Movie Memorabilia for Unique Gifts

Celebrate a friend’s obsession with a unique gift of memorabilia from a favorite movie or celebrity. Movie items are extremely collectible yet surprisingly affordable.  Depending on the popularity of the movie and the rarity of the piece, you can pick up some very flashy movie-themed collectibles for a fraction of what you’d expect to pay. Not sure what sort of pieces will make a suitable gift? This quick guide to movie items may spark some ideas.

Movie Posters

Posters are the most recognizable form of movie collectables, and they’re relatively easy to find and inexpensive. You don’t even need to hit the collector’s circuit to find many of the most popular, just check out an online vendor of framed wall art. For the serious collector, look for original movie posters, also known as studio-issued movie posters. These posters were made to hang in movie theaters to advertise an upcoming or featured movie. They’re the most valuable, and are highly collectible. Licensed movie posters, made to be sold to the public, aren’t as collectible and are seldom worth much, but they can be fun gift ideas, or an accent to hang on your wall. If your friend has a favorite movie, the official movie poster release makes a great housewarming, Christmas or birthday gift. Collectors often focus on movies by a particular director or actor.

Movie Props and Costumes

Props and costumes used during the actual filming of a movie are often considered high ticket items, but they too are often quite affordable. Dorothy’s ruby slippers may be out of your price range, but the shoes used to create the dinosaur footprints for the movie “Jurassic Park” are far more affordable at just over $450. A walkie-talkie used in the same movie sold recently for just over $400. The amber-tipped cane with the embedded mosquito from the movie was a bit pricier at $3,100, but what’s it worth to be the caretaker of a piece of movie history?

Autographs and Publicity Stills

Autographed photos of film stars aren’t nearly as popular as they used to be back in the movies golden ages, but those golden oldie film stars still fetch a pretty penny on the collectibles market. You’ll find them in specialty auctions, on movie websites, or even on eBay.

If you’re looking for a special gift for a friend who’s a movie buff, poke around a bit on a website that features movie memorabilia to find something truly different that they’ll enjoy.

Collectible Movie Posters and Other Memorabilia

Collecting movie memorabilia is a growing hobby, one sparked by the success of popular television series like “Pawn Stars,” where the stars ascertain the value of items offered for pawn in their shops. Movie posters, autograph books and other items associated with Hollywood, the film industry and even television, are highly collectible. While many are reasonably priced now, the value of a well-thought-out collection of movie-related items can become quite valuable over time.

While most collections develop organically when the collector picks up movie posters or other items related to their favorite movie star, others are more focused on putting together a themed collection. If you’ve never considered collecting movie pieces, you might be surprised at the variety of collectible items that come from the movie industry.

Movie Posters

Posters may be the most commonly collected type of movie memorabilia. The most valuable are those released by the studio to movie theaters where the films were shown.

Autographs

Collections of celebrity autographs, as well as those by producers and directors can be quite valuable, especially if they grace a piece of memorabilia from the star’s movies.

Still Photos

Publicity stills were often released as part of the promotion for major movies during the golden age of Hollywood. Add an autograph to the still photo, and the value of the piece can skyrocket.

Costumes

Some movie costumes are so iconic that they’ve made it into the Smithsonian Institute, Dorothy’s gingham-checked dress, for example. Memorable costumes make great collectors’ items.

Movie Props

A prop can describe nearly anything used as part of the movie set, though most collectors are more discriminating. Items such as the model used for the Enterprise in various Star Trek movies command high prices on the movies collectibles market.

Programs

Back in the day, movie premieres often featured printed programs. A program from the opening night of an Oscar-winning movie can become very valuable in later years.

Storyboard, Original Art Concept and Script

Well-known within the industry, but often overlooked among the general public, scripts, storyboards and concept art for movie posters are high-ticket items among those who collect movie memorabilia.