The Most Epic Movie Props Seen On Pawn Stars
Pawn Stars has seen its share of memorable items pass through the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop since premiering on the History Channel in 2009. Owner Rick, his son Big Hoss and family friend Chumlee have wheeled and dealt everything from antiques to autographs and anything in between during 17 seasons of the reality show. (Remember the bronze O.J. Simpson statue brought in by rapper Flavor Flav?)
While the Pawn Stars shop is located in Las Vegas, some of the best and most memorable steals and deals have come straight from Hollywood. Yes, authentic movie memorabilia can fetch a pretty penny on the show, not to mention leave the cast giddy with excitement at the mere thought of holding one of their favorite stars' authentic artifacts in their hands. While many have entered the shop doors claiming to have rare film items worth a fortune, only a precious few have actually lived up to expectations. Here are some of the most epic movie props ever seen on Pawn Stars.
One-of-a-kind Star Wars collection
While Pawn Stars has featured numerous Star Wars memorabilia over the years, this season 17 lot takes the cake: Luke Skywalker's lightsaber from Return of the Jedi, an original poster signed by the main cast, and the original handwritten script signed by filmmaker George Lucas himself.
In an unusual move, Rick travels all the way to London to the studio where much of the iconic original trilogy was filmed to meet with a guy who preserves Star Wars memorabilia. Despite the seller bringing out the lightsaber and script to show off, they aren't actually for sale. But the poster is!
The possibly one-of-a-kind poster — signed by the trifecta of Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher, plus Lucas and others — is estimated to be worth a whopping $50,000. Given that the Pawn Stars patrol always haggles for the best possible price, Rick halves that and makes a first offer of $25,000. After some very polite back and forth, they agree on $34,000. So, while Rick somehow walked through the hallowed doors a lukewarm Star Wars fan, he left feeling pretty proud of himself.
Willy Wonka and the Everlasting Gobstopper
You'd think Rick had won a coveted Golden Ticket when he heads to Los Angeles in season 14 to check out a stash of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory props. The collection features some of the most memorable artifacts from the 1971 film: Willy Wonka's signature hat, a Golden Ticket, a golden egg, Wonka Bars, and the piece de resistance, the Everlasting Gobstopper.
When the seller wheels out the items, Rick is downright giddy. He even goes so far as to take a selfie while wearing the hat Gene Wilder wore in the role before letting out a deep sigh while looking longingly at the Golden Ticket. When the Gobstopper is revealed, it's housed in a glass case, causing Rick to liken it to seeing the Hope Diamond.
Bought at auction by the seller, the items were originally owned by the actress who played the petulant Veruca Salt. For the entire collection the seller is asking $725,000, which is too steep for the Pawn Stars patriarch. But he wants that Gobstopper. The seller is willing to let it go for $100,000. Rick agrees to the price — if a wooden Wonka Bar is thrown in. In the end, they settle on $105,000 for the two pieces, and Rick walks away feeling like a kid again.
Christopher Reeve's Superman costume
In season 14, a seller comes into the Pawn Stars pawn shop with the "only" caped costume worn by Christopher Reeve in the original 1978 Superman movie and a "kryptonite crystal." Both these items lead to some squabbling.
First, Rick and Big Hoss debate whether Reeve should be considered the original Superman, since both a comic book and a TV show pre-date him. Next, they discuss whether this could actually be the "only" bodysuit made for the movie. The seller sticks to his guns that it's a one of a kind, but Rick isn't so sure. What if Reeve ate a hot dog during a lunch break and dribbled some mustard on it? This is all small potatoes compared to the very serious issue Big Hoss flags: The green crystal is not a piece of kryptonite, it's the crystal that created Superman's fortress of solitude. The devil's in the details, people!
The guys decide they need an expert opinion and call in Hollywood memorabilia specialist Tall Rob, who confirms that films never made just one of anything. There's always a backup. After finding an authentic prop number inside the suit with the name "C. Reeve" inscribed, Tall Rob concludes that it's legit and that it would sell for at least $250,000 at auction. Problem is, the seller wants $300,000. So when Rick offers him 200 grand, the owner walks away and takes the suit with him.
The Wayne's World car
Schwing! While in Orlando during season 11 of Pawn Stars, Rick gets a lead on someone selling the 1976 AMC Pacer seen in Wayne's World's iconic "Bohemian Rhapsody" scene. The pint-size powder blue car with flames licking the sides was featured prominently in the 1992 flick, which stars Mike Myers and Dana Carvey as two headbangers who broadcast a public access show from a basement.
