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Museums aren’t limited to showcasing art or historical relics. Across the globe, numerous institutions celebrate the magic of cinema. From intimate exhibits honoring a single film to expansive centers tracing the history of filmmaking, here are 15 must-visit movie museums.
1. MAD MAX MUSEUM
Established in 2010, the Mad Max Museum in Silverton, New South Wales, has become a key destination for visitors to this quiet Australian Outback town. Adrian Bennett, the museum’s founder, was so captivated by the franchise that he relocated his family from northern England to the area where George Miller directed and Mel Gibson starred in the 1981 classic Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior. Bennett has amassed an impressive collection of memorabilia from the series and crafted detailed replicas of iconic vehicles like The Interceptor.
2. THE HOLLYWOOD MUSEUM
Nestled in the epicenter of America’s film industry, The Hollywood Museum boasts the planet’s largest assortment of movie props, sets, and costumes, spanning from the silent film era to Hollywood’s Golden Age and up to today’s superhero epics and blockbuster franchises. Housed across four floors, the museum showcases over 10,000 genuine artifacts, including Marilyn Monroe’s iconic honeymoon dress, outfits and prosthetics from Planet of the Apes, Hannibal Lecter’s prison cell from The Silence of the Lambs, and Rocky’s legendary boxing gloves.
3. MARIETTA GONE WITH THE WIND MUSEUM: SCARLETT ON THE SQUARE
Housed in the historic Old Thomas Warehouse Building in Marietta, Georgia, the Marietta Gone with the Wind Museum pays homage to both the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and the Academy Award-winning film. It features an impressive collection of memorabilia, including international posters, premiere programs, concept art, contracts, and the original Bengaline honeymoon gown worn by Vivien Leigh in the film.
While visiting, don’t miss the Gone with the Wind Trail, an immersive journey through the real-life locations tied to the book and movie, such as the Margaret Mitchell House in Atlanta, where the author penned her timeless masterpiece, Gone with the Wind.
4. RANCHO OBI-WAN STAR WARS MUSEUM
Established in 1998 by former Wall Street Journal reporter and longtime Lucasfilm staffer Steve Sansweet, Rancho Obi-Wan in Petaluma, California, is a nonprofit museum housing the largest private collection of Star Wars memorabilia globally. The museum hosts events for Star Wars enthusiasts of all ages and provides complimentary educational tours for local elementary schools. With over 300,000 unique items spanning from 1977’s A New Hope to 2015’s The Force Awakens, Rancho Obi-Wan holds the Guinness World Record for the “Largest Collection of Star Wars Memorabilia.”
5. LA CINÉMATHÈQUE FRANÇAISE
Paris’ La Cinémathèque Française is home to one of the most extensive film archives in the world. Founded in 1936 by Henri Langlois and Georges Franju, the institution amassed a vast collection of films and documents, many of which were smuggled out of Nazi-occupied France during World War II to prevent their destruction. Today, La Cinémathèque Française hosts daily film screenings and retrospectives from across the globe, maintaining its role as a premier library and museum dedicated to French and international cinema.
6. IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE MUSEUM
Housed in the historic Seneca Theater in Seneca Falls, New York, the It’s a Wonderful Life Museum welcomed visitors starting December 2010. Karolyn Grimes, who portrayed Zuzu Bailey, contributed original photographs and personal memorabilia, including production call sheets and the Academy Awards program, from her private collection.
The museum debuted during Seneca Falls’ yearly “It’s a Wonderful Life” Festival weekend. Every December, the town—often referred to as “The Real Bedford Falls”—transforms into George Bailey’s iconic hometown, hosting events like Uncle Billy's “Wonderful” Scavenger Hunt, the “It's a Wonderful” Parade, and a “Wonderful” 5K Walk/Run. The film is also screened continuously at the Old Mynderse Academy throughout the weekend.
7. THE LORD OF THE RINGS MUSEUM
Although “The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy: The Exhibition” toured globally, a permanent museum showcasing props and costumes is now being built in Wellington, New Zealand. This museum will display artifacts from both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogies, further boosting tourism for the country. Previously housed at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the exhibition will soon relocate to a central location in the city.
