14 Movie Props That Sold For Crazy Money at Auctions

On August 15, 2024, the Fedora that Harrison Ford wore in 1984’s “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” sold for $630,000 at an auction at the Prop Store. This is despite the fact it was seen onscreen crawling with exotic insects and soaked with Himalayan river water.

The hat now belongs to a long tradition of movie props and memorabilia that collectors don’t mind paying through the nose for. Here’s our list of movie props that sold for big money at auctions, and you don’t even have to steal them from a temple where human sacrifice is performed.

1.  Marilyn Monroe’s “Subway” Dress (‘The Seven Year Itch,’ 1955)

Year: 2011 | Auction House: Profiles in History | Sale Price: $4.6 million

Do you remember that iconic white dress that billows up when Marilyn Monroe is standing over the subway grate? Of course, you do. Well, someone paid nearly $5 million to own it. Let’s hope they don’t use it as a tablecloth for the taco bar.

2. R2-D2 (“Star Wars” franchise)

Year: 2017 | Auction House: Profiles in History | Sale Price: $2.76 million

An original R2-D2 prop that appeared onscreen during the “Star Wars” movies netted a massive $2.76 million haul for the privilege of owning it. Surprisingly, Darth Vader’s helmet from the original movie only sold for only $96,000, a pittance compared to what the lovable droid got at the same auction.

3. Audrey Hepburn’s Givenchy Dress (“Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” 1961)

Year: 2006 | Auction House: Christie’s | Sale Price: $923,187

The classic black Givenchy dress worn by Audrey Hepburn fetched close to a million dollars. Considering that it’s the “little black dress” that every woman is expected to own, whether she wants one or not, that eye-popping price tag is fitting.

4. James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 (“Goldfinger,” 1964)

Year: 2010 | Auction House: RM Sotheby’s | Sale Price: $4.6 million

James Bond’s iconic Aston Martin DB5 from “Goldfinger” wasn’t just a car, and if you call it a car, some people might correct you. One of those people was almost certainly the one who paid close to $5 million for it, and it’s a good bet that person won’t be using it to help a friend move a sofa.

5. Ruby Slippers (“The Wizard of Oz,” 1939)

Year: 2000 | Auction House: Christie’s | Sale Price: $660,000

There’s no place like home, and there are no shoes like these. One pair of the original ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz” sold for $660,000, and we hope the friend of Dorothy who paid that amount for them has armed guards stationed around their perimeter at all times.

6. Batmobile (“Batman,” 1966)

Year: 2013 | Auction House: Barrett-Jackson | Sale Price: $4.62 million

The original Batmobile from the 1960s television series sold for over $4.6 million at auction. While everyone loves Christian Bale’s grim and humorless “Dark Knight” take on the Caped Crusader, this Batmobile comes directly from the campy 1960s show with Adam West and the only Catwoman we will ever accept, Eartha Kitt.

7. Luke Skywalker’s Lightsaber (“Star Wars,” 1977)

Year: 2008 | Auction House: Profiles in History | Sale Price: $240,000

This lightsaber was wielded by the O.G. Jedi knight himself, Luke Skywalker. You’d think with that kind of status, it would have sold for millions of dollars, but it sold for a shockingly low $240,000, less than a decade before the R2-D2 prop sold for almost $3 million.

8. Dorothy’s Dress (“The Wizard of Oz,” 1939)

Year: 2015 | Auction House: Bonhams | Sale Price: $1.56 million

Judy Garland’s iconic blue gingham dress sold for over $1.5 million in 2015. The young actress took amphetamines and barbiturates to fit in the dress and to stay full of pep for every take, and the addiction to those substances eventually led to her demise. But hey, how about that dress?

9. The Maltese Falcon (“The Maltese Falcon,” 1941)

Year: 2013 | Auction House: Bonhams | Sale Price: $4.1 million

The bird prop that starred as the actual Maltese falcon in “The Maltese Falcon” took on R2-D2-esque proportions at a 2013 auction that saw someone pay $4.1 million to own it. It’s an iconic item from a classic Humphrey Bogart movie, but don’t these people also have car payments and credit card bills to deal with?

10. Sam’s Piano (“Casablanca,” 1942)

Year: 2014 | Auction House: Bonhams | Sale Price: $3.4 million

Speaking of Humphrey Bogart, the piano from the most frequently misquoted song request in film history sold for $3.4 million in 2014. We ask that when the buyer is taking a break from tickling this very expensive set of ivories, he please remind everybody what the real line is.

11. Superman’s Costume (“Superman,” 1978)

Year: 2017 | Auction House: Julien’s Auctions | Sale Price: $200,000

Christopher Reeve’s Superman costume was sold in 2017 at Julien’s Auctions, and if we had $200,000 to spend on one of the many permutations of this outfit, this is the one we’d pick. While other actors, such as Brandon Routh and Henry Cavill, have acquitted themselves admirably of the task of playing Superman, Christopher Reeve’s take on the character remains definitive, so we want that cape.

12. Marty McFly’s Hoverboard (“Back to the Future Part II,” 1989)

Year: 2018 | Auction House: Prop Store | Sale Price: $28,000

Even though it comes from an inferior sequel, many people recall the futuristic gadgets of “Back to the Future Part II” with great fondness. In this case, Marty’s iconic board sold for $28,000 at a Prop Store auction, although we don’t envy the buyer having to tell every person who walks into his or her home that no, it doesn’t hover.

13. Harry Potter’s Wand (“Harry Potter” franchise)

Year: 2013 | Auction House: Profiles in History | Sale Price: $49,000

The wand belonging to Harry Potter brought him many great moments in the blockbuster franchise. It also brought in $49,000, which is a lot of money for a stick that in real life does nothing no matter how much you wave it around or however many incantations you intone while gesticulating madly and uselessly with it.

14. Spock’s Ear (“Star Trek” franchise)

Year: 2010 | Auction House: Julien’s Auctions | Sale Price: $3,000

One of Mr. Spock’s original ears sold at Julien’s Auctions for $3,000. While we wonder if the buyer could have gotten a price break by buying a pair, we recognize that such an option may not have existed at the time of the sale. Nevertheless, you can do a lot living long and prospering with just one Vulcan ear.

15. Alien Suit (“Alien,” 1979)

Year: 2007 | Auction House: Profiles in History | Sale Price: $126,500

The original xenomorph suit sold at a Profiles in History auction for $126,500. We sincerely hope the price includes a separate storage space to warehouse the thing since you don’t want to bump into it in your garage in the middle of the night while you’re half asleep.