The release of Stanley Kubrick’s epic “2001: Space Odyssey” in 1968 marked a historic moment in cinema. The movie was lightyears ahead of its time, and the concept was mind-blowing back in the 60s. But in typical Kubrick fashion, the director ordered that all the futuristic props, mainly miniature spaceship models, be destroyed once filming was over.
Kubrick didn’t want any of the props to be recycled for other copycat directors in the future. But, to people’s absolute shock, one model was discovered decades later, and apparently, it was the only original one that survived. The Aries 1B Spherical Space Shuttle was auctioned in 2015 for $344,000.
King Kong (1933) - King Kong Model: $200K
When we think of King Kong, we think of Naomi Watts trying to help a CGI gorilla not get gunned down by the military. However, before the jaw-dropping visual effects, there was the original 1933 King Kong movie that scared people out of their seats.
This was way before CGI, so the actual King Kong was a 22-inch model of the gorilla that was covered in real rabbit fur to make it look real. It was made by Willis O’Brien, often regarded as “the godfather of visual effects and stop-motion animation.” After more than 75 years in storage, the model was bought for $200,000 in 2009.
King Kong Poseable Model
One would imagine that such a historic movie prop would go for far more than $200,000. And it would if it weren’t for the fact that much of the model had been damaged after seven decades in storage.
The original rabbit fur coat over King Kong had rotted throughout the years, but the base metal frame was still standing and in good shape. We bet you never heard of a metal frame selling for nearly a quarter of a million dollars.
The Aries 1B Trans-Lunar Space Shuttle
The 3-foot-tall model of the spherical space shuttle that was used to transport Dr. Heywood Floyd to the moon was sold to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in March 2015. Apparently, the model had belonged to an art schoolteacher for over four decades, and he had kept it in his studio in Hertfordshire, England. This was also the town where Kubrick lived for many years.
The teacher used it to teach technology to his students. Since its purchase by the Academy, it has been on permanent display since 2019 at their museum in Los Angeles.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) - Aragorn's Sword: $437K
“The Return of the King” was the third and last installment of “The Lord of the Rings” film trilogy, and it was as epic as the other two movies. One of the most famous props in the movie is Aragorn’s sword, a mighty weapon that is beautifully crafted and a symbol of the character’s regal ancestors.
The sought-after prop was purchased for $437,000 at an auction, and we are sure many collectors were incredibly sad to see the film prop get taken off the market.