Additionally, The Weta Cave in New Zealand serves as a “mini-museum,” offering guided tours of memorabilia from The Weta Workshop, including pieces from Avatar, The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn, and the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies.
8. MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE
Founded in 1988, the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens, is dedicated to exploring the art, history, and technology of film, television, video games, and the internet. The museum hosts unique exhibitions, educational initiatives, and exclusive screenings for its members. Visitors can explore a wide range of film-related artifacts, from props and costumes from the original Star Wars to detailed storyboards from Alfred Hitchcock’s famous cropduster scene in North by Northwest.
9. 007 MUSEUM
In 2002, Gunnar Schäfer, a devoted James Bond enthusiast, launched the world’s first museum dedicated to the iconic British spy. Situated in Nybro, Sweden, the 007 Museum showcases over 60,000 original items from the Bond franchise, including a snowmobile from Die Another Day, the BMW Z3 from Goldeneye, and first editions of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels.
Additionally, the London Film Museum houses a permanent exhibit titled “Bond in Motion,” displaying costumes and vehicles from the series, such as the Bell Rocket Belt “jet pack” from Thunderball and an Aston Martin DB10 from Spectre.
10. DARIO ARGENTO MUSEUM OF HORROR
Renowned horror filmmaker Dario Argento operates a specialty shop in Rome named Profondo Rosso (Deep Red), catering to fans of macabre cinema. Named after his 1975 giallo film, the shop offers guided tours of its basement for a small fee, where visitors can explore Argento’s personal museum filled with props, costumes, and memorabilia from his iconic films.
11. AUSTRALIAN CENTRE FOR THE MOVING IMAGE
Originally established as the State Film Centre of Victoria in 1946, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) was relaunched in 2002 as a cutting-edge institution showcasing immersive exhibitions on film, television, and digital culture. ACMI has hosted a variety of permanent and traveling exhibits, including “Australian Culture Now,” “Pixar: 20 Years of Animation,” and “Stanley Kubrick, Inside the Mind of a Visionary Filmmaker.”
12. OZ MUSEUM
Established in 2004, the Oz Museum in Wamego, Kansas, celebrates The Wizard of Oz, from L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel to the legendary 1939 MGM film. The museum also showcases memorabilia from the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical The Wiz and Motown’s film adaptation featuring Diana Ross as Dorothy and Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow. Each October, the town hosts its annual “OZtoberFest,” featuring hot air balloon rides and Yellow Brick Road bike tours.
13. A CHRISTMAS STORY HOUSE
In 2004, Brian Jones purchased and restored the house at 3159 West 11th Street in Cleveland, Ohio, which was used as Ralphie’s home in A Christmas Story. While the exterior appeared in the film, the interior was meticulously recreated to match the movie’s sets, as most scenes were filmed on a California soundstage. Across the street, a museum displays original props and costumes from the production. The house and museum are open year-round, and a nearby Chinese restaurant, though not the one from the film, welcomes visitors.
14. THE CINEMA MUSEUM
Housed in the Lambeth Workhouse, where Charlie Chaplin spent part of his childhood, London’s Cinema Museum preserves artifacts and memorabilia from the early days of cinema to modern multiplexes. The collection includes a variety of film projectors, vintage popcorn machines, Art Deco theater seats, and even old ashtrays, offering a nostalgic journey through movie history.
15. GHIBLI MUSEUM
Visitors to the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Japan, are greeted by a towering Totoro statue. Since its opening in 2001, the museum has celebrated the works of Studio Ghibli and its legendary director, Hayao Miyazaki, who also designed the space. Exhibits highlight beloved films like Spirited Away and Castle In The Sky, while The Saturn Theater screens exclusive Studio Ghibli short films. With the motto "Let's Get Lost Together," the museum invites guests to fully immerse themselves in the enchanting world of Ghibli’s artistry and the building’s whimsical design.
