Buzz
The entertainment industry isn’t referred to as “show fun” but rather “show business.” Films are created to generate revenue. Whether you’re Michael Bay, known for his explosive spectacles, or Charlie Kaufman, crafting intricate self-referential narratives, every filmmaker needs to sustain themselves financially.
Producers constantly seek methods to reduce expenses and boost profits. One significant strategy involves reusing props. If you pay close attention, you’ll notice that nearly every film and TV show in history has shared and reused props repeatedly. Some are intentionally placed by directors as easter eggs or to hint at shared universes, while others appear due to sheer convenience. Regardless, numerous props have traveled through cinematic history, and here are ten of the most fascinating examples.
10. Robby the Robot
To fully grasp the unique tale of Robby the Robot, let’s draw a comparison to another iconic on-screen droid: R2-D2. Similar to Artoo, Robby debuted as a distinct character in his own film, the groundbreaking 1956 science fiction masterpiece Forbidden Planet, rather than Star Wars. Like Artoo, Robby was a genuine character with a name, dialogue, and personality. However, unlike Artoo, Robby’s creators weren’t as protective of their intellectual property, allowing Robby to outlast his original franchise by decades.
Following Forbidden Planet, the Robby the Robot suit remained in MGM Studios' props department, becoming a popular choice for numerous other productions. Often credited as “The Robot” or similar, Robby appeared in multiple episodes of The Twilight Zone, clashed with the family robot on Lost in Space, and even shared scenes with Mork from Ork on Mork and Mindy. His appearances extended to Wonder Woman, Gremlins, and The Addams Family. It’s hard to imagine R2-D2 being loaned out so freely for such a variety of projects.
9. Mr. Fusion
The Mr. Fusion Home Energy Reactor debuted in Back to the Future, replacing plutonium as the DeLorean’s primary energy source. This eco-friendly alternative not only reduced environmental concerns but also avoided attracting Libyan terrorists. By converting everyday household waste into cold fusion energy, Mr. Fusion produced an impressive 1.21 gigawatts. Its versatility extended beyond time-traveling cars, as it also powered the spaceship Nostromo in Alien.
In Alien, the Mr. Fusion can be spotted on the wall of the crew’s mess hall, positioned above the coffee maker. While Ripley and her crew refuel themselves, Doc Brown’s ingenious invention powers their ship. Alternatively, it’s possible the Back to the Future prop team simply grabbed the first futuristic-looking item they found in a Hollywood warehouse.
8. Those Glowy Sci-Fi Tubes
If you’ve watched any major sci-fi movie, you’ve likely encountered this iconic prop. Known by various names like “blinking tubes without purpose” or “dual generators with spinning neon lights encased in acrylic tubes,” it’s most recognizable as a pair of glowing red futuristic tubes. This prop is ubiquitous, first appearing in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and subsequently making its way onto nearly every spaceship across the multiverse.
It has featured in The Last Starfighter, Star Crystal, almost every version of Star Trek, and even superhero productions like The Flash, Lois & Clark, and The Incredible Hulk Returns. Unsurprisingly, online enthusiasts have dubbed it “The Most Important Device in the Universe.”
7. Okay, Actually All the Sci-Fi Equipment
The Most Important Device might have a rival. Have you ever noticed that every spaceship, research lab, or secret government facility is packed with massive computers featuring large, blinking lights? These devices are so iconic that it’s nearly impossible to imagine a sci-fi setting without them. They’re based on a real computer: the AN/FSQ-7 Combat Direction Central, also known as the Q7.
Created by IBM for military use in the 1950s, the Q7 was the largest standalone computer of its time, occupying entire rooms and weighing an astonishing 250 tons. Its standout feature was its maintenance console, which looked undeniably cool. Over the past six decades, these consoles—or replicas—have become the go-to sci-fi and espionage computers in films and TV shows like Independence Day, Lost, Gremlins II, Goldmember, Logan’s Run, and WarGames. A quick Google search for “AN/FSQ-7 maintenance console” will flood your screen with images resembling the bridge of a Star Destroyer.