Rick is psyched to find that the car still has the licorice dispenser seen in the film and a couple of camera mounts for shooting the interior scenes. But he's not so thrilled by the overall condition. The car doesn't run and needs a lot of work.
The seller is asking $15,000, but Rick thinks he'll have to invest that much money just to fix it up. So he offers $9,000. The seller asks for $10,000. They meet in the middle at $9,500, which was a steal considering Pawn Stars turned around and resold it the following year at auction for $37,400. Excellent!
The Sports Almanac featured in Back to the Future II
A cocky seller, who says he unsuccessfully tried to sell Rick a DeLorean in the past, struts into the Pawn Stars shop during season 15 with a screen-used cover of the Sports Almanac featured in Back to the Future Part II. Christopher Lloyd, who plays mad scientist Doc Brown, and Thomas F. Wilson, who plays bully Biff, have signed it. But Big Hoss is quick to point out that star Michael J. Fox did not.
The whole basis of the 1989 movie — which bounces between 1985, 2015 and 1955 — revolves around the Sports Almanac, which reports sports statistics from 1950-2000 and is used by Biff to alter the past in his favor. It's one of 24 prop almanacs made for the movie, because every time an actor held one it got wrinkled.
It is authenticated by the Back to the Future propmaster. However, he says the autographs actually decrease the value, which is somewhere around $2,500. This makes the seller raise a suspicious eyebrow because he thinks it's worth $7,500. So when Rick offers $1,500 for the piece, the seller gives him some lip, telling Rick not to make the same mistake as the DeLorean. To this, Big Hoss extends his hand, says have a nice day, and sends the guy on his way with the almanac in hand.
Austin Powers' cryogenic chamber
Yeah, baby! Anyone who's seen Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery remembers his cryogenic chamber, in which he was frozen before reigniting his feud with his nemesis Dr. Evil in 1997. So when fanboy Chumlee hears it's for sale, he heads to L.A. in season 16 to see the life-size prop.
Of course, once he's there, Chumlee can't help but get inside and imitate Austin Powers star Mike Myers. Somehow the seller has never seen the film. But he's asking $8,500 for the piece, which seems steep. So Chumlee calls in expert Tall Rob.
Upon inspecting the artifact, Chumlee and Tall Rob notice a lot of "wear and tear." The "Austin Powers" nameplate is missing from the top of the chamber, and the "glass" (actually flimsy plastic) is cracked, cloudy and missing chunks. The sheer size and condition will limit potential buyers, so it's valued at $3,500. When Chumlee and the seller can't agree on the price, the Pawn Stars jokester walks away empty-handed. Not so groovy, baby.
Chucky from Child's Play
Possessed doll Chucky from 1988's Child's Play has probably haunted many a dream. So when a seller comes into the Pawn Stars shop in season 15 bearing the doll Chucky was created from, Big Hoss has childhood flashbacks of being "absolutely terrified." Thankfully, it's the pre-possessed version of the doll, called a Good Guy, still in its original box.
Chumlee notes that all the dolls were blown up in the original movie, so he questions the prop's authenticity. Enter expert Tall Rob to weigh in. After looking the box over and explaining that numerous additional dolls were made for the film, he's convinced it's the real deal. However, since it was just a background prop, it's not worth as much as, say, the knife Chucky wields onscreen. The doll is estimated to be worth $5,000 at auction.
That's bad news for the seller, who was hoping for eight grand. And the news gets even worse, as Big Hoss only offers to pay $2,000. No deal is struck and the seller walks, letting Hoss breathe a sigh of relief.
Cleopatra's Roman shield
The 1963 epic three-hour-long historical drama Cleopatra is widely considered to be a lesson in Hollywood excess. Costing a whopping $44 million, which was unheard of at the time, it was the most expensive film ever made up to that point. It was also riddled with turmoil, especially the scandalous affair that happened between stars Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, who were both married to others at the time.
So when a Roman shield that appeared in the film comes through the Pawn Stars front door in season 14, Rick just has to have it. Although it was just a background prop that hung on a wall, he thinks it will "fly off the shelf" due to its historic nature and pristine condition.
Made by the seller's father, who was a propmaster on the film, the seller is hoping for $500. Rick first offers $300 before finally settling on $400, and both walk away happy.
