30 Wild Stories Behind Hollywood’s Most Famous Movie Props

Designed by Hepburn's close friend, Givenchy, the iconic black dress appears in the opening scene of 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' as she steps out of a yellow New York taxi cab. At least 3 copies of this dress are known to have survived. One is in Givenchy's archive, one is on display in a costume museum in Madrid and one was sold at auction in 2006 for a sophisticated €807,000.

James Wan, director: "Billy was built in my apartment back in Melbourne when I made the [original short film]. I made it from clay, ping-pong balls for eyes, and newspaper wrapped together -- all hidden underneath a cheap, kid's suit. Who the f**k makes suits for kids? Here's a morbid thought: they're either for weddings, events, or funerals.

"When Leigh [Whannell, writer] and I were gearing up for the feature, we thought we would get the Hollywood version, and it would be remade with animatronic and state of the art s**t. But the movie was so low budget, the producers just said, 'use that again'!"

Dana Schneider, jewelry designer: "I could tell even before I was contacted [for the movie] that that design really struck home with a lot of the readers. That's one of those things that you're almost afraid to take on, because you just know how much people care. But I always like a good challenge. "There were a lot of technical things that had to be worked out, [like] getting the scale right. Because they were in the [book] illustration, I really needed to get the feathers just right. Getting the arrow to float free in the beak. [To carve the bird], I started with a very hard carving wax. By hand. No 3D modeling, no computer printing. The bird itself and ring are cast sterling silver. But for strength, the arrow ended up having to be made out of 14-karat gold. Silver's just too soft. Then it all gets gold plated.
"There's something about birds in flight. They've always had a history of hope and free spirit. I think that's why I originally starting carving birds in my own jewelry work. But a lot of it really just boils down to a sense of freedom. Then adding the arrow to it I think is interesting because you add that extra element of, I don't want to say self-defense, but fighting back. Without the arrow, it would just be a really pretty bird and you can draw whatever conclusions you want. But having the arrow in the beak definitely really makes it a symbol for courage, strength, all those good things."

Roger Christian, art director: "The eggs were made with grips underneath where you could pull and open them up. Everything in H.R. Giger's world is combined with female or male body parts, so the eggs had to look menacing and sensual at the same time. The membrane is a sheep's stomach -- I know, because I had to buy stuff from the abattoir all the time (or I'd get my buyers to go). To get that burst out, the only way to do it, Ridley [Scott] had to put on a rubber glove and put his hand up and chucked it out at the camera. That was the only way to get it to work. [The eggs] were heavy and there were only a few made practical. The rest were background ones, which they made a lot of."

In the world of Men in Black, the neuralyzer stands out as a quintessential piece of technology that has left a huge impact on pop culture. This unassuming, pen-like device possesses the power to erase the short-term memory of any witness to extraterrestrial activity, ensuring that the secretive work of the MIB remains hidden from the public eye. The neuralyzer's sleek, futuristic design perfectly encapsulates the film's blend of science fiction and comedy, making it an instantly recognizable prop that has become synonymous with the franchise.

The neuralyzer's crucial role in the narrative elevates it from a mere gadget to a key plot device, showcasing its originality and narrative significance within the film's universe. Its iconic status as a memory-wiping tool seamlessly integrates into the story, distinguishing it from more conventional weapons commonly seen in Hollywood blockbusters. This unique feature underscores its impact on the audience, contributing to its lasting impression.

As detailed for Spink's "Bruce Lee 40th Anniversary Collection" auction: "Lee personally designed this iconic weapon to match his celebrated yellow and black Game of Death jumpsuit. Designed to deliver matchless combat sequences during Lee's electrifying nunchaku battle with senior student and co-star, Dan Inosanto, the design was conceived to facilitate the lightning-fast solo displays Bruce would deliver to camera. Unique amongst all Bruce Lee's nunchaku, the nunchaku is built from lightweight lacquered wood and the sticks are connected by a fortified cord. By requesting this design, Bruce ensured that the nunchaku would move with the maximum speed and fluency in his skilled hands."
Dan Inosanto, actor (Pasqual) (in the documentary I Am Bruce Lee): "In 1964, I introduced the nunchucks to Bruce Lee. At the time he thought it was a worthless piece of junk. When he moved to the LA area, I taught him how to use it. In three months he swung it like he'd be swinging it for a lifetime ... In the short time, every child was using this. It became a household product. Now it's outlawed in California."

Terry Ackland-Snow, art director: “We did a rough design sketch of what was required, and then it got handed over to the special effects supervisor, John Evans, who made all the gadgets. We were working on it all together at the same time, giving Tim Burton exactly what he wanted Batman to have. [The batarang] was based on trying to fit the symbol of Batman — the idea was to have everything Batmobile-looking, the wings, that sort of thing. All the gadgets echoed each other.” John Evans, special effects supervisor: “I think we made about a dozen. We made some with fiberglass and some with polished aluminum. Anton [Furst]’s team had done all the designs, so he gave us the designs, and we took it from there. It was a simple thing to do. We just had to get the balance right so it could fly through the air.”

In Pulp Fiction, the suitcase serves as a classic "MacGuffin"—a plot device whose contents are never revealed. Carried by Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vincent (John Travolta), the suitcase emits a captivating golden glow whenever opened.

Inspired by the 1955 film Kiss Me Deadly, the suitcase in Pulp Fiction was an ordinary Samsonite briefcase. The prop department added battery-powered, orange-gelled lights inside, creating the glowing effect. The interior was lined with reflective material to amplify the light, enhancing the suitcase's mysterious aura.

Director Quentin Tarantino heightened the suitcase’s mystique by never showing what’s inside. The actors’ reactions—ranging from awe to reverence—helped convey its importance. Fans have speculated its contents, with popular theories suggesting it holds gold, Marcellus Wallace’s soul, or even the diamonds from Reservoir Dogs.

The Burn Book in Mean Girls is a scrapbook created by "The Plastics" to document rumors and insults. It needed to look both handmade and detailed, fitting the early 2000s h**h school aesthetic while capturing Regina George's stylish, superficial personality.

The production design team, led by Carol Spier, started with a basic scrapbook and transformed it with bright pink tones, bold lettering, and embellishments, creating a stylish yet sinister vibe. The props team filled it with handwritten insults, magazine clippings, gel pen doodles, and Polaroid photos, carefully balancing neatness and chaos to mimic h**h school work.

The production design team worked closely with the writers and director to ensure the Burn Book’s contents matched the humor and tone of Tina Fey's screenplay. Some pages were intentionally exaggerated to maintain the film’s PG-13 rating. The original Burn Book is likely stored in Paramount’s archives and has been featured in exhibitions of movie props.

The Proton Pack from “Ghostbusters” was a prop designed to look like a piece of advanced technology. Its fictional purpose to capture ghosts was made believable through its detailed, pseudo-scientific design, capturing audiences’ imaginations and becoming a symbol of the franchise.