6. Let’s/Heisler/Morley
You likely overlook the generic labels on food and drinks consumed by movie and TV characters. That’s intentional; producers don’t want you to notice. Rather than designing new props for every production, they often reuse the same familiar brands repeatedly. This is why Let’s Chips, Heisler Beer, and Morley Cigarettes have appeared in so many films that their credits could rival Samuel L. Jackson’s filmography.
There’s an entire wiki dedicated to fictional businesses, and checking the pages for these fake products will leave you amazed. They’ve been featured everywhere. Heisler Beer leads in sheer volume of appearances, as scenes involving beer are more common than those with cigarettes nowadays. However, Let’s Chips might be the most recognizable. Community, known for its meta humor, turned Let’s Chips into a recurring joke, often comparing them to “that other greasy brand,” Splingles.
5. Red Apple Cigarettes
When it comes to cigarettes, Red Apple Cigarettes stand out as one of the most famously reused props in film history. Featured in nearly every Quentin Tarantino movie, Red Apples are intentionally included by the director, depriving Morley Cigarettes of several notable film credits. Unlike most reused props aimed at cutting costs, Red Apples are a deliberate artistic choice by Tarantino.
Several theories explain the frequent appearance of these cigarettes. Some suggest Tarantino’s intention to connect all his films within a shared universe, which many already are. Others point to the director’s fondness for symbolism, proposing that the logo—a grotesque worm emerging from a perfect apple—represents the hidden flaws within beauty. Alternatively, Tarantino might simply be enjoying himself.
4. The Starship Troopers
Starship Troopers introduced many iconic visuals, including the sleek grey space-marine armor worn by the main characters. This armor is featured throughout the film and even dominates the home media covers. Surprisingly, nearly identical suits appeared in the unrelated series Firefly, with minimal alterations.
The primary antagonist in Firefly (may it rest in peace) was the galactic government called the Alliance. Alliance soldiers, who appear frequently in the show, are consistently seen wearing the same Starship Troopers armor, identical to the Mobile Infantry suits from head to toe. This unmistakable reuse is both striking and disorienting for fans of both franchises.
3. Gwyneth Paltrow’s Head
One of the most iconic movie props we never actually see is the briefcase in Pulp Fiction. A close second would be the box from Seven. Spoiler alert: the box contains the severed head of Gwyneth Paltrow’s character, though it’s never shown on screen. A lifelike replica of Paltrow’s head was created for the scene but ultimately cut from the film. This prop remained in storage for 16 years before being repurposed.
In Contagion, Paltrow’s character dies again, this time from a lethal virus. During the autopsy scene, producers saved thousands of dollars and gave Paltrow a day off by reusing the severed head prop from Seven, placing it on a dummy. This makes the head uniquely significant, as it appeared in only one film but is still a major example of a reused prop.
2. The P.K.E. Meter
The P.K.E. meter from Ghostbusters is a crucial piece of equipment in the films, used to detect ghostly activity. Its distinctive design, featuring extendable wings and blinking lights, makes it hard to miss. Surprisingly, John Carpenter repurposed the same prop as an alien-detector in They Live.
Such a unique and visually striking prop is hard to overlook, which makes its appearance in the less-than-stellar Suburban Commando even more puzzling. It’s akin to seeing the proton packs in Twins or the ghost trap in The ’Burbs.
1. That Same Dang Newspaper
Few props are as seemingly insignificant as a simple newspaper. Who would notice the background text in a casual breakfast scene? Yet, one particular newspaper has appeared in so many films that it’s starting to stand out.
This newspaper prop has been in use since the 1960s. Its blank front allows for customizable headlines, but the middle pages remain consistent, always open to the same spread. Images of a dark-haired woman, a man in a top hat, and a burning warehouse are instantly recognizable, as countless characters across films and TV shows seem to be reading about them. Once you spot this paper—often noticing the woman’s photo first—you’ll recognize it everywhere. After all, there’s little reason to design an entirely new newspaper.
