Items of movie memorabilia have taken their place in museums and private collections across the globe. They offer a unique look into cinematic history, and avid fans await the next time, if ever, they’re put up for auction. Some have certainly sold for jaw-dropping amounts, marking the international appeal of familiar items from Hollywood blockbusters. We take a look at some of those staggering prices and go through a list of the most expensive movie props ever sold.
Aragorn’s sword – The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
In the acclaimed J.R.R Tolkein’s fantasy franchise, Aragorn’s sword called Anduril was wielded by actor Viggo Mortensen. It sold for $437,000 from the collection of Sir Christopher Lee in 2014. It was designed by swordsmith Peter Lyon, whose previous work also sits among the Royal Collection of Her Majesty the Queen in the royal armoury. Along both sides of the sword, etchings by Tolkein read: “Anar. Nányë Andúril I né Narsil i macil Elendilo. Lercuvantan i móli Mordórëo. Isil” (Sun. I am Andúril who was once Narsil, sword of Elendil. The slaves of Mordor shall flee from me. Moon) and “Narsil essenya, macil meletya; Telchar carnéron Návarotessë” (Narsil is my name, a mighty sword; Telchar made me in Nogrod).
Darth Vader’s helmet and mask – The Empire Strikes Back
The Star Wars saga villain’s fibre glass mask and helmet worn by actor David Prowse went for $898,000. The estimated sale range had been between $250,000-$450,000, but the anonymous buyer had definitely gone all in for the iconic piece. It’s been over four decades since the first George Lucas film in the franchise was released, yet its popularity remains. Fans will always be willing to pay big money for anything at all touched by the saviours of the galaxy.
Julie Andrews’ costumes – The Sound of Music
At a 2013 Hollywood memorabilia auction, a collection of costumes from The Sound of Music sold for a whopping $1.56 million. Many of the items were worn by leading actress Julie Andrews. From her brown “Do-Re-Mi” dress, the yellow skirt and blouse she wore returning from her honeymoon, to her purple wool cape. The lot also included seven of the Von Trapp children’s school uniforms and Kurt Von Trapp’s “So Long, Farewell” jacket. The selling price here also exceeded expectations, with initial estimates ranging from $800,000 to $1.2 million.
Sam’s Piano – Casablanca
Sam, played by actor Dooley Wilson, sang the classic hit song “As Time Goes By” on the miniature piano in 1942. The reputable instrument sold for $3.4 million at a 2014 Bonhams auction in New York. As a central prop for one of the greatest films of all time, Sam’s piano is a valuable piece of cinematic history, and its high sale price is certainly telling.
Marilyn Monroe’s white dress – The Seven Year Itch
The Seven Year Itch of 1955 brought the world one of the most well-known scenes in cinematic history. Even if you haven’t watched the film, you’re bound to know it the famed scene of Monroe’s white dress suddenly billowing in the air. She holds her skirts down to walk across an NYC subway vent and the shot became timeless from then on. In 2011, the iconic dress was sold by Debbie Reynolds for an incredible $4.6 million. This doubled off from the estimated $2 million sale price, and is a reflection of Monroe’s legacy in pop culture.
Dorothy’s ruby slippers – The Wizard of Oz
At the very top of the list is a sale that trumps all others. It’s also the most recent, having been held on December 7th 2024. This was the auction of the last of 4 known pairs of Dorothy’s ruby slippers from 1939’s The Wizard of Oz. Each of the other pairs were sold for around $2 million. The final 4th pair comes with a more dramatic background, after it was stolen in 2005 then rediscovered in 2018. It is perhaps for this reason, as well as the recent success of the new movie adaptation Wicked, that the pair was sold recently for a record-breaking $28 million. It has since become the most expensive piece of movie memorabilia ever auctioned.
