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In the world of filmmaking, props are essential, often taking center stage. When actors interact with these legendary items, and the movie becomes a blockbuster, ordinary objects can transform into cherished memorabilia.
Today, most movie props are tagged and logged into databases at the start of production to prevent loss during filming. However, this wasn't always the case. In the past, props frequently ended up with cast or crew members, disappearing forever. Even now, only a handful of props are released by studios and made accessible to the public. When they are, collectors, enthusiasts, and movie buffs eagerly vie for these rare treasures.
Crafted by skilled, imaginative, and occasionally unconventional artists, here are 10 movie props that will send shivers down your spine.
10. Newspapers from Back to the Future II
Starting our list is an underrated prop from Universal Studios' iconic and eccentric adventure, Back to the Future. The sequel in this legendary series sees the McFly family's rival, Biff, hijacking the Delorean time machine and rewriting history, forcing Marty McFly to...well, you know how it unfolds.
Bob Gale, the film's screenwriter, preserved several USA Today newspaper props from the movie, complete with the chilling headlines he penned himself. One headline from the future discusses thumb bandits severing and stealing thumbs! Gale elaborates that in a future where thumbs are used for payments, thieves would resort to such gruesome measures. A horrifying detail that feels eerily relevant in our increasingly digital world.
9. The Slytherin Locket from Harry Potter
Searching for a magical movie prop? Warner Brothers Studios' Harry Potter delivers with the Slytherin locket. Featured in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Parts 1 and 2, this sinister relic becomes a focal point as Harry, Ron, and Hermione strive to destroy it. Pierre Bohanna, head of the prop department, disclosed that sixty lockets were crafted from various materials. Many were destroyed during filming, as actors and special effects teams worked tirelessly to obliterate them. Sadly, even their efforts couldn't halt You-Know-Who.
Bohanna reveals that several lockets were made from pewter, a blend of tin and copper, allowing the Gryffindor sword to cleave the locket on screen. Instead of relying on CGI, the props team committed to creating tangible, on-screen magic.
8. Bella’s Rings from The Twilight Saga
Released in 2007, Stephanie Meyer’s Eclipse
The jeweler for the prop department collaborated closely with Meyer to ensure the engagement ring matched its detailed description in the novel. Accuracy was crucial, as fans would notice any discrepancies. The ring features 69 diamonds in an oval pave setting, with “14k RF” engraved inside the band, signifying fourteen-karat gold with a rhodium finish to prevent tarnishing. Since its debut, fans have been enchanted, often comparing their own engagement rings to this iconic piece.
7. The Meat Grinder from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Still not feeling the chills? Perhaps you prefer a more gruesome kind of thrill.
Recall the infamous meat grinder tucked beneath the quiet streets of Fleet Street? It’s still preserved. Warner Brothers Studios keeps it fully equipped—though, of course, it’s not real! The props department generously provided a literal ton of foam, gel, and wax body parts crafted for the 2007 film.
And those infamous worst pies in London? They’re made of paper mache, foam pool noodles, and wax, all processed through an actual meat grinder. Established in 1992, the Warner Brothers archive meticulously tags each item with details like the film title, the actor who used it, and the production date.
6. HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey
If you assumed HAL’s circuits were permanently shut down, think again. The 1968 classic 2001: A Space Odyssey follows astronauts journeying to Jupiter alongside HAL, a sentient computer, after encountering an alien monolith. Tensions rise when HAL begins asserting its superiority, even sabotaging the mission by cutting oxygen hoses and disabling life support systems.
Film enthusiast and director Peter Jackson owns the original wide-angle, Nikon, 8mm fisheye lens used in the movie. Acquired 15 years ago, Jackson noted the props department added a secondary lens to project the red light that gives HAL its menacing, glowing effect.
5. Orcs from The Hobbit
Speaking of Peter Jackson, the Hobbit series accumulated so many props over the years that every inch of space was precious—even the kitchen, which housed orc corpses. Picture yourself having lunch while being watched by these terrifying creatures.
During breaks between films, props were stored in massive warehouses, only to be retrieved for a few months of shooting in 2012, 2013, and 2014. The biggest challenge? Locating the right item at the right time. Costumes, weapons, sets, staffs, sculptures, boats, bows, and arrows were all kept in off-site storage facilities across New Zealand. A single armory scene required over 2,000 props. Just a tip: maybe avoid eating in the warehouse kitchens.
4. St. Paul’s Cathedral Globe from Mary Poppins
Dan Lanigan, from Disney+’s Prop Culture, tracks down relics from the 1964 classic Mary Poppins, even visiting the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank to uncover the original prop. Only three St. Paul’s Cathedral globes exist, with two being replicas. The original snow globe was rescued from a trash bin by a janitor and hidden in a Disney closet until the studio’s archive was established. Back in 1964, props weren’t preserved as they are today. While the globe no longer features swirling birds, the glass and cathedral remain perfectly intact.
Walt Disney held a profound affection for the song “Feed the Birds.” Whenever Richard Sherman of the Sherman Brothers entered his office, Walt would simply say, “Play it for me,” and Richard knew exactly which song to perform. Even today, Richard Sherman remains the only person permitted to play the piano in Walt’s meticulously preserved office, much like the St. Paul’s Cathedral prop.
3. Dorothy’s Slippers from The Wizard of Oz
Topping the list of the most coveted movie props are the iconic ruby red slippers from MGM’s 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. These legendary shoes are so renowned that they secured a place in the Smithsonian Institution. Despite being mismatched, with one shoe more worn than the other, they were anonymously donated in 1979.
The slippers worn by Judy Garland as Dorothy are so iconic that they were once stolen—though not the pair at the Smithsonian. In 2005, a pair of original slippers was taken from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids. Thirteen years later, they were recovered by police during an attempted extortion scheme. With only four pairs surviving from the original production nearly a century ago, their recovery symbolized hope and the enduring magic of that special place over the rainbow.
2. Skeletons from Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
Filming Pirates of the Caribbean in the Caribbean seems logical, doesn’t it? Why not involve real islanders too? Shot near St. Vincent island, remnants of the movie’s props, like plaster cannons and the sinking boat mast from Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow’s iconic opening scene, can still be found scattered across the island.
The eeriest prop, whose fate remains a mystery, is the infamous “Pirates ye be warned” sign displayed beside two skeletal props. The crew left the sign as a tribute to the island after filming, but it mysteriously vanished soon after. Many believe a local took it as a personal memento of the film.
1. Chewbacca Skin from Star Wars
While Star Wars consultant Adam Savage, known from Mythbusters, isn’t certain which original Star Wars film this prop comes from, it’s undoubtedly from the classic trilogy. The foam latex mask was thin enough for Peter Mayhew to convey Chewbacca’s emotions without puppeteering or animatronics, techniques often used today. It was all Mayhew’s performance.
Even George Lucas, the creator and director, underestimated Mayhew’s contribution. In one scene, Lucas initially thought a stand-in could wear the costume, but after seeing the result, he immediately called Mayhew back to set, realizing his irreplaceable presence.