The Riddler's riddle from Batman Forever
In season 6 a seller brings in a bat-shaped weapon called a batarang and a one-of-a-kind pop-up-book riddle that Jim Carrey used as the Riddler in the 1995 Val Kilmer-led Batman Forever. While the movie was a box-office success, it was widely panned by both critics and fans alike.
Big Hoss immediately passes on the batarang because the seller wants $1,000 for it. But he's intrigued by the cool-looking, one-of-a-kind pop-up riddle because it will appeal to both movie and comic book fans. Throughout the movie, the Riddler leaves different pop-up clues for Batman to solve, and this was one that actually changed hands between the actors.
The seller wants $5,000 for the item. But the most Big Hoss is willing to shell out is $2,200 and not a penny more because he doesn't want to spend a lot of money on a prop from a film "people didn't even like." So the seller packs up his memorabilia and leaves.
Jerry Maguire's bag full of tricks
Show me the money! That's what one season 16 seller was thinking when she walked in with a briefcase full of props from the 1996 film Jerry Maguire. It contained an airline ticket issued to one Jerry Maguire, a business card and sunglasses, all used by Tom Cruise in the film. There is also a 22-page mission statement written by director Cameron Crowe that Cruise used as a prop.
The seller acquired the collection at a storage-unit auction, so she's not 100 percent sure they're authentic. But she's banking on it. So Rick calls in an expert, the propmaster of the film, who recognizes the items right away because they came from her own abandoned storage unit.
The former owner of the items says they're worth $5,500 — exactly the amount the seller is asking for. But as we all know, the Pawn Stars are in business to make money. So Rick offers her three grand, which the seller turns down.
The Godfather jewelry box
The Godfather, which catapulted Al Pacino into superstardom, is one of the most widely acclaimed movies ever made. The 1972 crime film was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starred an ensemble cast that also includes Marlon Brando, James Caan, Robert Duvall, and Diane Keaton. It follows the Corleone mafia family as patriarch Don Vito (Brando) passes the torch to his son Michael (Pacino).
When a woman comes into the shop with a "deco style valet jewelry box" that appeared in the background of the film, Rick geeks out a bit, calling the movie a "masterpiece" and saying it's one of his favorite movies of all time. To the contrary, the seller doesn't like the movie and hasn't even seen the whole thing because she couldn't get past the decapitated horse head that's prominently featured in the film. "I was horrified and stopped watching," she says, adding that she acquired the box when she bought a storage locker at public auction.
With a certificate of authenticity in hand and the fact that Rick is blabbering on about how great the film is, the seller feels pretty confident he's going to make her an offer she can't refuse. But, surprisingly, Rick passes. He doesn't think it's worth much since it was one of "thousands" of background props that appeared in the film. He's looking for top-tier items like Corleone's hat or gun, and a forgettable jewelry box just doesn't cut it.
Terminator 3 robotic torsos
When Chumlee gets a lead on some props from Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, he drags Rick to Los Angeles with him to take a look. Rick is a little nervous about what he's gotten himself into, because you never know with Chum. But he's pleasantly surprised when he's shown three partial robotic torsos that appeared in the 2003 Arnold Schwarzenegger film.
The props were seen in the background of fictional company CRS' manufacturing facility, where an army of robots is being built. Although Rick calls them "dated," he's still intrigued. While the torsos weren't featured props, he believes that even casual Terminator fans will recognize them and shell out some cash.
When the seller asks for $5,500 apiece, Rick calls in an expert — the actual propmaster from the movie. She estimates them to be worth about $4,000 each. After some audible sighing and light haggling, Rick buys one for $3,100.
Another impressive Star Wars collection
Rick and Chumlee go to a Star Wars superfan's house to check out his collection of original movie memorabilia. Inside they find an impressive lot that includes C-3PO's prototype eyes, a stormtrooper blaster gun, and a Sarlacc Pit tentacle puppet used in Return of the Jedi.
Rick's eyes light up at the prospect of buying some of the items because, as he puts it, Star Wars fans are the "craziest, nuttiest" group of people who'll pay anything for props. Proving his point, the seller admits he's seen the original 1977 film at least 1,000 times.
When the seller says he wants $80,000 for the whole package, Rick calls in an expert, who says there's a lot of Star Wars knockoffs out in the world. But these are, in fact, the real deal. "Impressive, most impressive," jokes the expert, adding that the entire lot is probably worth $75,000. Based on that, Rick offers $52,000. But the seller declines, saying they're a galaxy far, far away from each other when it comes to price.