Hollywood memorabilia: the most valuable collectibles ever sold

Hollywood memorabilia, and in particular the most valuable collectibles ever sold, now forms a mature market, where cinematic history sits in the portfolios of serious archivists and institutions, and where collectors invest in pieces expected to keep rising in value.

What turns a simple costume or prop into a museum-quality treasure is proof that it was genuinely used on screen.

Rock-solid paperwork, original behind-the-scenes Polaroids, and the ability to screen-match an item to the final cut are what give a piece its real historical weight.

Collectors pay a considerable premium for items that took centre stage in unforgettable scenes, valuing that direct visual connection to the film.

Today, demand for these one-of-a-kind artefacts is stronger than ever, with major auction houses regularly setting new records. Museums and private buyers from across the globe compete for the same pieces, driving prices for the most iconic pieces well into the millions. This list covers ten of the most valuable sales on record.

Discover them all in our:

Hollywood memorabilia: the most valuable collectibles ever sold

1. Dorothy’s ruby slippers (VERIFIED AUCTION RECORD: £25.7 million)

Worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz, this specific pair of sequinned shoes is one of only four surviving sets and was used extensively for close-up shots. After being stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in 2005 and recovered by the FBI in 2018, they were sold by Heritage Auctions in December 2024. The sale established a new benchmark for entertainment memorabilia, surpassing all previous records for a cinematic prop or costume.

2. James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 (VERIFIED AUCTION RECORD: £5.2 million)

This heavily modified vehicle was the primary effects car driven by Sean Connery in the 1964 spy thriller Goldfinger. Outfitted with cinematic gadgets designed by John Stears, the car became one of the most recognisable vehicles in the British spy franchise. RM Sotheby’s facilitated the sale of this exact filming vehicle at their Monterey auction in August 2019.

3. Robby the Robot (VERIFIED AUCTION RECORD: £4.0 million)

Built for the 1956 science-fiction film Forbidden Planet, this seven-foot mechanical prop was among the most elaborate practical effects of its era. The robot suit and its accompanying screen-used Jeep were maintained in exceptional condition by filmmaker William Malone before being offered to the public. Bonhams handled the sale in November 2017, where the item briefly held the title for the most valuable movie prop.

4. Marilyn Monroe’s subway dress (VERIFIED AUCTION RECORD: £3.4 million)

Designed by William Travilla for the 1955 comedy The Seven Year Itch, this white crepe halter dress was worn during the famous subway grate scene. The garment spent decades in the private archive of actress Debbie Reynolds, who had purchased it directly from Twentieth Century-Fox. Profiles in History managed the liquidation of the Reynolds collection in June 2011, securing a record price for this quintessential piece of Hollywood fashion.

5. Audrey Hepburn’s Ascot dress (VERIFIED AUCTION RECORD: £2.8 million)

Cecil Beaton designed this striking Edwardian-style lace gown and matching hat for the Royal Ascot sequence in the 1964 musical My Fair Lady. As the centrepiece of the film’s costume design, it earned Beaton an Academy Award and remains one of the most recognisable garments in cinema history. The ensemble was another major highlight of the June 2011 Debbie Reynolds auction conducted by Profiles in History.

6. X-Wing Starfighter filming miniature (VERIFIED AUCTION RECORD: £2.6 million)

This screen-matched Red Leader miniature was used by Industrial Light & Magic during the climactic Death Star trench run in the original 1977 Star Wars film. Preserved in the private collection of model-maker Greg Jein, the highly detailed practical model is regarded as one of the finest surviving examples of analogue visual effects. Heritage Auctions sold the star-fighter in October 2023 following a prolonged bidding session.

7. The Maltese Falcon statuette (VERIFIED AUCTION RECORD: £2.5 million)

As the titular macguffin in John Huston’s 1941 film noir The Maltese Falcon, this lead statuette is one of only two known models cast for the production. Its heavy, dark presence drives the plot of the Humphrey Bogart classic, and the piece remains highly sought after among collectors. Bonhams auctioned the piece in November 2013 in partnership with Turner Classic Movies.

8. Casablanca piano (VERIFIED AUCTION RECORD: £2.2 million)

This upright miniature piano stood in Rick’s Cafe Americain and was played by Dooley Wilson’s character, Sam, in the 1942 wartime romance Casablanca. As the instrument central to the performance of “As Time Goes By”, it holds a unique position in both film and music history. The prop was sold during the Bonhams “There’s No Place Like Hollywood” auction in November 2014.

9. Cowardly Lion costume (VERIFIED AUCTION RECORD: £1.9 million)

Crafted by MGM designer Gilbert Adrian from genuine lion hides, this heavy suit was worn by actor Bert Lahr in the 1939 production of The Wizard of Oz. The costume was utilised in over a dozen scenes, requiring significant physical endurance from the actor under the intense studio lighting. It found a new owner at the Bonhams entertainment memorabilia auction in November 2014.

10. Dorothy test dress (VERIFIED AUCTION RECORD: £1.0 million)

This blue gingham pinafore and blouse was worn by Judy Garland during the pre-production and early filming stages of The Wizard of Oz. Saved from the 1970 MGM liquidation auction by costume collector Kent Warner, the garment offers a rare look at the visual development of the film’s protagonist. Bonhams auctioned the rare textile in New York during November 2015.

The lasting heritage of Hollywood collecting

The acquisition of significant Hollywood memorabilia has evolved far beyond casual fandom into a rigorous field of alternative investment and historical preservation. As the original creators and cast members of the twentieth century’s most defining films pass into history, the objects they left behind become more valuable to collectors and institutions alike. Items that were once routinely discarded or repurposed by pragmatic studio wardrobe departments are now treated with the same care and conservation techniques afforded to fine art or historical antiquities.

Looking ahead, the market for authenticated screen-used props and costumes shows no signs of contracting. The involvement of major institutions, such as the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, alongside dedicated private curators, means that provenance remains central to how these pieces are valued. As digital effects increasingly replace practical props and tailored costumes in modern film-making, the tangible artefacts from the golden era of practical production will only become scarcer.