Running until 26 September, ODEON BFI IMAX, London

Take the opportunity to see treasured movie props up close and personal in the free exhibition on London’s South Bank, and if you feel really committed, why not put in a bid for an original Y-Wing Fighter – estimated to sell for around £200,000 – or a C-3PO prop head (£60k – £80k)!

When I lifted Thor’s mighty hammer Mjölnir above my head in the lobby area at the BFI IMAX, two things struck me – one, that by rights a mere mortal like me shouldn’t be able to lift this sledgehammer of the gods, and two, why were they trusting me with a screen-used prop that had an auction estimate of £20,000 to £30,000?! I still had to wear the white gloves typically reserved for handling Shakespeare’s First Folio, but with such a treasure to hand, you have to be careful.

Prop Store’s live, streamed auction takes place on 26th September, with over 600 rare props going under the hammer, as well as costumes and production materials from over 160 films. Around half of these items are on display at the cinema, allowing potential bidders to get a good look at what they might be investing in, and for movie buffs it’s a great way to spend an hour, dreaming what you’d do if you had the money to spend.

While the Y-Wing Fighter is understandably getting a lot of attention, Peter Quill’s Star-Lord helmet (£20k–£30k) and Indiana Jones’ bullwhip (£50k–£70k) are also big draws. But for me it was the less obvious treats that caught my eye. True, David Warner’s Sark costume from TRON looks decidedly plain without the LED embellishments and the Dropship from Aliens (£40k–£60k) is remarkably basic up close, but these are relics from pre-HD days, and the basic construction is part of the charm.

Alongside Jack Nicholson’s Joker costume (£20k–£30k) from Batman (and his Jack Torrance jacket from The Shining: £30k–£50k), check out Val Kilmer’s Batman Forever costume (£30k–£50k) and marvel at the enormities of a full-size Berserker from Predators (£10k–£15k) or a Xenomorph (£20k–£30k) and egg (£2k–£3k) from Aliens.

Robert Patrick’s T-1000 bullet-ridden police officer shirt from Terminator 2 looks great – the round, quicksilver holes are spectacular – but maybe Arnie’s T3 leather jacket is more your thing (£10k–£15k). Budding film makers might also covet an Empireflex VistaVision camera built by ILM from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (£200k–£300k).

You’re welcome to the Christopher Reeve blue Superman IV tunic, stretched over a… let’s say some young girls are currently giggling at the enormity of the mannequin’s loins. Me, I’m off to fire-up Stallone’s Lawmaster bike (£15k–£20k) from 1995’s Judge Dredd. It’s not fitted with any anti-theft device, right?

Registration is now open at http://www.propstore.com/liveauction, where you can also view the full catalogue. Online proxy bids can also be submitted. The exhibition is open daily from 10:00am to 9:30pm. The auction starts midday Tuesday 26 September.

Verdict: There’s big money in movie props, and this could be the last time you get to see some of these treasures, particularly if they are bought by private collectors. 9/10