60lb (27kg). It was unbearably hot to wear under the intense studio lights, to the extent that it had to be dried out each evening before production began again the next day.
According to the Bonhams website, the costume was later found "carefully bundled up in one of the oldest buildings on the Metro-Goldyn-Meyer lot". Time took its toll on the Cowardly Lion, and a team of 21 professionals was enlisted to restore it over a period of two years. The costume sold for just over $3 million (£1.9m) in 2014 at Bonhams' auction house in New York.
In September 2022 an Aston Martin DB5 replica stunt car from the Bond movie No Time To Die went under the hammer, raising a cool $3.3 million (£2.9m) for charity. The swanky set of wheels was just one of eight cars exclusively engineered by Aston Martin for the 2021 spy flick.
Sold at Christie’s in the UK, the stunt vehicle is equipped with operational gadgets, including a rotating digital number plate, retractable headlights, machine guns and firing prop bomblets.
The piano that Ingrid Bergman stood next to when she delivered one of the most unforgettable lines in cinematic history – "Play it, Sam... Play As Time Goes By" – became one of the world's most valuable movie props in 2014.
Starring in Casablanca, the short little upright that Sam played in Rick’s Café Américain was hardly a grand piano. However, it certainly demanded a grand price at auction, selling for $3.4 million (£2.1m) in an auction at Bonhams' New York.
The Ascot dress and hat worn by Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady were sold at auction in 2011 for a whopping $3.7 million (£2.4m). The Edwardian-style black-and-white lace dress with black bow detail was designed by the legendary Cecil Beaton. Beaton had served as both costume designer and art director on the film and won Academy Awards for both.
Hepburn's costume was worn during the musical number Ascot Gavotte, in the scene where her character Eliza Doolittle steps out in high society for the first time.
The outfit was sold by Singin' in the Rain actress Debbie Reynolds. She had amassed over 3,500 props and costumes from various Hollywood movies, with the dream of one day opening a museum.
One of the super-stylish Aston Martin DB5s driven by Sean Connery as James Bond in the film Goldfinger was sold at auction for $4.1 million (£2.6m) in 2010.
The motor, nicknamed the 'Road Car', was one of two Aston Martins that EON Productions was given for use, and was initially for normal driving. However, it was then equipped with all Bond's specialist spy gear – including an ejector seat and machine guns, among other details – and went on to appear in Thunderball.
The car was purchased by Harry Yeaggy, a banker who collects classic cars and runs a private museum in Ohio.
Starring Humphrey Bogart as detective Sam Spade, The Maltese Falcon is one of the true classics of the film noir genre. The lead statuette featured in the movie became one of the most expensive pieces of movie memorabilia ever when it sold for $4.1 million (£2.5m) to Las Vegas real estate billionaire Steve Wynn at auction in 2013.
Some people have questioned whether the statuette is actually the prop that was used in the film, as the actors apparently used plaster stand-ins.
However, the 45lb (25kg) prop in question was confirmed as appearing in the film thanks to its bent tail feather, which can be seen at the end when Spade carries it out of his apartment. This slight damage occurred during filming when actress Lee Patrick dropped it while handing it to Bogart.
One of the most expensive movie costumes ever worn is Marilyn Monroe’s iconic white dress from The Seven Year Itch, which was sold at auction in Los Angeles in 2011.
Like Audrey Hepburn's My Fair Lady Ascot dress, it had been a part of Debbie Reynolds' amazing collection, which also included the headdress worn by Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra (1963) and a bowler hat once owned by Charlie Chaplin.
When costume designer Travilla created the dress for Monroe, he didn't realise that she would wear it while standing over a subway grate, making movie history in the process.
The dress is so small that it couldn’t fit onto a modern size two mannequin, and Monroe herself had to be sewn into it. Over the decades, the once-white dress has become tarnished with time, and is now discoloured due to age. That still didn't stop it selling for $4.6 million (£2.8m) at the 2011 auction, though.
With its stunning visual effects and groundbreaking audio, Forbidden Planet is a sci-fi classic. The film follows the exploits of the C-57D, a spaceship sent to Altair 4 to discover what happened to a colony mission sent there 20 years earlier. It was the first movie in cinematic history to be set entirely on another planet.
One of the sci-fi stars of the pioneering movie was the seven-foot-tall Robby the Robot, who went on to rack up more than 20 film and TV credits after Forbidden Planet. Robby was sold at a New York auction for $5.38 million (£4m) in 2017.
Robby's lot included the Jeep he drives on Altair IV, the auxiliary control panel, and his original MGM packing crates.
Only four pairs of the glittering heels used in the iconic movie are known to have survived, and a pair sold at auction in 2012 for $2 million (£1.2m). They were purchased by Leonardo DiCaprio, Steven Spielberg, and a number of other 'angel donors', according to a press release at the time, with the generous group opting to donate them to the museum of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
However, in December 2024, another pair went to auction with staggering results. This pair of the sparkling slippers, which had been stolen during a 2005 break-in at the Judy Garland Museum and recovered by the FBI in September 2018, had been expected to fetch $3 million (£2.4m). However, the "Holy Grail of Hollywood memorabilia" eventually sold for a staggering $28 million (£22m), making them the most valuable piece of screen memorabilia ever to sell at auction.
Now discover the rescued Titanic treasures that sold for a fortune